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Seattle Bible College

Bachelor of Global Leadership
BI407:II Corinthians
Michael Dos Santos Rodrigues

Exegesis of 2 Corinthians 5:14-21

Introduction:

The passage 2 Corinthians 5:14-21 in this biblical passage there are profound
theological concepts, we can highlight two main ones: The work of reconciling man
with God through the death of Jesus on the Cross of Calvary, making all those who
receive him a new creature.

This passage also speaks of the work subsequent to salvation which is the ministry of
reconciliation, speaking the message of salvation to all people.

Context:

In order for us to understand the context of these verses, we need to understand a little
about the previous chapter in which Paul addresses some church issues such as:
immorality, divisions and criticism in relation to Paul's apostolic authority. In chapter 5,
the apostle Paul teaches about the hope of resurrection and the continuation of eternal
life that awaits believers, and also teaches that we cannot know God in a carnal way but
in a spiritual way.

Then he ends by writing about the believer's new reality, which is to be a new creature
in Christ and because he is a new creature, he needs to be an ambassador for Christ,
taking the message of good news wherever he goes because now it is God's justice.

Exegesis:

Verse 14

Basically in this verse Paul teaches about the love of God that constrains us from being
just nominal Christians to becoming real Christians, not just those who go to church on
Sundays, but people who truly live the principles of the word of God. Then Paul
emphasizes that the person is dead to sin (no longer does his own will) but does the will
of God, the Christian must be dead to sin and alive to God.
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Seattle Bible College

Bachelor of Global Leadership
BI407:II Corinthians
Michael Dos Santos Rodrigues

Verse 15:

"And he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him
who for their sake died and was raised" (2 Corinthians 5:15, ESV).

This verse Paul emphasizes one of the main purposes of Jesus' death and resurrection,
which is to bring transformation in people's lives, to make God's children not live for
themselves but for God. The teaching is to always put God's will over our will, living a
life based on God's love.

Verses 16-17:

"From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once
regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if
anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has
come" (2 Corinthians 5:16-17, ESV).

These verses teach us a very valuable lesson, a transformation occurs within the
believer, this transformation from the inside out (behaviors, actions) occurs in the spirit,
our spirit receives the life of God and we are born again, the previous life of sin is
replaced by a new life in Christ.

Verses 18-19:

"All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the
ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself,
not counting their trespasses against them and entrusting to us the message of
reconciliation" (2 Corinthians 5:18-19, ESV).

In these verses Paul explores in a deeper way the principle of reconciliation, Christ
reconciled humanity through his death on the cross so that through it humanity could
have access to salvation and eternal life.

And also all those who have already been reconciled with God have the duty to take the
message of reconciliation to all people.
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Seattle Bible College

Bachelor of Global Leadership
BI407:II Corinthians
Michael Dos Santos Rodrigues

Verses 20-21:

"Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We
implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake, he made him to be
sin who knew no sin, so that in him, we might become the righteousness of God" (2
Corinthians 5:20-21, ESV).

Paul focuses on the role of believers as ambassadors (legal representatives) of Christ on

earth, all Christians are also called to preach to other people this message of
reconciliation which consists of the fact that there is a barrier between man and God
called sin and only the A man accepting Jesus and repenting of his sins can have a
relationship with God.

The deep concept of this sacrifice was that the sinless Christ took on all the sins of
humanity to free man from sin and make him God's righteousness.

Conclusion:

2 Corinthians 5:14-21

This biblical passage is very powerful, it emphasizes the transformation that occurs in
the life of the believer, it speaks to our hearts how we have to live life, we have to live
not for ourselves for the sinful nature that still fights against us but we have to live for
the one who resurrected. It also teaches us that we must be ambassadors of Christ and as
such we have to work within the ministry of reconciliation, which is to take this
message that Christ was resurrected to reconcile man with himself, breaking through his
death on the cross the barrier that separated man from God. Sin, through this sacrifice,
gave us eternal life.
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Seattle Bible College

Bachelor of Global Leadership
BI407:II Corinthians
Michael Dos Santos Rodrigues

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Seattle Bible College

Bachelor of Global Leadership
BI407:II Corinthians
Michael Dos Santos Rodrigues

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[^16^]: Thiselton, Anthony C. *The First Epistle to the Corinthians: A Commentary on

the Greek Text*. Eerdmans, 2000.