2 Corinthians The Ministry of Reconciliation

Review

Astounded, to God, A Saved Frame of Mind to You

Christ Died Once For All, Therefore All Died

We Now Know No One by the Flesh

A New Creation; the Christ

Understanding 2 Corinthians 5:17

The Importance of Following Grammar

“He is” is not in any of the original manuscripts.

It was added by translators as early as the KJV

2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV 1900

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Some newer translations do not put it in italics, letting the reader know it is added

The ESV (English Standard Version)

2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

The HCSB (Homan Christian Standard Bible)

2 Corinthians 5:17 HCSB

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come.

Some recognize “he is” is not in the original such as the New Revised Standard Version

2 Corinthians 5:17 NRSV

So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!

Someone (τις ) in Christ; a new creation (κτίσις)

τις (Someone). Masculine

κτίσις (Creation). Feminine

Therefore, creation cannot refer to the person in Christ, but to Christ.

The normal grammatical structure would be to take the previous noun as the one being modified.

All Things Have Become New (γέγονεν καινὰ τὰ πάντα)

Question Whether “All things” should be included

Evidence is not strong either way

Requires a look at context

γέγονεν (Has become) requires a single subject

καινὰ (New), is in the Nominative, which is the case for the subject.

καινὰ (New), is neuter

It cannot apply to τις (Someone), which is masculine

Because καινὰ (New) is neuter and γέγονεν (Has become) requires an object for English, all things (τὰ πάντα) would be added as an ellipsis to complete the thought.

Why Go Through All This?

All Scripture is God-Breathed. 2 Timothy 3:16

2 Timothy 3:16

All Scripture is God-Breathed (θεόπνευστος) and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training παιδείαν) in righteousness;

Therefore Every Word is from God

By Using Proper Grammar and Context We Do Not Privately Interpret the Passage, it is Interpreted According to the Normal Use of the Language, 2 Peter 1:20

2 Peter 1:20

first knowing this, that all prophecy of Scripture does not come by one’s own interpretation

Not Modifying Scripture to Say What I Want

Clarifying the Meaning of Each Word So We Understand What is Actually Being Conveyed

This is an Important Passage In Understanding What God Did in Salvation

He Created a New Creation, Which Is Why Christ’s Righteousness Can be Reckoned to Us

This New Creation is Made of Both Jew and Gentile, Ephesians 2:15

Ephesians 2:15 NASB95

by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace,

Within This New Creation We Have Life, not Condemnation, Romans 8:1

Romans 8:1 NASB95

Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

The Holy Spirit Places Us Into This New Creation, 1 Corinthians 12:12-13

1 Corinthians 12:12–13 NASB95

For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.

The Old Things Have Passed Away, Behold All Things Have Become New, 2 Corinthians 5:17

We Do Not Know Others By the Flesh Because All Things Have Become New, 2 Corinthians 5:17

2 Corinthians 5:17

So that since someone is in Christ, a new creation, the archaic things have passed away, look with discernment, all things have become new.

The Old Things

Who We Where in Adam, Romans 5:12

Romans 5:12

Because of this, just as through one man the sin entered the world and through the sin the death, also thus unto all men the death passed, on the basis that all sinned.

Condemned Before God, Romans 5:16

Romans 5:16

And the gift is not as through one having sinned. For on the one hand judgment out from one [having sinned] unto condemnation, on the other hand the gracious gift out from many trespasses unto justification.

Separated in our Spirit, 1 Corinthians 2:14

1 Corinthians 2:14

But a soulish man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he does not have the ability to know, because they are spiritually discerned.

Was crucified with Christ, Romans 6:6

Romans 6:6

experientially knowing this, that our old man was co-crucified in order that the body of the sin [nature] should be rendered ineffective, so that we are no longer slaves to the sin [nature].

Corrupted by the desires of deceit, Ephesians 4:22

Ephesians 4:22 NASB95

that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit,

Has its Practices, Colossians 3:9

Colossians 3:9 NASB95

Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices,

The New Things

The New Man

Made of Both Jew and Gentile, Ephesians 2:14-15

Ephesians 2:14–15

For He Himself is our peace, the One making both one and tore down the dividing wall of partition,

the enmity in His flesh, the Law of commandments in ordinances, so that in Himself He should make the two into one new man, making peace,

The New Creation, Galatians 6:15

Galatians 6:15 NASB95

For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.

Created in Righteousness, Piousness, and Truth, Ephesians 4:24

Ephesians 4:24

and put on the new man, the one according to God has been created in righteousness and piousness of the truth.

Being Renews To a Full Experiential Knowledge according to the Image of the One Creating it, Colossians 3:10

Colossians 3:10 NASB95

and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him—

Alive in Our Spirit, 1 Corinthians 6:17

1 Corinthians 6:17

But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit

Able to Discern Spiritual Things, 1 Corinthians 2:14-15

1 Corinthians 2:14–15 (NASB95)

But a soulish man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he does not have the ability to know, because they are spiritually discerned.

But he who is spiritual discerns all things, yet he himself is discerned by no one.

The Ministry of Reconciliation, 2 Corinthians 5:18-20

God is the One Reconciling Us to Himself Through Christ, 2 Corinthians 5:18

2 Corinthians 5:18

And all things are out from God, the One reconciling us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation,

God is the One Who Made the New Creation, the Christ

He Made it Possible for Reconciliation

We Were Reconciled While Being Enemies, Romans 5:10

Romans 5:10 NASB95

For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.

He Has Given Us the Ministry of Reconciliation

God Was Not Imputing Trespasses, 2 Corinthians 5:19

2 Corinthians 5:19

as that the God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting to them their trespasses and having placed in you the word of reconciliation.

Trespass happens within the mind when we determine to do something wrong

Trespass and sin are different, Ephesians 2:1

Ephesians 2:1 NASB95

And you were dead in your trespasses and sins,

We Are Representing on Behalf of Christ, 2 Corinthians 5:20

2 Corinthians 5:20

Therefore, on behalf of Christ we are representing as through us from the God of encouragement, we implore on behalf of Christ, be reconciled with God.

Paul was Put into Chains Because of the Gospel of Christ, Ephesians 6:19-20

Ephesians 6:19–20 NASB95

and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

Representing is an action, not a title

In Our Actions We Represent Christ

Since He Died for All, the Ones Living Should Live To the One Who Died and Rose Again, 2 Corinthians 5:15

2 Corinthians 5:15

And concerning all He died in order that the living should not live for themselves but to the One who died and rose again concerning them.

We Represent Through Our Lives Wherever We Are Placed

As Representatives We Are Ones Who Do the Will of God

Our Ministry is Not to Judge, Or to Bring Punishment, It is to Bring the Message of Reconciliation to the World

Scripture Reading

The Old Things Have Passed Away, Behold All Things Have Become New, 2 Corinthians 5:17

2 Corinthians 5:17

So that since someone is in Christ, a new creation, the archaic things have passed away, look with discernment, all things have become new.

The Ministry of Reconciliation, 2 Corinthians 5:18-20

2 Corinthians 5:18–20

And all things are out from God, the One reconciling us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation, as that the God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting to them their trespasses and having placed in you the word of reconciliation. Therefore, on behalf of Christ we are representing as through us from the God of encouragement, we implore on behalf of Christ, be reconciled with God.