2 Coríntios 5
William Barclay · Citado em PreceptAustin
2 Coríntios 5
Barclay writes that "some day we shall await the verdict of God. When we remember that, life becomes a tremendous and a thrilling thing, for in it we are making or marring a destiny, winning or losing a crown. Time becomes the testing ground of eternity." Ray
2 Coríntios 5:1-3
Barclay: For, while we are in this tent of the body, we groan, for life weighs us down, for it is not so much that we desire to be stripped of this house, (Westminster Press) ESV: if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. (ESV) HCSB: since, when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. (Holman Christian Standard Bible) KJV: If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. NEB: in the hope that, being thus clothed, we shall not find ourselves naked. (New English Bible - Oxford Press) NET: if indeed, after we have put on our heavenly house, we will not be found naked. (NET Bible) MH: This presupposes, to be sure, that once we have put on this new dwelling, our spiritual body, we shall never experience disembodied nakedness. (Murray Harris' expanded paraphrase of 2Corinthians). NLT: For we will put on heavenly bodies; we will not be spirits without bodies. (NLT - Tyndale House)
2 Coríntios 5:1-3
Barclay: For we know that if this earthly house of ours, that tent which is the body is pulled down, we have a building which comes from God, a house not made with hands, eternal and in the heavens. (Westminster Press) ESV: For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. (ESV) HCSB: 5 For we know that if our earthly house, a tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. (Holman Christian Standard Bible) KJV: For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. (New English Bible - Oxford Press) NET: For we know that if our earthly house, the tent we live in, is dismantled, we have a building from God, a house not built by human hands, that is eternal in the heavens. (NET Bible) MH: For it is part of our Christian tradition that if this earthly body which we call a tent-house is destroyed by death, we have the assured hope of receiving a building that God supplies, a house that is not constructed by human hands, that is destined to last forever, and whose site is heaven. (Murray Harris' expanded paraphrase of 2Corinthians). NLT: For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands. (NLT - Tyndale House)
2 Coríntios 5:1-3
Barclay: For indeed so long as we are as we are we earnestly long to put on our abode which is from heaven, and if indeed we have put it on we shall not be found naked. (Westminster Press) ESV: For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, (ESV) HCSB: And, in fact, we groan in this one, longing to put on our house from heaven, (Holman Christian Standard Bible) KJV: For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: NEB: In this present body we do indeed groan; we yearn to have our heavenly habitation put on over this one (New English Bible) NET: For in this earthly house we groan, because we desire to put on our heavenly dwelling, (NET Bible) MH: What is more, being housed in this tent we constantly sigh with longing because we yearn to put on over it, as someone would don an overgarment, our dwelling that is supplied from heaven. (Murray Harris' expanded paraphrase). NLT: We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long to put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing. (NLT - Tyndale House)
2 Coríntios 5:4-5
Barclay explains that the Greek word arrabon "was a regular feature of the Greek business world. It was a part of the purchase price of anything, paid in advance as a guarantee that the rest would in due time be paid. There are many Greek commercial documents still extant in which the word occurs. A woman sells a cow and receives so many drachmae as arrabon. Some dancing girls are engaged for a public entertainment and are paid so much in advance. What Paul is saying in (Ep 1:14) is that the experience of the Holy Spirit which we have in this world is a foretaste of the blessedness of heaven; and it is the guarantee that some day we will enter into full possession of the blessedness of God. An arrabon was the first installment of a payment, paid as a guarantee that the rest was sure to follow. It is a common word in Greek legal documents. A woman selling a cow receives 1,000 drachmae as arrabon that the rest of the purchase price will be paid. Some dancing girls being engaged for a village festival receive so much as arrabon, which will be included in the final payment, but which is a present guarantee that the contract will be honored and the full money paid. A certain man writes to his master that he has paid Lampon, the mouse-catcher, an arrabon of 8 drachmae so that he will start work and catch the mice while they are still with young. It was the first installment and the guarantee that the rest would be paid. Everyone knew this word. It is the same idea as is in the Scots word arles which was a token payment made when a man was employed or a house bought, and a guarantee that the full contract would be honored. When Paul speaks of the Holy Spirit as an arrabon given us by God, he means that the kind of life we live by the help of the Holy Spirit is the first installment of the life of heaven and the guarantee that the fullness of that life will some day open upon us. The gift of the Holy Spirit is God’s token and pledge of still greater things to come. (Daily Study Bible Series)
2 Coríntios 5:4-5
Barclay: but rather that we desire to put on our heavenly body over it, so that that which is subject to death may be swallowed up by life. (Westminster Press) ESV: For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. (ESV) HCSB: Indeed, we who are in this tent groan, burdened as we are, because we do not want to be unclothed but clothed, so that mortality may be swallowed up by life. (Holman Christian Standard Bible) KJV: For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. NEB: We groan indeed, we who are enclosed within this earthly frame; we are oppressed because we do not want to have the old body stripped off. (New English Bible - Oxford Press) NET: For we groan while we are in this tent, since we are weighed down, because we do not want to be unclothed, but clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. (NET Bible) MH: For it is a fact that as those who still live in this present temporary dwelling, we sigh under a burden of oppression because, so far from wishing to be divested of all embodiment, we desire to put on the overgarment of the heavenly body, so that our present body which is subject to death may be completely swallowed up by immortality. (Murray Harris' expanded paraphrase of 2Corinthians). NLT: While we live in these earthly bodies, we groan and sigh, but it’s not that we want to die and get rid of these bodies that clothe us. Rather, we want to put on our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by life. (NLT - Tyndale House)
2 Coríntios 5:4-5
Barclay: He who has designed us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a first installment of the life to come. (Westminster Press) ESV: He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. (ESV) HCSB: And the One who prepared us for this very thing is God, who gave us the Spirit as a down payment. (Holman Christian Standard Bible - Study notes available online free) KJV: Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. NEB: Rather our desire is to have the new body put on over it, so that our mortal part may be absorbed into life immortal. God himself has shaped us for this very end, and as a pledge of it he has given us the Spirit. (New English Bible - Oxford Press) NET: Now the one who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave us the Spirit as a down payment. (NET Bible) MH: Now the one who has prepared us for this very experience of putting on immortality is none other than God himself, and his preparation was his giving us the Spirit as a pledge of this transformation. (Murray Harris' expanded paraphrase). NLT: God himself has prepared us for this, and as a guarantee he has given us his Holy Spirit.(NLT - Tyndale House)
2 Coríntios 5:9
Barclay: So then it is our one ambition, whether we are present with him or absent from him, to be the kind of people in which he can find pleasure. (Westminster Press) ESV: So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. (ESV) KJV: Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. Macent: wherefore I studiously endeavour, whether staying in it, or departing out of it, to be acceptable to him. MLB (Berkley): Therefore we make it our aim to be pleasing to Him, whether absent or present; Moffatt: Hence also I am eager to satisfy him, whether in the body or away from it; Montgomery: And for this reason I also make it home with the Lord. NET: So then whether we are alive or away, we make it our ambition to please him. (NET Bible) NJB: And so whether at home or exiled, we make it our ambition to please him. NLT: So whether we are here in this body or away from this body, our goal is to please him. (NLT - Tyndale House)
2 Coríntios 5:10
Barclay: For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one of us may receive the consequences of the thing we did while we were in the body, consequences which will correspond to what each one of us has done, be it good or bad. (Westminster Press) ESV: For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil (ESV) KJV: For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Macent: for we must all appear before the tribunal of Christ; that every one may receive the retribution, according as his actions in the body were either good or evil. MLB (Berkley): for we must all appear before the tribunal of Christ, so that each may receive as his due what he practiced while in the body, whether good or bad. Moffatt: for we have all to appear without disguise before the tribunal of Christ, each to be requited for what he has done with his body, well or ill. Montgomery: For we must all be made manifest, in our true characters, before the Judgment-seat of Christ; so that each one may receive according to that which he has done in his body, whether good or evil. NET: For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be paid back according to what he has done while in the body, whether good or evil. (NET Bible) NJB: For at the judgment seat of Christ we are all to be seen for what we are, so that each of us may receive what he has deserved in the body, matched to whatever he has done, good or bad. NLT: For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body. (NLT - Tyndale House)
2 Coríntios 5:10
Barclay writes that "some day we shall await the verdict of God. When we remember that, life becomes a tremendous and a thrilling thing (ED: OR A FRIGHTENING THOUGHT IF WE DON'T KNOW JESUS AS OUR SAVIOR AND LORD!), for in it we are making or marring a destiny, winning or losing a crown. Time becomes the testing ground of eternity." THE JUDGMENT SEAT: A PLACE OF RECKONING! May we "reckon" now so that we might have a glorious "reckoning" then! The question WE (yours truly is definitely included!) MUST all ask ourselves (under grace, not law) is simple... AM I MAKING OR MARRING A DESTINY? An addendum "Am I living for time or for eternity?" Am I living for Jesus and His glory or myself and my gratification? May we resolve enabled by the Spirit to emulate Jonathan Edwards... Where will all of our worldly enjoyments be, when we are laid in the silent grave? Resolved, to live as I shall wish I had done, when I come to die. Resolved, to live as I shall wish I had done, ten thousand ages hence. O God, stamp eternity on my eyeballs! While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:18+) In the last chapter of the last book of the Bible, Jesus alludes one last time to the fact that REWARDS are linked with His RETURN… Behold (An aorist imperative - a command - see idou), I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done. (Revelation 22:12+) May be recompensed (2865) (komizo from komeo = tend, take care of) means to bring bear or carry (used this way only in Lk 7:37) and in the middle voice to receive back (in sense of requital, recompense or reward) or to get what is promised (as in 1Pe 5:4 [note], He 10:36 [note]) or to get back something that is one's own or is owed to one (as in Mt 25:27)
2 Coríntios 5:11-13
Barclay: For, if we have behaved like a madman, it is for the sake of God’s work. If we behave like a sensible person, it is for your sake. (Westminster Press) Beet: If, as our enemies say, we are mad, we have become so in order to serve God and do His work. And, therefore, our very madness claims respect. If we are men of sound sense we use our sense, not, as most others do, to enrich ourselves, but to do you good ESV: For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. (ESV) HCSB: For if we are out of our mind, it is for God; if we have a sound mind, it is for you. (Holman Christian Standard Bible - Study notes available online free) KJV: For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause. NEB: It may be we are beside ourselves, but it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. (New English Bible - Oxford Press) NET: For if we are out of our minds, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you. (NET Bible) MH: If, to some people, we have seemed insane, it was for God’s glory. If, on the other hand, we are in full control of our senses, it is always for your good. Either way, selfishness is excluded, (Murray Harris' expanded paraphrase of 2Corinthians). NLT: If it seems we are crazy, it is to bring glory to God. And if we are in our right minds, it is for your benefit. (NLT - Tyndale House)
2 Coríntios 5:11-13
Barclay: So then, it is because we know the fear of the Lord that we keep on trying to persuade men, but to God we are already known through and through, and I hope that in your conscience, too, we will come to be as completely known. (Westminster Press) ESV: Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. (ESV) HCSB: Knowing, then, the fear of the Lord, we persuade people. We are completely open before God, and I hope we are completely open to your consciences as well. (Holman Christian Standard Bible - Study notes available online free) KJV: Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences. NEB: WITH THIS FEAR of the Lord before our eyes we address our appeal to men. To God our lives lie open, as I hope they also lie open to you in your heart of hearts. (New English Bible - Oxford Press) NET: Therefore, because we know the fear of the Lord, we try to persuade people, but we are well known to God, and I hope we are well known to your consciences too. (NET Bible) MH: We are fully aware, then, of our accountability to the Lord as our judge, and so we regard him with reverential awe. So we endeavor to persuade everyone of the truth of the gospel and of our integrity as messengers of the gospel. What we are and what our motives are have always been open to God’s scrutiny; and I hope these things are abundantly clear to your consciences as well. (Murray Harris' expanded paraphrase of 2Corinthians). NLT: Because we understand our fearful responsibility to the Lord, we work hard to persuade others. God knows we are sincere, and I hope you know this, too. (NLT - Tyndale House)
2 Coríntios 5:11-13
Barclay notes that phobos "is not the fear and trembling of the slave cringing before his master; nor fear and trembling at the prospect of punishment. It comes from two things. It comes, first, from a sense of our own creatureliness and our own powerlessness to deal with life triumphantly. That is to say, it is not the fear and trembling which drives us to hide from God, but rather the fear and trembling which drives us to seek God, in the certainty that without His help we cannot effectively face life. It comes, second, from a horror of grieving God. When we really love a person (God), we are not afraid of what He may do to us; we are afraid of what we may do to Him! (cp Jn 14:15) (Barclay, W: The Daily Study Bible Series. The Westminster Press) Fear of the Lord therefore is a healthy spiritual attitude which on one hand is an awe of God's greatness and glory and on the other hand is a deep and reverential sense of accountability to Christ and even somewhat of a dread of the discipline we will reap for violating His holy nature. Such fear involves self-distrust, a sensitive conscience, and being on guard against temptation. Fear of the Lord - 25x in 25v in NAS - The following passages make a great study of this basic, seldom studied Biblical doctrine (Note: These 25v are just a sampling of over 200 passages that speak of godly fear) - 2Chr 19:7, 9; Job 28:28; Ps 19:9; 34:11; 111:10; Pr 1:7, 29; 2:5; 8:13; 9:10; 10:27; 14:26, 27; 15:16, 33; 16:6; 19:23; 22:4; 23:17; Isa 11:2, 3; 33:6; Acts 9:31; 2Cor 5:11. Brian Bell asked a thorny question - What’s your motivation for ministry? You might be surprised by the answer given here. Some would say my love for Christ. Others might say rewards. Others might say duty. But what about…“Fear?” How can the Christian prepare for the Judgment Seat of Christ? Maintain a clear conscience. Terror = fear. - It is not the sense of being afraid of being clubbed to death or whipped by an angry God. It is an awesome reverence, a fear that grows out of respect. The fear excited by the thought of standing before the judgment seat of Christ and having one’s whole life exposed and estimated (evaluated). How can such opposite emotions as fear and love (2Co 5:14) dwell in the same heart? Certainly they are found in the hearts of children who love their parents and yet respect them and their authority. “Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling” (Ps 2:11-+). (2 Corinthians 5:11-21) John
2 Coríntios 5:11-13
Barclay: We are not trying to give ourselves another testimonial, but we are giving you an opportunity to express your pride in us, so that you may be able to answer those who pride themselves on outward appearances but not in the things of the heart. (Westminster Press) ESV: We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart. (ESV) HCSB: We are not commending ourselves to you again, but giving you an opportunity to be proud of us, so that you may have a reply for those who take pride in the outward appearance rather than in the heart. (Holman Christian Standard Bible - Study notes available online free) KJV: For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance, and not in heart. NEB: This is not another attempt to recommend ourselves to you: we are rather giving you a chance to show yourselves proud of us; then you will have something to say to those whose pride is all in outward show and not in inward worth. (New English Bible - Oxford Press) NET: We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to be proud of us, so that you may be able to answer those who take pride in outward appearance and not in what is in the heart. (NET Bible) MH: No, it is not the case that we are trying, all over again, to commend ourselves to you and to justify ourselves before you. On the contrary, we are affording you with a solid and suitable basis for taking real pride in us and championing our cause, so that you may have ample ammunition against our opponents who constantly pride themselves on position and privilege rather than on the state of the heart. (Murray Harris' expanded paraphrase of 2Corinthians). NLT: Are we commending ourselves to you again? No, we are giving you a reason to be proud of us, so you can answer those who brag about having a spectacular ministry rather than having a sincere heart. (NLT - Tyndale House)
2 Coríntios 5:11-13
Barclay commenting on the related noun says "The man who is sophron has every part of his nature under perfect control, which is to say that the man who is sophron is the man in whose heart Christ reigns supreme." (Barclay, W: The Daily Study Bible Series. The Westminster Press) Sophroneo - 6x in 6v - Mk 5:15; Lk 8:35; Ro 12:3; 2Cor 5:13; Titus 2:6; 1Pe 4:7
2 Coríntios 5:14-16
Barclay: For it is the love of Christ which controls us, because we have come to this conclusion that one died for all, and that the inevitable conclusion is that all died. (Westminster Press) ESV: For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; (ESV) HCSB: For Christ’s love compels us, since we have reached this conclusion: if One died for all, then all died. (Holman Christian Standard Bible - Study notes available online free) KJV: For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: MH: for the example of Christ’s love controls our actions and leaves us no choice but to serve God and you. The conclusion we reached long ago was this: That one person died for all, and therefore in one sense all died — his death was their death. (Murray Harris' expanded paraphrase of 2Corinthians). Moffatt: For I am controlled by the love of Christ, convinced that as One has died for all, then all have died NEB: For the love of Christ leaves us no choice, when once we have reached the conclusion that one man died for all and therefore all mankind has died. (New English Bible - Oxford Press) NET: For the love of Christ controls us, since we have concluded this, that Christ died for all; therefore all have died. (NET Bible) NIV: For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. NLT: Either way, Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life. (NLT - Tyndale House)
2 Coríntios 5:14-16
Barclay: And he did die for all in order that those who live should no longer live for their own sakes, but for the sake of him who died and was raised again. (Westminster Press) ESV: 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. (ESV) HCSB: And He died for all so that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for the One who died for them and was raised. (Holman Christian Standard Bible - Study notes available online free) KJV: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. NEB: His purpose in dying for all was that men, while still in life, should cease to live for themselves, and should live for him who for their sake died and was raised to life. (New English Bible - Oxford Press) NET: And he died for all so that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised. (NET Bible) MH: And the reason for his death for all? He died so that those who enjoy newness of life in him should quit living for themselves and live wholly for the one who himself both died and rose again for them.(Murray Harris' expanded paraphrase of 2Corinthians). NLT: He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them.(NLT - Tyndale House)
2 Coríntios 5:14-16
Barclay: The result is that from now on we value no man on the world’s standards. There was a time when we applied our human standards to Christ, but now that is no longer the way in which we know him. (Westminster Press) ESV: 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. (ESV) HCSB: From now on, then, we do not know anyone in a purely human way. Even if we have known Christ in a purely human way, yet now we no longer know Him like that. (Holman Christian Standard Bible - Study notes available online free) KJV: Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. NEB: With us therefore worldly standards have ceased to count in our estimate of any man; even if once they counted in our understanding of Christ, they do so now no longer. (New English Bible - Oxford Press) NET: So then from now on we acknowledge no one from an outward human point of view. Even though we have known Christ from such a human point of view, now we do not know him in that way any longer.(NET Bible) MH: The death and resurrection of Christ have produced two further results. First, for the future, we refuse to estimate anyone by the external standards of the world. Indeed, even if before our conversion we thought of Christ from the standpoint of the world as a mere human being and as a messianic pretender, now we no longer view him that way. (Murray Harris' expanded paraphrase of 2Corinthians). Moffatt: Once convinced of this, then, I estimate no one by what is external; even though I once estimated Christ by what is external, I no longer estimate him thus. NLT: So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now! (NLT - Tyndale House)
2 Coríntios 5:17
Barclay: The result is that if a man is in Christ he has been created all over again. The old things have passed away, and lo! they have become new. (Daily Study Bible) God's Word: Whoever is a believer in Christ is a new creation. The old way of living has disappeared. A new way of living has come into existence. ESV: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. (ESV) ICB: If anyone belongs to Christ, then he is made new. The old things have gone; everything is made new! ISV: If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. What was old has disappeared, and now everything has become new! KJV: Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. Mace: therefore, if any man be a Christian, he is in a new creation: the old state of things is chang'd to one entirely new. MLB (Berkley): Accordingly, if any one is in Christ he is a new creation. The old is gone; lo, the new has come. Moffatt: There is a new creation whenever a man comes to be in Christ; what is old is gone, the new has come. NASB (1977): Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. NET: So then, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; what is old has passed away, see, what is new has come! (NET Bible) NJB: So for anyone who is in Christ, there is a new creation: the old order is gone and a new being is there to see. NKJV: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. NLT: What this means is that those who become Christians become new persons. They are not the same anymore, for the old life is gone. A new life has begun! (NLT - Tyndale House)
2 Coríntios 5:17
Barclay adds "that when Paul spoke of the Christian being in Christ, he meant that the Christian lives in Christ as a bird in the air, a fish in the water, the roots of a tree in the soil. What makes the Christian different is that he is always and everywhere conscious of the encircling presence of Jesus Christ. (Daily Study Bible) Barclay goes on to explain that "A Christian always moves in two spheres. He is in a certain place in this world; but he is also in Christ. He lives in two dimensions. He lives in this world whose duties he does not treat lightly; but above and beyond that he lives in Christ. In this world he may move from place to place; but wherever he is, he is in Christ. That is why outward circumstances make little difference to the Christian; his peace and his joy are not dependent on them. That is why he will do any job with all his heart. It may be menial, unpleasant, painful, it may be far less distinguished than he might expect to have; its rewards may be small and its praise non-existent; nevertheless the Christian will do it diligently, uncomplainingly and cheerfully, for he is in Christ and does all things as to the Lord. We are all in our own Colosse, but we are all in Christ, and it is Christ who sets the tone of our living." Barclay describes an ideal state writing that "There is the life that is dominated by the Spirit of God. As a man lives in the air, he lives in Christ, never separated from him. As he breathes in the air and the air fills him, so Christ fills him. He has no mind of his own; Christ is his mind. He has no desires of his own; the will of Christ is his only law. He is Spirit-controlled, Christ-controlled, God-focused." (Daily Study Bible) Ray
2 Coríntios 5:18-19
Barclay: And all things are from God who reconciled us to himself by means of Christ and who gave us the ministry of reconciliation, (Westminster Press) ESV: All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; (ESV) HCSB: Now everything is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: (Holman Christian Standard Bible) KJV: And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; NEB: From first to last this has been the work of God. He has reconciled us men to himself through Christ, and he has enlisted us in this service of reconciliation. (New English Bible - Oxford Press) NET: And all these things are from God who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and who has given us the ministry of reconciliation. (NET Bible) MH: This new situation is wholly God’s doing, for he is the one who restored us to his favor through the work of Christ and entrusted us with the task of announcing this reconciliation. (Murray Harris' expanded paraphrase of 2Corinthians). NLT: And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. (NLT - Tyndale House)
2 Coríntios 5:18-19
Barclay summarizes the truths about reconciliation writing that... First and foremost, Paul sees the work of Jesus Christ as above and beyond all else a work of reconciliation. Through that which He did, the lost relationship between man and God is restored. Man was made for friendship and fellowship with God. By his disobedience and rebellion he ended up at enmity with God. That which Jesus did took that enmity away, and restored the relationship of friendship which should always have existed, but which was broken by man's sin. It is to be carefully noted that Paul never speaks of God being reconciled to men, but always of men being reconciled to God. The most significant of all the passages, 2Co 5.18, 19, 20, three times speaks of God reconciling man to Himself. It was man, not God, who needed to be reconciled. Nothing had lessened the love of God (Jn 3:16); nothing had turned that love to hate; nothing had ever banished that yearning from the heart of God (2Pe 3:9). Man might sin, but God still loved (Ro 5:8, 1Jn 4:8, 10, 16, 18). It was not God who needed to be pacified, but man who needed to be moved to surrender and to penitence and to love. Here then we are face to face with an inescapable truth. The effect of the Cross—at least in this sphere of the thought of Paul—was on man, and not on God. The effect of the Cross changed, not the heart of God, but the heart of man (Ed: Although clearly God was propitiated or "satisfied" - see following paragraph). It was man who needed to be reconciled, not God. It is entirely against all Pauline thought to think of Jesus Christ pacifying an angry God, or to think that in some way God's wrath was turned to love ("God is [present tense = continually] love" 1Jn 4:8), and God's judgment was turned to mercy (Remember all of God's attributes are Eternal and Immutable), because of something which Jesus did... When we look at it in Paul's way, it was man's sin which was turned to penitence, man's rebellion which was turned to surrender, man's enmity which was turned to love, by the sacrificial love of Jesus Christ upon the Cross. It cost that Cross to make that change in the hearts of men. (Barclay, William: New Testament Words:. Westminster John Know Press, 1964) Propitiation of God makes possible man's reconciliation to God...The basic idea of propitiation in Hebrew terms is that of covering what is offensive, so restoring friendship, or causing to be kindly disposed. The Greek terms lack the physical reference to covering but introduce the idea of friendliness where antagonism would be natural; hence, graciousness. Naturally, therefore, the idea of expiation entered into the concept. It is especially to be noted that all provisions for this friendly relation as between God and offending man find their initiation and provision in God and are under His direction, but involve the active response of man. All heathen and unworthy conceptions are removed from the Christian notion of propitiation by the fact that God Himself proposed, or "set forth," Christ as the "mercy-seat," and that this is the supreme expression of ultimate love. God had all the while been merciful, friendly, "passing over" man's sins with no apparently adequate, or just, ground for doing so. Now in the blood of Christ sin is condemned and expiated, and God is able to establish and maintain His character for righteousness, while He continues and extends His dealing in gracious love with sinners who exercise faith in Jesus. The propitiation originates with God, not to appease Himself, but to justify Himself in His uniform kindness to men deserving harshness. Compare also as to reconciliation, as in Romans 5:1-11; 2 Corinthians 5:18. (Propitiation - by William Owen Carver in the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia) Is Your "Bell" Sounding the Good News of Reconciliation? - There's a story about a bell that hung in the belfry of an old church. When some visitors tried to ring it, nothing happened. So they investigated and discovered something most unusual. The bottom of the bell was plugged with wood. Stranger yet, a door had been cut in the side of the bell and a padlock had been used to secure the door. The church was using the old bell as a strongbox in which to store money. This was a clever idea, but it certainly wasn't what the bell was designed for. Just as a bell is made for ringing, Christians are meant to sound out the good news of salvation. But many remain silent and keep the precious message of reconciliation with God to themselves. Think carefully about your own life. Do you keep your knowledge of Scripture and your joy of knowing God locked up inside? Sound out the Gospel story! —Paul R. Van Gorder. If Christianity is worth having, It's worth sharing. Illustration of Reconciliation - The story is told that Britain’s Queen Victoria and her husband, Prince Albert, had a spat not long after they were married. Albert went away and angrily locked himself in their private residence at the palace. The queen pounded furiously on the door, and when Albert asked who was there, the answer was, “The Queen of England, who demands admittance.” But the door did not open. Victoria knocked again, and again Prince Albert asked who was there. The answer was the same: “The Queen of England.” But the prince would not open the door. Finally, the story goes, Victoria knocked in a more restrained way, and when asked who was there, responded, “Your wife, Albert.” The door opened immediately and the royal couple was reconciled. (as told by Tony Evans) Undeterred Determination - (God...has given us the ministry of reconciliation) - One of the great privileges of serving at Moody Bible Institute was hearing about graduates who had impacted the world for Christ. Their stories of sacrifice, perseverance, and passion for the gospel were inspiring. In the late 19th century, Mary McLeod Bethune spent 2 years studying at Moody in Chicago, training to become a missionary in Africa. But after she graduated, no mission board would give her the opportunity, as an African-American woman, to serve on the mission field. Unable to fulfill her dream to go to Africa, she didn’t give up on her calling to serve Jesus. Undaunted, she started a small school for African-American girls in Florida that would eventually blossom into Bethune-Cookman College. She became a powerful force for change in the status of women. Mary’s legacy was forged by her determination to serve Jesus even in the face of shattered dreams. She knew that God had entrusted to her “the ministry of reconciliation” (2 Cor. 5:18)—and she wouldn’t give up. Wherever You have placed us, Lord, Give us the courage to proclaim To people who are lost in sin: “You can be new in Jesus’ name.” —Sper One of the qualities God looks for in His people is a heart that is willing to serve Him. Family Stories - Everybody loves a family story, and today’s Bible reading contains one of the most well-known stories in all of Scripture—the Parable of the Lost Son. Author Henri Nouwen, in his book The Return Of The Prodigal Son, suggests that all Christians, at some point in their walk of faith, are represented by each of the three main characters. At times we are the wayward child in need of repentance and forgiveness. At other times we are the big brother who wants to hold on to resentment and withhold forgiveness. But as we mature, we become like the father, whose highest desire is to have all his children reconciled. Nouwen ends the book with these words: “As I look at my own aging hands, I know that they have been given to me to stretch out to all who suffer, to rest upon the shoulders of all who come, and to offer the blessing that emerges from the immensity of God’s love.” What role are you playing in your family story? Do you need the courage to repent and seek forgiveness? Or do you need the compassion to extend forgiveness? God has given His children the “ministry of reconciliation” (2Corinthians 5:18, 19). Now would be a good time to start. Lord, grant me the courage to confess my faults to those I’ve offended, and the grace to accept the confessions of those who have offended me. May I become a minister of reconciliation to bless my family on Your behalf. Amen. Make Peace - It was a dramatic story of forgiveness. In December of 2000, on the Battleship Missouri Memorial, a dozen American survivors of the attack on Pearl Harbor embraced three of the Japanese pilots who had flown attacking planes. The reconciliation ceremony had been arranged by the American-Japan Friendship Committee. That moving scene is only a dim reflection of what God’s grace does for us. Although we are sinful, we can be brought into a relationship with God through simple faith in Jesus. Because He died on the cross in our place, God blots out the record of our sins and makes us right with Him. The Lord in His amazing love has not only forgiven us but has also given to us “the ministry of reconciliation” (2Cor 5:18). We have the honor of sharing the good news with others so that they too can be at peace with God. And when we are right with God, we are also to do what we can to live at peace with everyone (Ro 12:18). God has a purpose and plan for your life When from your sin He has given release; You're an ambassador for Jesus Christ— Go and tell others of His perfect peace. —Hess When we experience peace with God, we can share His peace with others. John Henry Jowett has the following devotional on 2Cor 5:14-21: HERE is a new constraint! “The love of Christ constrains me.” The love of Christ carries me along like a crowd. I am taken up in its mighty movement and swept along the appointed road! Or it arrests me, and makes me its willing prisoner. It lays a strong hand upon me, and I have no option but to go. A gracious “necessity is laid upon me.” I must! And here is a new world. “Old things are passed away.” The man who is the prisoner of the Lord’s love will find himself in new and wonderful scenery. Everything will wear a new face—God, man, self, the garden, the sky, the sea! We shall look at all things through love-eyes, and it is amazing in what new light a great love will set familiar things! Commonplaces become beautiful when looked at through the lens of Christian love. When we “walk in love” our eyes are anointed with “the eye-salve” of grace. And here is a new service. “We are ambassadors ... for Christ.” When we see our Lord through love-eyes, and then our brother, we shall yearn to serve our brother in Christ. We shall intensely long to tell the love-story of the Lord our Saviour. What we have seen, with confidence we tell. 2 Corinthians 5:19 namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. (NASB: Lockman) Greek: os hoti theos en (3SIAI) en Christo kosmon katallasson (PAPMSN) eauto, me logizomenos (PMPMSN) autois ta paraptomata auton, kai themenos (AMPMSN) en hemin ton logon tes katallages. Amplified: It was God [personally present] in Christ, reconciling and restoring the world to favor with Himself, not counting up and holding against [men] their trespasses [but canceling them], and committing to us the message of reconciliation (of the restoration to favor). (Lockman) Barclay: a ministry whose message is that God, through Christ, was reconciling the world to himself, not debiting their sins against them, and has given us the story of this reconciliation to tell. (Westminster Press) ESV: 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. (ESV) HCSB: that is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed the message of reconciliation to us. (Holman Christian Standard Bible - Study notes available online free) KJV: To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. NEB: What I mean is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, no longer holding men's misdeeds against them, and that he has entrusted us with the message of reconciliation. (New English Bible - Oxford Press) NET: In other words, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting people’s trespasses against them, and he has given us the message of reconciliation. (NET Bible) MH: Its essence is this: God was present in Christ and operative through him when he was reconciling humankind to himself, no longer debiting people’s offenses to their account. And the obligation and privilege of declaring this message of reconciliation God has entrusted to our care. (Murray Harris' expanded paraphrase of 2Corinthians). NLT: For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation.(NLT - Tyndale House)
2 Coríntios 5:20-21
Barclay: So then we are acting as ambassadors on Christ’s behalf, for God is sending you his invitation through us. We beseech you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. (Westminster Press) ESV: Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. (ESV) HCSB: Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ; certain that God is appealing through us, we plead on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God.” (Holman Christian Standard Bible - Study notes available online free) KJV: Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. NEB: We come therefore as Christ's ambassadors. It is as if God were appealing to you through us: in Christ's name, we implore you, be reconciled to God! (New English Bible - Oxford Press) NET: Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His plea through us. We plead with you on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God!” (NET Bible) MH: So we are acting on Christ’s behalf and in his place as his special envoys. It is, in reality, God Himself who issues his appeal through our words. As Christ’s representatives, then, we make this entreaty when we preach: “Get reconciled to God!” (Murray Harris' expanded paraphrase of 2Corinthians) (International Greek Testament) (Logos). NLT: So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” (NLT - Tyndale House)
2 Coríntios 5:20-21
Barclay: He made him who had no acquaintance with sin to be sin for us, that through him we might become the righteousness of God. (Westminster Press) ESV: For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (ESV) HCSB: He made the One who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (Holman Christian Standard Bible - Study notes available online free) KJV: For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. NEB: Christ was innocent of sin, and yet for our sake God made him one with the sinfulness of men, so that in him we might be made one with the goodness of God himself. (New English Bible - Oxford Press) NET: God made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we would become the righteousness of God. (NET Bible) MH: How did that reconciliation come about? Christ was totally devoid of sin. Yet God caused him to be sin on our behalf and in our place, so that as a result of being united with Christ we might become righteous before God. (Murray Harris' expanded paraphrase of 2Corinthians). NLT: For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ. (NLT - Tyndale House)