2 Corinthians 5:14

2 Corinthians 5:14 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
• New International Version (NIV)For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.
• English Standard Version (ESV)For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died;
• New King James Version (NKJV)For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died;

Context of 2 Corinthians 5:14

12We are not commending ourselves to you again, but are giving you an occasion to be [rightfully] proud of us, so that you will have an answer for those who take pride in [outward] appearances [the virtues they pretend to have] rather than what is [actually] in heart. 13If we are out of our mind [just unstable fanatics as some critics say], it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for your benefit. For the love of Christ controls and compels us, because we have concluded this, that One died for all, therefore all died; 15and He died for all, so that all those who live would no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and was raised for their sake. 16So from now on we regard no one from a human point of view [according to worldly standards and values]. Though we have known Christ from a human point of view, now we no longer know Him in this way.

2 Corinthians 5:14 word by word

ἡ γὰρ ἀγάπη τοῦ Χριστοῦ συνέχει ἡμᾶς κρίναντας τοῦτο, ὅτι εἷς ὑπὲρ πάντων ἀπέθανεν· ἄρα οἱ πάντες ἀπέθανον.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Forγάρgar · forG1063
• the loveἀγάπηagapē · loveG26
• of ChristΧριστόςChristos · ChristG5547
• constrainethσυνέχωsunechō · to hold/oppressG4912
• usἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• becauseοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• we thus judgeκρίνωkrinō · to judgeG2919
• thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
• ifεἰei · ifG1487
• oneεἷςheis · oneG1520
• diedἀποθνήσκωapothnēskō · to dieG599
• forὑπέρhuper · above/forG5228
• allπᾶςpas · allG3956
• thenἄραara · thereforeG686

Cross-references for 2 Corinthians 5:14

• 2 Corinthians 8:8I am not saying this as a command [to dictate to you], but to prove, by [pointing out] the enthusiasm of others, the sincerity of your love as well.
• Matthew 10:37“ He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.
• Luke 7:42When they had no means of repaying [the debts], he freely forgave them both. So which of them will love him more?”
• John 14:21The person who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who [really] loves Me; and whoever [really] loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and reveal Myself to him [I will make Myself real to him].”
• John 21:15So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these [others do—with total commitment and devotion]?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You [with a deep, personal affection, as for a close friend].” Jesus said to him, “Feed My lambs.”
• 1 Corinthians 16:22If anyone does not love the Lord [does not obey and respect and believe in Jesus Christ and His message], he is to be accursed. Maranatha (O our Lord, come)!
• Ephesians 3:18be fully capable of comprehending with all the saints (God’s people) the width and length and height and depth of His love [fully experiencing that amazing, endless love];
• Ephesians 6:24Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with undying and incorruptible love.
• Hebrews 6:10For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown for His name in ministering to [the needs of] the saints (God’s people), as you do.
• 1 Peter 1:8Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and though you do not even see Him now, you believe and trust in Him and you greatly rejoice and delight with inexpressible and glorious joy,
• Job 32:18For I am full of words; The spirit within me constrains me.
• Luke 24:29But they urged Him [not to go on], saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening, and the day has just about ended.” So He went inside to stay with them.
• Acts 4:19But Peter and John replied to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you and obey you rather than God, you must judge [for yourselves];
• Romans 2:2And we know that the judgment of God falls justly and in accordance with truth on those who practice such things.
• 1 Corinthians 2:14But the natural [unbelieving] man does not accept the things [the teachings and revelations] of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness [absurd and illogical] to him; and he is incapable of understanding them, because they are spiritually discerned and appreciated, [and he is unqualified to judge spiritual matters].
• Isaiah 53:6All of us like sheep have gone astray, We have turned, each one, to his own way; But the Lord has caused the wickedness of us all [our sin, our injustice, our wrongdoing] To fall on Him [instead of us].

Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 5:14

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 14For the love of Christ constraineth us - We have the love of God shed abroad in our hearts, and this causes us to love God intensely, and to love and labor for the salvation of men. And it is the effect produced by this love which ̔, bears us away with itself, which causes us to love after the similitude of that love by which we are influenced; and as God so loved the world as to give his Son for it, and as Christ so loved the world as to pour out his…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 14For the love of Christ - In this verse, Paul brings into view the principle which actuated him; the reason of his extraordinary and disinterested zeal. That was, that he was influenced by the love which Christ had shown in dying for all people, and by the argument which was furnished by that death respecting the actual character and condition of man (in this verse); and of the obligation of those who professed to be his true friends 2 Corinthians 5:15…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 9-15Verses 9-15 The apostle quickens himself and others to acts of duty. Well-grounded hopes of heaven will not encourage sloth and sinful security. Let all consider the judgment to come, which is called, The terror of the Lord. Knowing what terrible vengeance the Lord would execute upon the workers of iniquity, the apostle and his brethren used every argument and persuasion, to lead men to believe in the Lord Jesus, and to act as his disciples. Their zeal…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 14Christ’s love compels us: This could mean either believers’ love for Christ or, more likely, Christ’s love for us. This love motivates believers to spread the message of Christ through their service (see 1 Corinthians 9:16).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1414. For--Accounting for his being "beside himself" with enthusiasm: the love of Christ towards us (in His death for us, the highest proof of it, Ro 5:6-8), producing in turn love in us to Him, and not mere "terror" (2Co 5:11). constraineth us--with irresistible power limits us to the one great object to the exclusion of other considerations. The Greek implies to compress forcibly the energies into one channel. Love is jealous of any rival object…Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Corinthians 5:14

• Death
• Depravity of Man
• Jesus, the Christ
• Love
• Minister, Christian
• Suffering
• Unselfishness
• Zeal, Religious

In the dictionaries

• Christ
• Christ, Messiah
• Appear
• Constrain
• Corinthians, Second Epistle to the
• Earthly
• Faith
• Groan
• Pray
• Reconcile

Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 5

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings