New English Translation
2 Corinthians 5:20
20Therefore 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!”
2 Corinthians 5:20 in other versions
- King James Version (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.
- New International Version (NIV)We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.
Context of 2 Corinthians 5:20
18And all these things are from God who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and who has given us the ministry of reconciliation. 19In 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. 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!” 21God made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we would become the righteousness of God.
Read all of 2 Corinthians 52 Corinthians 5:20 word by word
Ὑπὲρ Χριστοῦ οὖν πρεσβεύομεν, ὡς τοῦ θεοῦ παρακαλοῦντος δι᾽ ἡμῶν· δεόμεθα ὑπὲρ Χριστοῦ· καταλλάγητε τῷ θεῷ.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Now thenοὖνoun · therefore/thenG3767
- we are ambassadorsπρεσβεύωpresbeuō · be ambassadorG4243
- forὑπέρhuper · above/forG5228
- ChristΧριστόςChristos · ChristG5547
- as thoughὡςhōs · as/whenG5613
- Godὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
- did beseechπαρακαλέωparakaleō · to plead/comfortG3870
- byδιάdia · through/because ofG1223
- usἐγώegō · I/weG1473
- we prayδέομαιdeomai · to prayG1189
- be ye reconciledκαταλλάσσωkatallassō · to reconcileG2644
Cross-references for 2 Corinthians 5:20
- 2 Corinthians 3:6who made us adequate to be servants of a new covenant not based on the letter but on the Spirit, for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
- Job 33:23If there is an angel beside him, one mediator out of a thousand, to tell a person what constitutes his uprightness;
- Proverbs 13:17An unreliable messenger falls into trouble, but a faithful envoy brings healing.
- Malachi 2:7For the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge of sacred things, and people should seek instruction from him because he is the messenger of the Lord who rules over all.
- John 20:21So Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. Just as the Father has sent me, I also send you.”
- Acts 26:17I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you
- Ephesians 6:20for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may be able to speak boldly as I ought to speak.
- 2 Corinthians 5:11Therefore, 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.
- 2 Corinthians 6:1Now because we are fellow workers, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain.
- 2 Kings 17:13The Lord solemnly warned Israel and Judah through all his prophets and all the seers, “Turn back from your evil ways; obey my commandments and rules that are recorded in the law. I ordered your ancestors to keep this law and sent my servants the prophets to remind you of its demands.”
- 2 Chronicles 36:15The Lord God of their ancestors continually warned them through his messengers, for he felt compassion for his people and his dwelling place.
- Nehemiah 9:29And you solemnly admonished them in order to return them to your law, but they behaved presumptuously and did not obey your commandments. They sinned against your ordinances – those by which an individual, if he obeys them, will live. They boldly turned from you; they rebelled and did not obey.
- Isaiah 55:6Seek the Lord while he makes himself available; call to him while he is nearby!
- Jeremiah 44:4I sent my servants the prophets to you people over and over again warning you not to do this disgusting thing I hate.
- Ezekiel 18:31Throw away all your sins you have committed and fashion yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why should you die, O house of Israel?
- Job 33:6Look, I am just like you in relation to God; I too have been molded from clay.
Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 5:20
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20We are ambassadors for Christ - ̔ - . We execute the function of ambassadors in Christ's stead. He came from the Father to mankind on this important embassy. He has left the world, and appointed us in his place. Ambassador is a person sent from one sovereign power to another; and is supposed to represent the person of the sovereign by whom he is deputed. Christ while on earth represented the person of the Sovereign of the world; his apostles and their…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20Now then we are ambassadors for Christ - We are the ambassadors whom Christ has sent forth to negotiate with people in regard to their reconciliation to God, Tyndale renders this: “Now then are we messengers in the room of Christ.” The word used here ́ presbeuomenfrom ́ presbusan aged man, an elder, and then an ambassador) means to act as an ambassador, or sometimes merely to deliver a message for another, without being empowered to do any thing more than…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 16-21Verses 16-21 The renewed man acts upon new principles, by new rules, with new ends, and in new company. The believer is created anew; his heart is not merely set right, but a new heart is given him. He is the workmanship of God, created in Christ Jesus unto good works. Though the same as a man, he is changed in his character and conduct. These words must and do mean more than an outward reformation. The man who formerly saw no beauty in the Saviour that…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 20The great privilege of believers is to be Christ’s ambassadors (compare Ephesians 6:20). as though God were making His appeal through us: Paul does not claim to speak for God. Instead, God speaks through us. Christ’s redeeming work for sinners allows them to "Be reconciled to God" (see Romans 5:1–11; Ephesians 2:11–22; Colossians 1:15–23). Christian witness centers on this appeal. Paul also urged the rebellious Corinthians to join his side (see 2…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2020. for Christ ... in Christ's stead--The Greek of both is the same: translate in both cases "on Christ's behalf." beseech ... pray--rather, "entreat [plead with you] ... beseech." Such "beseeching" is uncommon in the case of "ambassadors," who generally stand on their dignity (compare 2Co 10:2; 1Th 2:6, 7). be ye reconciled to God--English Version here inserts "ye," which is not in the original, and which gives the wrong impression, as if it were…Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Corinthians 5:20
In the dictionaries
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
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