2 Corinthians 5:20

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 Living Translation (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!”

Context of 2 Corinthians 5:20

18Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 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. 21For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

2 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 also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
• Job 33:23“If there is a messenger for him, A mediator, one among a thousand, To show man His uprightness,
• Proverbs 13:17A wicked messenger falls into trouble, But a faithful ambassador brings health.
• Malachi 2:7“For the lips of a priest should keep knowledge, And people should seek the law from his mouth; For he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.
• John 20:21So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.”
• Acts 26:17I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you,
• Ephesians 6:20for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
• 2 Corinthians 5:11Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences.
• 2 Corinthians 6:1We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain.
• 2 Kings 17:13Yet the Lord testified against Israel and against Judah, by all of His prophets, every seer, saying, “Turn from your evil ways, and keep My commandments and My statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by My servants the prophets.”
• 2 Chronicles 36:15And the Lord God of their fathers sent warnings to them by His messengers, rising up early and sending them, because He had compassion on His people and on His dwelling place.
• Nehemiah 9:29And testified against them, That You might bring them back to Your law. Yet they acted proudly, And did not heed Your commandments, But sinned against Your judgments, ‘Which if a man does, he shall live by them.’ And they shrugged their shoulders, Stiffened their necks, And would not hear.
• Isaiah 55:6Seek the Lord while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near.
• Jeremiah 44:4However I have sent to you all My servants the prophets, rising early and sending them, saying, “Oh, do not do this abominable thing that I hate!”
• Ezekiel 18:31Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O house of Israel?
• Job 33:6Truly I am as your spokesman before God; I also have been formed out of 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

• Ambassadors
• God Continued...
• Minister, Christian
• Reconciliation
• Salvation
• Zeal, Religious

In the dictionaries

• Christ
• God
• Ambassador
• Apostle
• Appear
• Constrain
• Corinthians, Second Epistle to the
• Earthly
• Faith
• Groan

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