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 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 things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19To 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. 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. 21For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made 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

• 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 hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
• Job 33:23If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his uprightness:
• Proverbs 13:17A wicked messenger falleth into mischief: but a faithful ambassador is health.
• Malachi 2:7For the priest’s lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of Yhwh of Armies.
• John 20:21Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
• Acts 26:17Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,
• Ephesians 6:20For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein 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 made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.
• 2 Corinthians 6:1We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.
• 2 Kings 17:13Yet Yhwh testified against Israel, and against Judah, by all the prophets, and by all the seers, saying, Turn ye 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 Yhwh God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up betimes, and sending; because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place:
• Nehemiah 9:29And testifiedst against them, that thou mightest bring them again unto thy law: yet they dealt proudly, and hearkened not unto thy commandments, but sinned against thy judgments, (which if a man do, he shall live in them;) and withdrew the shoulder, and hardened their neck, and would not hear.
• Isaiah 55:6Seek ye Yhwh while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
• Jeremiah 44:4Howbeit I sent unto you all my servants the prophets, rising early and sending them, saying, Oh, do not this abominable thing that I hate.
• Ezekiel 18:31Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
• Job 33:6Behold, I am according to thy wish in God’s stead: I also am formed out of the 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
• Christ, Messiah
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Ambassador
• Apostle
• Appear
• Constrain
• Corinthians, Second Epistle to the
• Earthly

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