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2 Corinthians 5:11-6
English Standard Version
2 Corinthians 5:11-6
English Standard Version
The Ministry of Reconciliation
11 Therefore, knowing (A)the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But (B)what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. 12 (C)We are not commending ourselves to you again but (D)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. 13 For if we (E)are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14 For the love of Christ (F)controls us, because we have concluded this: that (G)one has died for all, therefore all have died; 15 and he died for all, (H)that those who live might no longer live for themselves but (I)for him who for their sake died and was raised.
16 From now on, therefore, (J)we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is (K)in Christ, he is (L)a new creation.[a] (M)The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, (N)who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us (O)the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling[b] the world to himself, (P)not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us (Q)the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, (R)we are ambassadors for Christ, (S)God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 (T)For our sake he made him to be sin (U)who knew no sin, so that in him we might become (V)the righteousness of God.
6 (W)Working together with him, then, (X)we appeal to you (Y)not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2 For he says,
(Z)“In a favorable time I listened to you,
and in a day of salvation I have helped you.”
Behold, (AA)now is the (AB)favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. 3 We (AC)put no obstacle in anyone's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, 4 but (AD)as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: (AE)by great endurance, (AF)in afflictions, (AG)hardships, calamities, 5 (AH)beatings, imprisonments, (AI)riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; 6 (AJ)by purity, (AK)knowledge, patience, kindness, (AL)the Holy Spirit, (AM)genuine love; 7 by (AN)truthful speech, and (AO)the power of God; with (AP)the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; 8 through honor and dishonor, (AQ)through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; 9 as unknown, and (AR)yet well known; (AS)as dying, and behold, we live; (AT)as punished, and yet not killed; 10 (AU)as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; (AV)as poor, yet making many rich; (AW)as having nothing, (AX)yet possessing everything.
11 We have spoken freely to you,[c] Corinthians; (AY)our heart is wide open.
Footnotes
- 2 Corinthians 5:17 Or creature
- 2 Corinthians 5:19 Or God was in Christ, reconciling
- 2 Corinthians 6:11 Greek Our mouth is open to you
2 Corinthians 5:11-6
New International Version
2 Corinthians 5:11-6
New International Version
The Ministry of Reconciliation
11 Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord,(A) we try to persuade others. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience.(B) 12 We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again,(C) but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us,(D) so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart. 13 If we are “out of our mind,”(E) as some say, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.(F) 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves(G) but for him who died for them(H) and was raised again.
16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly(I) point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ,(J) the new creation(K) has come:[a] The old has gone, the new is here!(L) 18 All this is from God,(M) who reconciled us to himself through Christ(N) and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them.(O) And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors,(P) as though God were making his appeal through us.(Q) We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.(R) 21 God made him who had no sin(S) to be sin[b] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.(T)
6 As God’s co-workers(U) we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain.(V) 2 For he says,
I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.
Paul’s Hardships
3 We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path,(X) so that our ministry will not be discredited. 4 Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; 5 in beatings, imprisonments(Y) and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger;(Z) 6 in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit(AA) and in sincere love;(AB) 7 in truthful speech(AC) and in the power of God;(AD) with weapons of righteousness(AE) in the right hand and in the left; 8 through glory and dishonor,(AF) bad report(AG) and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors;(AH) 9 known, yet regarded as unknown; dying,(AI) and yet we live on;(AJ) beaten, and yet not killed; 10 sorrowful, yet always rejoicing;(AK) poor, yet making many rich;(AL) having nothing,(AM) and yet possessing everything.(AN)
11 We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you.(AO)
Footnotes
- 2 Corinthians 5:17 Or Christ, that person is a new creation.
- 2 Corinthians 5:21 Or be a sin offering
- 2 Corinthians 6:2 Isaiah 49:8
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.