1. 2 Corinthians Class Schedule
7/9/17 2 Cor 5: R. Henderson

2. 19  namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
20  Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
21  He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

3. 19  namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
namely - lit: that is
that God was in Christ (or in Christ was God)
was – eimi – the state in which someone or something
continuously exists
see – John 1:1 --- the Word was God
in - en - a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position
(in place, time or state)
this speaks of the unity of Father and Son
see Col 2:9

4. reconciling the world “to Himself”
19  namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
reconciling the world “to Himself”
compare with v who reconciled us “to Himself”
Rom. 5:10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.
“the world” has been reconciled to God - see 1 John 2:2

5. not counting their trespasses against them
19  namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
not counting their trespasses against them
counting (reckoning) - logizomai - to count something to somebody means to reckon something to a person, to put to his account, either in his favor or for what he must be answerable – see Gal. 3:6; James 2:23
trespasses - paraptōma - primarily a false step, a blunder –
a lapse from uprightness, a sin, a moral trespass,
misdeed - see Eph 2:1 & 5; Gal 6:1
against them – lit: of them
Who did God reckon our trespasses to?

6. 19  namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation
He (God the Father)
committed – tithēmi - to place, lay, set, or put
see 1 Cor. 12:18, 1 Tim 1:12
Lit: and He having placed or deposited in us
the “word of reconciliation”
word - logos - word as the expression of that intelligence,
discourse - lit: a message - Eph. 1:13, 2 Tim 4:2
compare with the “ministry of reconciliation” from v:18

7. we are ambassadors for Christ
20  Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
Therefore – or so then
we are ambassadors for Christ
we are ambassadors – present tense verb – continuous
action as an ambassador in the
present – see Eph 6:20
for Christ – lit: on behalf of Christ (for = huper) – 1st time
We not only represent our sovereign but we also act in His place McCalley
Therefore, on behalf of Christ and in His place we are acting as ambassadors, (Wuest)

8. as though God were making an appeal through us
20  Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
as though God were making an appeal through us
as though (or as if) God
were making an appeal - parakaleō - to call upon someone to do something, to exhort, admonish
see – 2 Cor. 6:1, 2 Cor. 10:1
through us
This makes us God's ambassadors, one of the most exalted titles the Christian can claim. Ambassadors authoritatively announce messages for others and request, not demand, acceptance Constable

9. 20  Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God
we beg you - lit: we ask - deomai - to beseech, pray,
request, - see Gal 4:12
on behalf of Christ – 2nd time
be reconciled to God
be reconciled at once to God (Wuest)
What does this mean?
Can man reconcile himself to God?

10. knew - ginōskō - to be taking in knowledge, to come to
21  He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
He made Him, who knew no sin, to be sin on our behalf
First the middle part of this statement
who knew no sin
knew - ginōskō - to be taking in knowledge, to come to
know, recognize, understand
These verses (Heb 4:15, 1 Peter 2:22, 1 John 3:5) tell us
more details about Christ’s absence of sin
Christ had no interaction with sin since He was not tempted by sin! – see James 1:13
He who did not know sin in an experiential way (Wuest)

11. made - poieō - to make, do, expressing action either
21  He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
He made Him to be sin on our behalf
made - poieō - to make, do, expressing action either
as completed or continued.
to be sin (lit: He made Him sin on behalf of us)
Christ was made the thing sin itself
What does this mean?
on our behalf - lit: on behalf of us or for the sake of us
3rd time in these verses
see 2 Cor. 5:15
7/9/17 2 Cor 5: R. Henderson

12. 21  He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him
so that - with a purpose that
we – the believer
might become – ginomai – coming into a new state of
being, a state that never existed before
the righteousness of God in Him
notice that this is “in Him” (the same as “in Christ”)
see parallel verse Rom 3: also 1 Cor. 1:30

13. The significance of being “in Him” *
We read in the book of Ephesians that those who believe in Christ are:
In Christ (1:3,7,10)
In Him (1:4, 9,10,13)
In the Beloved (1:6)
In Whom (2:21,22; 3:12).
In six chapters Paul writes no less than 36 times about the one who believes being ‘in Christ’!
And being ‘in Christ’ is always the place of blessing & power & acceptance & love & identity, ‘in Him’.
* Vern 6/13/2010