2 Corinthians 5:19-20
that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
Notice that the verse doesn't say God waited for us to make amends. Instead, it proclaims He was already actively reconciling the world through Christ, choosing not to hold our failures against us. This isn't a negotiation; it's God’s initiative, a free gift that we're now invited to share.
Paul is explaining how God's new creation in Christ brings about reconciliation, not just for believers but for the whole world. He's just spoken about believers being ambassadors of this new reality, and here he unpacks the core message they carry: God's work in Christ has made peace, and He's given them the privilege of sharing it. This leads into his passionate plea for people to accept this reconciliation that God has already initiated.
We often think of reconciliation as something we do, but what if God moved first? This verse reveals a stunning truth about who started the reconciliation process.
Paul unpacks a profound reality: God Himself is the initiator of reconciliation. The phrase 'in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself' shows that this wasn't a human effort or a negotiation we brokered. It was God's action, made possible through Christ.
A World Apart
Before reconciliation, humanity was estranged from God due to sin. Our trespasses created a divide. But God, in His love and perfect plan, decided to bridge that gap through Jesus.
No Longer Counting Sins
The verse emphasizes that God is 'not counting their trespasses against them.' This isn't about ignoring sin, but about a divine decision to forgive and cover sin through Christ's sacrifice. Our record of wrong is cleared.
Paul doesn't just describe God's work; he passes the baton. What is the crucial task entrusted to believers?
The second half of the verse reveals our vital role: 'entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.' This means we are now ambassadors and messengers for God's reconciling work.
More Than Just Words
This isn't merely a theological concept to ponder; it's a message to be shared. We are given the privilege and responsibility to communicate that God, through Christ, offers forgiveness and a restored relationship to everyone.
A Sacred Trust
The word 'entrusting' implies a deep confidence and a sacred duty. God has committed this incredible news to us, His followers. It's a profound honor and a serious task.
Understand the original words
paraptōma · Greek Noun
A violation of God’s law, a moral slip, or a deviation from the path of righteousness; it signifies an act that transgresses divine boundaries.
presbeuō · Greek Noun
A representative sent by a sovereign power to convey an official message or represent the interests of the sender in a foreign territory.
deomai · Greek Verb
To urge, beseech, or plead with great earnestness; it reflects a heart of passion and concern for the spiritual state of others.
This passage echoes the idea of reconciliation through Christ, emphasizing that we were enemies of God but are now reconciled through His Son's death, much like 2 Corinthians 5:19 highlights God's action in Christ.
Colossians 1:19-20It expands on the scope of Christ's reconciling work, stating that it was God's good pleasure to reconcile all things to Himself through Him, mirroring the universal reach of reconciliation mentioned in 2 Corinthians 5:19.
2 Corinthians 5:18This verse immediately preceding it directly states that God gave us the ministry of reconciliation, making it the foundational statement for the specific action described in 2 Corinthians 5:19.
1 John 2:2This verse speaks to Jesus' atoning sacrifice being not only for our sins but for the sins of the whole world, reinforcing the idea that God's reconciling work in Christ is comprehensive.
Notice that the verse doesn't say God waited for us to make amends. Instead, it proclaims He was already actively reconciling the world through Christ, choosing not to hold our failures against us. This isn't a negotiation; it's God’s initiative, a free gift that we're now invited to share.
Paul is explaining how God's new creation in Christ brings about reconciliation, not just for believers but for the whole world. He's just spoken about believers being ambassadors of this new reality, and here he unpacks the core message they carry: God's work in Christ has made peace, and He's given them the privilege of sharing it. This leads into his passionate plea for people to accept this reconciliation that God has already initiated.
Paul is explaining how God's new creation in Christ brings about reconciliation, not just for believers but for the whole world. He's just spoken about believers being ambassadors of this new reality, and here he unpacks the core message they carry: God's work in Christ has made peace, and He's given them the privilege of sharing it. This leads into his passionate plea for people to accept this reconciliation that God has already initiated.
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about 2 Corinthians 5:19-20 is available in the Sola app.
"that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We imp…" — Notice that the verse doesn't say God waited for us to make amends. Instead, it proclaims He was already actively reconciling the world through Christ, choosing not to hold our failures against u…
