2 Corinthians 5:19-21
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This verse quietly highlights that reconciliation wasn't just a plan God had, but something He actively did in Christ. It's about God himself stepping in, taking the initiative to bridge the gap, and choosing not to hold our wrongdoings against us.
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. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is explaining how God, through Christ, has made a way for people to be brought back into relationship with Him. He's just spoken about how believers are new creations in Christ, and now he's elaborating on the work that accomplished this transformation: God himself was in Christ, mending the broken relationship with humanity. This reconciliation isn't just a past event; it's the foundation for the ministry Paul and others are now called to share with the world.
We often think of faith as us reaching out to God. But what if the whole story is God reaching out to us first?
This verse highlights a profound truth: reconciliation wasn't God's reaction to our seeking Him; it was His proactive plan, initiated in Christ.
The Divine Diplomat
God Himself is the one doing the reconciling. He wasn't waiting for us to clean up our act. Instead, He chose to bridge the gap caused by our 'trespasses'—our wrongdoings and offenses against Him.
The Ultimate Sacrifice
How did He do this? By choosing not to count their trespasses against them. This points directly to the atoning work of Jesus Christ on the cross. Our sins were placed on Him, so that God could justly forgive us without compromising His righteousness.
Paul doesn't just describe what God did, but what God did through him and other believers. We've been given a sacred trust!
The second half of the verse reveals our role in God's grand plan: 'entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.' This isn't a casual suggestion; it's a profound commission.
The Message Itself
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The 'message of reconciliation' is the good news that God, through Christ, has made a way for us to be back in relationship with Him, forgiven and renewed. It's the story of God's love bridging the chasm of sin.
Our Sacred Duty
God has entrusted this vital message to us. This means believers are His ambassadors, His messengers to a world desperately in need of hearing that they can be reconciled to God. It's a privilege and a responsibility.
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.
hamartia · Greek Noun
A legal and moral state of being blameless before God. It refers to the standing a person has when they are declared righteous through faith in Jesus Christ, based on His finished work rather than their own deeds.
dikaiosyne · Greek Noun
A term representing a state of moral perfection or holiness, and in the context of the Gospel, it signifies the legal standing of being "right" with God. It describes both the perfect character of God and the imputed gift of standing that He grants to believers through Christ.
The reconciliation described in this verse is not a abstract theological concept, but a direct result of the historical event of Christ's life, death, and resurrection, proclaimed by apostles like Paul to a world grappling with division and sin.
c. 30-33 AD— this verse
Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus
Jesus' death on the cross and subsequent resurrection are the foundational events upon which reconciliation with God is based.
c. 33 AD onwards
The Early Church Begins
Following Jesus' ascension, the Holy Spirit empowers the apostles and believers to spread the message of reconciliation.
c. 40s-50s AD
Paul's Missionary Journeys
The Apostle Paul travels extensively, establishing churches and sharing the gospel of reconciliation throughout the Roman Empire.
c. 55-57 AD
Writing of 1 Corinthians
Paul addresses issues within the Corinthian church, laying groundwork for his later defense of his apostleship and ministry.
c. 57 AD
Writing of 2 Corinthians
Paul writes this letter to the Corinthian church, defending his apostolic authority and emphasizing the ministry of reconciliation.
This passage echoes the reconciliation theme, stating that we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son while still enemies, emphasizing the powerful, undeserved nature of this divine act.
Colossians 1:19-20Here, Paul speaks of God's pleasure in causing all his fullness to dwell in Christ, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross, showing the vast scope of reconciliation.
2 Corinthians 5:18This verse immediately precedes our text and lays the foundation, revealing that God gave us the ministry of reconciliation and the message of it, directly linking to the idea of entrusting this message to believers.
1 John 2:2John proclaims that Jesus is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world, which directly supports the idea that God is reconciling the world to Himself.
This verse quietly highlights that reconciliation wasn't just a plan God had, but something He actively did in Christ. It's about God himself stepping in, taking the initiative to bridge the gap, and choosing not to hold our wrongdoings against us.
Paul is explaining how God, through Christ, has made a way for people to be brought back into relationship with Him. He's just spoken about how believers are new creations in Christ, and now he's elaborating on the work that accomplished this transformation: God himself was in Christ, mending the broken relationship with humanity. This reconciliation isn't just a past event; it's the foundation for the ministry Paul and others are now called to share with the world.
Paul is explaining how God, through Christ, has made a way for people to be brought back into relationship with Him. He's just spoken about how believers are new creations in Christ, and now he's elaborating on the work that accomplished this transformation: God himself was in Christ, mending the broken relationship with humanity. This reconciliation isn't just a past event; it's the foundation for the ministry Paul and others are now called to share with the world.
"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…" — This verse quietly highlights that reconciliation wasn't just a plan God had, but something He actively did in Christ. It's about God himself stepping in, taking the initiative to bridge the gap,…
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Last reviewed October 2026
