2 Corinthians 5:17 kjv
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
2 Corinthians 5:17 nkjv
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
2 Corinthians 5:17 niv
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
2 Corinthians 5:17 esv
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
2 Corinthians 5:17 nlt
This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
2 Corinthians 5 17 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gal 6:15 | For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. | New creation transcends ritual law. |
| Rom 6:4 | We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death... we too might walk in newness of life. | Dying to sin, raised to new life. |
| Eph 4:24 | Put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. | Clothing oneself in the new righteous identity. |
| Col 3:9-10 | ...put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self... | Old nature discarded for new, Christ-like nature. |
| Tit 3:5 | ...he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit. | Regeneration is a work of the Spirit, not human effort. |
| Joh 3:3 | Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." | Necessity of spiritual birth for salvation. |
| 1 Pet 1:23 | ...you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God. | New birth by God's imperishable Word. |
| Gal 2:20 | I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. | Life lived through Christ, not self. |
| Rom 8:1 | There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. | Freedom from condemnation through Christ-union. |
| Eph 2:10 | For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works... | We are God's creation, designed for purpose. |
| Jer 31:31-33 | "Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant..." | Prophecy of a new covenant with inward transformation. |
| Ezek 36:26-27 | And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. | Promise of a radical inner spiritual change. |
| Isa 43:18-19 | "Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing..." | God's intention to initiate a radically new work. |
| Rev 21:5 | And he who was seated on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." | Ultimate renewal and new creation by God. |
| 2 Cor 5:18 | All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself... | The source of new creation and reconciliation is God. |
| Rom 5:17 | For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace... reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. | Christ brings life where sin brought death. |
| Joh 1:12-13 | But to all who did receive him... he gave the right to become children of God... born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. | Becoming children of God through divine birth. |
| 1 Jn 2:17 | And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. | Contrast between transient world and eternal life with God. |
| Isa 65:17 | "For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth..." | Eschatological vision of complete cosmic renewal. |
| Psa 51:10 | Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. | Prayer for inner cleansing and renewal, pointing to the new. |
2 Corinthians 5 verses
2 Corinthians 5 17 Meaning
This verse encapsulates the profound transformative power of belief in Jesus Christ. It declares that anyone united with Christ undergoes a radical, spiritual recreation. Their former identity, life governed by sin, and separation from God are completely abolished. In their place emerges a new spiritual being, infused with divine life, possessing a renewed identity, and a new nature consistent with Christ's righteousness. This is not merely an improvement but a complete qualitative change initiated by God.
2 Corinthians 5 17 Context
This verse appears within a significant section of Paul's letter where he defends his apostolic ministry and articulates the essence of Christian life. Immediately preceding 2 Cor 5:17, Paul discusses being motivated by the love of Christ (v. 14) and the implication that Christ died for all so that believers no longer live for themselves but for Him (v. 15). He states that from this point forward, believers regard no one according to the flesh, recognizing that superficial, earthly distinctions hold no eternal significance (v. 16). The declaration of "new creation" in verse 17 is therefore a logical conclusion and foundational truth: once transformed by Christ, outward perceptions and former identities are rendered obsolete. The surrounding verses (v. 18-20) further elaborate this transformation as the "ministry of reconciliation," indicating that this new identity is for the purpose of participating in God's ongoing redemptive work. The cultural context involves a contrast with a worldview that might emphasize external adherence to law, ethnic origin, or worldly status, which Paul directly counters with the radical internal change effected by being "in Christ."
2 Corinthians 5 17 Word analysis
- Therefore (ὥστε - hoste): A conjunction that marks a logical consequence. It signals that what follows is a direct outcome of the preceding statements, especially the death of Christ for all (v. 15) and the re-evaluation of identity (v. 16).
- if anyone (εἴ τις - ei tis): An inclusive, broad statement. It implies that this transformation is available to all, regardless of background, gender, social status, or previous spiritual standing, provided they meet the condition.
- is in Christ (ἐν Χριστῷ - en Christō): A central New Testament theological phrase signifying an intimate spiritual union and identification with Jesus Christ. It's a positional reality, not merely intellectual belief or imitation. This union involves being united with His death, resurrection, and ongoing life, giving believers a new identity and standing before God.
- he is: Declares an existential truth, not merely a future hope or a moral aspiration. It emphasizes an immediate and present reality upon being in Christ.
- a new (καινὴ - kainē): Significant Greek term. It is kainē, not neos (new in time, recent). Kainē means new in quality, character, fresh, superior, or of a different nature than what was before. It signifies a radical transformation, not just an updated version of the old.
- creation (κτίσις - ktisis): Refers to a created thing or the act of creating. This directly parallels God's original act of creation, emphasizing that this transformation is a divine work, not human effort. It implies a new origin and purpose.
Words-group analysis:
- "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ": Establishes the prerequisite for the new reality: a personal, faith-based union with Christ. This union is the critical doorway to spiritual transformation, stemming from God's reconciliation.
- "he is a new creation": This is the core declaration. It's not becoming a new creation or striving to be one, but is a new creation. It's a declarative statement of identity, reflecting a radical work of God. The "new" (kainē) points to a complete qualitative change in nature, making one fundamentally different, belonging to a new order.
- "The old has passed away" (τὰ ἀρχαῖα παρῆλθεν - ta archaia parēlthen): "The old" refers to the previous fallen human nature, life under the dominion of sin, spiritual death, and a self-centered existence. The verb "has passed away" is in the perfect tense, indicating a completed action with continuing results; it is definitively gone. This signifies an absolute break with the former state of being.
- "behold, the new has come" (ἰδοὺ γέγονεν καινὰ - idou gegonen kainē): "Behold" serves as an exclamation, calling attention to a startling and marvelous reality. "The new" refers to the fresh, qualitative life and nature found in Christ. The verb "has come" is also perfect tense, meaning it is an accomplished fact that continues into the present. It emphasizes that this new reality is fully established and currently active in the believer's life, implying new purposes, new perspectives, and a new walk empowered by the Spirit.
2 Corinthians 5 17 Bonus section
The concept of "new creation" (καινὴ κτίσις - kainē ktisis) extends beyond individual spiritual rebirth. Paul frequently uses this idea to dismantle barriers like ethnic distinctions (Jew/Gentile) or reliance on works of the law (e.g., circumcision in Gal 6:15). In Christ, these old identifiers become irrelevant because a more fundamental and profound identity has been forged by God. This emphasizes that God's work in Christ is about creating a truly universal family, a new humanity. The eschatological implication is also significant: this verse is a foretaste and a present reality of God's ultimate plan to make "all things new," culminating in the new heavens and new earth, where sin and its effects are entirely eradicated. Therefore, the "new creation" in a believer is a microcosm and guarantee of the broader cosmic restoration God is bringing about.
2 Corinthians 5 17 Commentary
2 Corinthians 5:17 is a concise yet profound summary of Christian conversion. It affirms that through union with Christ, God accomplishes a divine, spiritual genesis in the individual. This transformation is not gradual in its initiation, but immediate and complete in terms of positional identity. The former self, with its fallen nature, its guilt, its enslavement to sin, and its old patterns of thought and life, is declared null and void. A completely new quality of spiritual being, one reconciled to God and aligned with Christ's nature, has been brought into existence. This profound change establishes a new foundation for life, moving from living for self to living for Christ. It implies a new purpose, a new way of perceiving reality, and a new ethical framework, though the practical outworking of this "new creation" is a lifelong journey of sanctification. This truth empowers believers to reject past sinful habits and embrace their present identity in Christ. For instance, someone previously bound by an identity of shame or failure can now genuinely see themselves as wholly remade, possessing divine worth and purpose.