2 Corinthians 5:18 kjv
And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
2 Corinthians 5:18 nkjv
Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,
2 Corinthians 5:18 niv
All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:
2 Corinthians 5:18 esv
All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;
2 Corinthians 5:18 nlt
And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him.
2 Corinthians 5 18 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Rom 5:10 | For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son... | God's initiative in reconciliation. |
| Col 1:20 | and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. | Universal scope of Christ's reconciling work. |
| Col 1:22 | He has now reconciled you in his body of flesh by his death... | Personal reconciliation for believers. |
| Eph 2:16 | and might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross... | Reconciliation of Jew and Gentile to God. |
| Rom 11:36 | For from him and through him and to him are all things... | All things originate from God. |
| 1 Cor 8:6 | yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things... | God as the ultimate source. |
| Rom 3:25 | whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood... | Christ's role in satisfying God's justice. |
| Heb 2:17 | that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. | Christ as high priest in atonement. |
| 1 Pet 3:18 | For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God... | Christ bridging the gap to God. |
| 2 Cor 5:17 | Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation... | Context: New creation by God. |
| Gal 6:15 | For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. | New creation as God's work. |
| 2 Cor 5:19 | that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself... | Directly connected: God's initiative, Christ's role. |
| 2 Cor 5:20 | Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. | Direct continuation: Ministry as ambassadorship. |
| Rom 10:14 | How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have not heard? | Need for the message of reconciliation. |
| Rom 10:15 | And how are they to hear without someone preaching? | The necessity of those with the ministry. |
| Acts 1:8 | But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses... | Empowering for ministry. |
| Eph 4:11 | And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; | Gifts for ministry in the church. |
| Isa 43:21 | the people whom I formed for myself that they might declare my praise. | God's people called for a purpose. |
| Isa 52:7 | How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace... | Proclaiming the message of peace/reconciliation. |
| Prov 16:7 | When a man’s ways please the LORD, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. | Human actions can affect peace with others, but divine reconciliation is unilateral. |
| Jn 14:6 | Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." | Christ is the sole means to God. |
| 1 Tim 2:5 | For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. | Christ as the one mediator. |
2 Corinthians 5 verses
2 Corinthians 5 18 Meaning
This verse asserts God as the singular origin and sovereign agent behind all aspects of spiritual transformation, particularly the act of reconciliation. God, through the atoning work of Jesus Christ, has actively brought believers into a state of peace and restored relationship with Himself. Consequently, these reconciled believers are entrusted by God with the divine task—the "ministry of reconciliation"—to proclaim this message to others, thereby becoming agents in extending God's peace.
2 Corinthians 5 18 Context
This verse is embedded within Paul's profound explanation of the spiritual transformation experienced by believers and the nature of his apostolic ministry. In 2 Corinthians 5, Paul describes the Christian's hope for an eternal body (vv. 1-10), the compelling motivation of Christ's love (vv. 14-15), and the radical reality of "new creation" in Christ (v. 17). Verse 18 directly follows the declaration of new creation, emphasizing that this transformation originates solely from God. The Corinthian church was facing challenges to Paul's authority and integrity, prompting him to defend his ministry by underscoring its divine source and purpose. The historical context reflects a world where reconciliation between alienated parties, whether divine or human, often involved complex rituals, appeasement, or political negotiation. Paul, however, presents a radical theological shift: God Himself initiated and accomplished reconciliation through Christ's death, not needing to be appeased by humanity, but actively drawing humanity back to Himself.
2 Corinthians 5 18 Word analysis
- And: Links directly to the previous verse (2 Cor 5:17), where Paul declares that anyone in Christ is a "new creation." This "and" implies that the new creation is intimately connected to God's work of reconciliation.
- all things: (Greek: ta panta) This emphasizes the universal scope and completeness of God's redemptive work. Not just some things, or certain aspects of a believer's life, but everything within this new reality, including the new creation, spiritual life, and subsequent ministry, originates from God.
- are of God: (Greek: ek tou Theou) Signifies divine origin, authorship, and power. It's an active statement that God is the sole ultimate source and efficient cause of salvation, the new creation, and reconciliation. It refutes any notion of human merit or initiation in salvation.
- who hath reconciled: (Greek: ho katallassantos, aorist active participle of katallassō). This key term means to change from enmity to friendship, to restore harmonious relations. The aorist participle emphasizes a completed, decisive action taken by God. It’s not something humanity initiates or works towards, but an action God unilaterally performed.
- us: Refers to believers, both Paul and the Corinthians, representing all who are in Christ. It’s personal and inclusive for those who have received Christ.
- to himself: (Greek: heautō) God is not only the reconciler but also the party to whom reconciliation is directed. The initiative, means, and desired outcome all center on God restoring His relationship with humanity. This highlights God's longing for restored fellowship.
- by Jesus Christ: (Greek: dia Iēsou Christou) Specifies the means or agent through which reconciliation occurred. Christ’s mediatorial work, especially His death and resurrection, is the only way this divine reconciliation could be achieved. He is the bridge, the way.
- and hath given: (Greek: kai tous didontos, participle, "the one who also gave/gives") This is an active bestowal from God, indicating a gracious gift and divine commission following the reconciliation.
- to us: The same believers who have received reconciliation now also receive a charge. There’s a progression from passive recipients of reconciliation to active participants in its proclamation.
- the ministry: (Greek: tēn diakonian) This signifies service, often in a spiritual context. It is an office or sacred task entrusted to believers, a privilege and responsibility, not a burden. It points to practical service in God's kingdom.
- of reconciliation: (Greek: tēs katallagēs) A genitive construction meaning the ministry pertaining to or focused on reconciliation. It specifies the content and purpose of this divinely given service: communicating the message of peace and restoration through Christ.
Word-group analysis
- "And all things are of God": This phrase establishes the foundational truth of God's sovereignty and authorship over the new life and ministry. It links the radical spiritual change (new creation) directly to God's nature and power. This serves as a reminder that every spiritual blessing flows directly from the Creator.
- "who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ": This is the core message of the gospel – God’s initiative to overcome the alienation caused by sin. It highlights God's benevolent character (seeking reconciliation), His decisive action (katallassō as a finished work), and the indispensable role of Christ's atoning sacrifice as the unique pathway for this restoration. It means believers are no longer enemies but friends of God.
- "and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation": This phrase emphasizes the consequential mission given to the reconciled. It transitions from what God has done for us to what He empowers us through us to do. Every believer, having experienced reconciliation, is entrusted with the honorable task (diakonia) of conveying this message of peace and restoration to a world still alienated from God. This "ministry" is a divine charge to participate in God's ongoing work in the world.
2 Corinthians 5 18 Bonus section
The completed nature of reconciliation ("hath reconciled") highlights a crucial theological point: reconciliation is not something to be earned or completed by humans, but a finished work performed by God through Christ. What believers "do" in the ministry of reconciliation is not to make peace between God and people (God has already done that in Christ), but to proclaim the peace that has already been made, inviting others to receive and enter into it. This ministry is a divine privilege, empowering believers to be active participants in God's salvific purposes, yet the efficacy remains God's. It underlines the co-extensiveness of receiving salvation and being called to service; there is no saved individual who is not also commissioned.
2 Corinthians 5 18 Commentary
2 Corinthians 5:18 presents a robust theological declaration: all aspects of the transformed Christian life originate from God. Having just declared the reality of "new creation" (v.17), Paul attributes its very existence and subsequent purpose entirely to God. The central truth is that God, on His own initiative and not due to human efforts, unilaterally reversed the state of enmity caused by sin, bringing humanity back into a peaceful relationship with Himself. This profound act of reconciliation was fully accomplished through Jesus Christ, whose sacrificial death and resurrection provided the perfect solution for sin and established peace between God and humanity. It underscores that God did not need to be coerced or persuaded; rather, it was His loving will to bridge the chasm. As a direct result of this divine action and as an integral part of their new identity, believers are not merely recipients of this reconciliation but are immediately commissioned with a solemn charge: "the ministry of reconciliation." This means that those who have personally experienced God's reconciling grace are now entrusted with the divine message and task to call others to be reconciled to God, acting as ambassadors for Christ in the world.