2 Corinthians 5 20

2 Corinthians 5:20 kjv

Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.

2 Corinthians 5:20 nkjv

Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God.

2 Corinthians 5:20 niv

We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God.

2 Corinthians 5:20 esv

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

2 Corinthians 5:20 nlt

So we are Christ's ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, "Come back to God!"

2 Corinthians 5 verses

2 Corinthians 5 20 Meaning

This verse declares that believers, particularly apostles and ministers, serve as Christ's official representatives, carrying God's urgent message to the world. Through their proclamation, God Himself appeals to humanity to abandon their hostility and alienation from Him and embrace the reconciliation offered through Jesus Christ. It underscores the profound responsibility and divine authority given to those who deliver the Gospel message, calling for a decisive response to God's gracious invitation.

2 Corinthians 5 20 Context

2 Corinthians 5:20 follows a profound theological exposition in chapter 5 where Paul contrasts our temporary earthly dwelling with our eternal dwelling with God. He describes the believer's aspiration to please the Lord (v. 9) and the future judgment seat of Christ (v. 10), which compels his ministry. Verses 14-15 reveal that Christ's love motivates believers to live for Him, not themselves. From this, Paul introduces the concept of a "new creation" in Christ (v. 17) and elaborates on God's initiative in reconciliation. Verses 18-19 are foundational to v. 20, stating that "all this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation," and that "in Christ God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation." Therefore, verse 20 serves as the logical consequence and practical application of this "ministry" and "message," articulating the role of believers as Christ's ambassadors. The letter to the Corinthians itself addresses challenges to Paul's apostolic authority, internal divisions, and various moral issues, making Paul's emphasis on divinely-appointed ambassadorship and the urgency of reconciliation highly pertinent to his audience. Culturally, the term "ambassador" (presbeutēs) would evoke the image of an authorized representative of a king or emperor, carrying full authority, immune from attack, and speaking with the very voice of their sovereign.

2 Corinthians 5 20 Word analysis

• Therefore (οὖν, oun): Connects the present verse to the preceding discussion about God initiating and accomplishing reconciliation (v. 18-19) and entrusting this message to believers. It signals a conclusion or a logical consequence derived from the previous statements, grounding the ambassadorial role in God's divine work.

• we are ambassadors (πρεσβεύομεν, presbeuomen): This is a present active indicative verb, "we are acting as ambassadors" or "we perform the duty of an ambassador." Presbeuō comes from presbys, meaning 'elderly person' or 'senator', often someone of high status sent to represent a king or state in a foreign land. An ambassador does not speak his own message but that of the one who sent him, and speaks with that one's full authority. This implies respect, dignity, and immunity in the Roman-Hellenistic world.

• for Christ (ὑπὲρ Χριστοῦ, hyper Christou): Hyper here means "on behalf of," "in the interest of," or "instead of." It emphasizes that the authority, message, and purpose originate from Christ and are for Christ's cause and glory. We represent Him.

• God making His appeal (ὡς τοῦ Θεοῦ παρακαλοῦντος, hōs tou Theou parakalountos): A genitive absolute participle phrase indicating that as a result of or since God is making His appeal through us. Parakaleō (from which Paraklētos – Counselor, Helper – comes) means "to call alongside," "to urge," "to exhort," "to comfort," or "to entreat." It implies a tender but earnest invitation, revealing God's deep desire for humanity to turn to Him.

• through us (δι’ ἡμῶν, di' hēmōn): Dia with the genitive indicates the means or instrument. God uses human agents, like Paul and his co-workers (and by extension, all believers), as conduits for His divine appeal. It highlights the divine-human partnership in ministry.

• We implore you (δεόμεθα, deometha): From deomai, a stronger and more fervent plea than parakaleō. It conveys a sense of begging, earnestly requesting, or even beseeching. This highlights the urgency and desperation in Paul's (and God's) desire for reconciliation.

• on Christ's behalf (ὑπὲρ Χριστοῦ, hyper Christou): This repeats the earlier phrase, further stressing that the earnest appeal for reconciliation is not from Paul's own authority, but fundamentally authorized and sanctioned by Christ, drawing on His authority and His accomplished work.

• Be reconciled (καταλλάγητε, katallagēte): Aorist passive imperative verb. The aorist signifies a decisive, once-for-all act. The passive voice ("let yourselves be reconciled") means the action is done to someone. It emphasizes that reconciliation is something God does and humanity is called to receive or allow to happen. The initiative belongs to God, who provides the means, and humanity must respond in obedience to that divine act. Katallassō implies a change from hostility to friendship, specifically through an exchange or settlement of accounts.

• to God (τῷ Θεῷ, tō Theō): Emphasizes that humanity's broken relationship is ultimately with God, due to sin. The call is to mend that foundational break, restoring fellowship with the Divine.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ": This powerful statement elevates the role of believers to an official diplomatic mission. It's not a self-appointed task but a divine commission, where individuals represent the sovereign Lord Christ in a foreign territory (the world). The authority and gravitas are immense, flowing from Christ Himself.
  • "God making His appeal through us": This clause clarifies how the ambassadorship functions. It is God Himself speaking through the ambassadors, lending His divine voice and persuasive power to their human words. It underscores the profound theological truth that evangelism is not merely human persuasion but God's direct interaction with humanity.
  • "We implore you on Christ's behalf": The repeated emphasis on "on Christ's behalf" validates the intensity of the "imploring." The message is not a mere suggestion; it's a deeply earnest and urgent plea from a divinely appointed envoy, resonating with Christ's own heart for the lost.
  • "Be reconciled to God": This is the direct, decisive command—the heart of the ambassadorial message. It calls for an active, yet receptive, response to God's finished work of reconciliation through Christ. It presupposes an existing state of alienation and hostility with God and points to the only way for peace to be established.

2 Corinthians 5 20 Bonus section

• Polemics against contemporary beliefs: In the Roman world, loyalty to the Emperor was paramount. To be an "ambassador for Christ" subtly asserts a higher allegiance and a higher sovereign than Caesar, directly challenging the ultimate authority often ascribed to the state. This declaration by Paul could be perceived as subversive, yet he frames it as a divine, not political, commission.
• The Trinity at work: This verse implicitly shows the Trinitarian nature of salvation: God the Father initiates the reconciliation (v. 18-19), God the Son (Christ) accomplishes it, and God the Holy Spirit (as the Parakletos, from parakalō) is involved in empowering the ambassadors and making God's appeal effective through them.
• Scope of the call: While initially addressed to apostolic figures like Paul, the underlying principle extends to all believers as part of the "new creation" who have received the "ministry of reconciliation." Every Christian is, in essence, called to embody and share this message of reconciliation within their sphere of influence.

2 Corinthians 5 20 Commentary

2 Corinthians 5:20 encapsulates the heart of Christian ministry: believers are divinely appointed agents of reconciliation. Their role as "ambassadors for Christ" carries immense weight and authority, not from themselves, but from the Sovereign whom they represent. This means the message they deliver—the Gospel—is not merely human advice but God's own earnest appeal, flowing from His tender heart and infinite desire for humanity to return to Him. The urgency of "we implore you" reflects God's passionate yearning for humanity to lay down their rebellion and embrace the peace offered through Christ's sacrifice. The call to "be reconciled to God" is a passive imperative, signifying that God has already accomplished the reconciliation through Christ (v. 19), and now calls on individuals to cease resisting, turn to Him, and accept His gracious initiative. It is the decisive call to respond to God's love, bridging the chasm of sin and restoring a broken relationship, a plea vital for eternal destiny.