# 2 Corinthians 05 đź“–: Ambassadors of Reconciliation
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> [!info] Table of Contents
> [[#đź“ś Scripture Text (NET)]]
> [[#đź“– Verse-by-Verse Commentary]]
> [[#🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]]
> [[#🧠Chapter Summary]]
> [[#✝️ Christ in This Chapter]]
> [[#🔎 Key Observations / 🛟 Life Application]]
> [[#đź’¬ Discussion Questions]]
> [[#✍️ Key Verses to Remember]]
> [[#đź”— Related Passages]]
> [[#🙏 Devotional Reflection]]
> [[#đź“‚ Internal Notes]]
## đź“ś Scripture Text (NET)
(The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005)
### Living by Faith, Not by Sight
**Principle**: We look forward and live with eternity in view.
[[#Verse 01.]] For we know that if our earthly house, the tent we live in, is dismantled, we have a building from God, a house not built by human hands, that is eternal in the heavens.Â
[[#Verse 02.]] For in this earthly house we groan, because we desire to put on our heavenly dwelling,Â
[[#Verse 03.]] if indeed, after we have put on our heavenly house, we will not be found naked.Â
[[#Verse 04.]] For we groan while we are in this tent, since we are weighed down, because we do not want to be unclothed, but clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.Â
[[#Verse 05.]] Now the one who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave us the Spirit as a down payment.Â
[[#Verse 06.]] Therefore we are always full of courage, and we know that as long as we are alive here on earth we are absent from the Lord—
[[#Verse 07.]] for we live by faith, not by sight.Â
[[#Verse 08.]] Thus we are full of courage and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.
[[#Verse 09.]] So then whether we are alive or away, we make it our ambition to please him.Â
[[#Verse 10.]] For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be paid back according to what he has done while in the body, whether good or evil.
[[#Verse 11.]] Therefore, because we know the fear of the Lord, we try to persuade people, but we are well known to God, and I hope we are well known to your consciences too.Â
[[#Verse 12.]] We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to be proud of us, so that you may be able to answer those who take pride in outward appearance and not in what is in the heart.Â
[[#Verse 13.]]Â For if we are out of our minds, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you.Â
[[#Verse 14.]] For the love of Christ controls us, since we have concluded this, that Christ died for all; therefore all have died.Â
[[#Verse 15.]]Â And he died for all so that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised.Â
### The Message of Reconciliation
**Principle**: We have the privilege of "fishing for people" and sharing our hope.
[[#Verse 16.]] So then from now on we acknowledge no one from an outward human point of view. Even though we have known Christ from such a human point of view, now we do not know him in that way any longer.Â
[[#Verse 17.]] So then, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; what is old has passed away—look, what is new has come!Â
[[#Verse 18.]]Â And all these things are from God who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and who has given us the ministry of reconciliation.Â
[[#Verse 19.]] In other words, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting people’s trespasses against them, and he has given us the message of reconciliation.Â
[[#Verse 20.]] Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making his plea through us. We plead with you on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God!”Â
[[#Verse 21.]] God made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we would become the righteousness of God.
[[# Verse 21.]] God made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we would become the righteousness of God.
## đź“– Verse-by-Verse Commentary
###### Overall.
###### Verse 01.
###### Verse 02.
###### Verse 03.
###### Verse 04.
###### Verse 05.
###### Verse 06.
###### Verse 07.
###### Verse 08.
###### Verse 09.
###### Verse 10.
###### Verse 11.
###### Verse 12.
###### Verse 13.
###### Verse 14.
###### Verse 15.
###### Verse 16.
###### Verse 17.
###### Verse 18.
###### Verse 19.
###### Verse 20.
###### Verse 21.
## 🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights
1. Paul was a tentmaker (Acts 18:3), which gives special color to his picture of the body as a tent (5:1).
2. "Down payment" (*arrabĹŤn*, 5:5) again describes the Spirit as God's guarantee of what is to come.
3. The "judgment seat" (5:10, *bēma*) was a raised platform where officials gave rulings. The bēma in Corinth's forum, where Paul stood before Gallio (Acts 18:12), can still be seen.
4. "Ambassador" (5:20) was used for official representatives who spoke on behalf of the emperor.
5. "Reconcile" (*katallassĹŤ*) means to change a relationship from hostility to peace.
6. 5:21 is often called the "great exchange": Christ takes our sin, and we receive His righteousness.
7. "The love of Christ controls us" (5:14) most likely refers to Christ's love for us rather than our love for Him.
8. Paul admits he once regarded Christ from a merely human point of view (5:16), before meeting Him on the Damascus road.
9. "New creation" (5:17) echoes God's promise of new heavens and a new earth (Isaiah 65:17).
10. Paul says that to be away from the body is to be at home with the Lord (5:8), a key text for believers being with Christ at death.
## 🧠Chapter Summary
> [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way.
## ✝️ Christ in This Chapter
Christ is the One who knew no sin yet was made sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God (5:21). Through Him God reconciles us and makes us a new creation (5:17; Romans 5:10).
## 🔎 Key Observations / 🛟 Life Application
> [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way.
## đź’¬ Discussion Questions
1. Paul longs for our heavenly dwelling (5:1-4). How does the hope of resurrection affect how you face aging or death?
2. If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation (5:17). What old things has God made new in your life?
3. We are Christ's ambassadors (5:20). Who is God asking you to represent Him to this week?
## ✍️ Key Verses to Remember
- đź“– verse 7: We live by faith, not by sight.
- đź“– verse 10: We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ.
- đź“– verse 17: If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; what is old has passed away.
- đź“– verse 20: We are ambassadors for Christ, pleading with people to be reconciled to God.
- đź“– verse 21: God made the sinless One to be sin for us so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.
## đź”— Related Passages
- đź”— [[Job 04#Verse 19.|Job 4:19]] - The body pictured as a tent (5:1).
- đź”— [[2 Peter 01#Verse 13.|2 Peter 1:13-14]] - The body pictured as a tent (5:1).
- đź”— [[1 Corinthians 15#Verse 53.|1 Corinthians 15:53-54]] - The mortal clothed with immortality (5:4).
- đź”— [[Ephesians 01#Verse 13.|Ephesians 1:13-14]] - The Spirit as a guarantee (5:5).
- đź”— [[Hebrews 11#Verse 01.|Hebrews 11:1]] - Faith is the evidence of things not seen (5:7).
- đź”— [[Philippians 01#Verse 21.|Philippians 1:21-23]] - To depart and be with Christ is far better (5:8).
- đź”— [[Romans 14#Verse 10.|Romans 14:10-12]] - All will stand before God's judgment seat (5:10).
- đź”— [[Matthew 16#Verse 27.|Matthew 16:27]] - All will stand before God's judgment seat (5:10).
- đź”— [[Galatians 02#Verse 20.|Galatians 2:20]] - No longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me (5:14-15).
- đź”— [[Isaiah 43#Verse 18.|Isaiah 43:18-19]] - Behold, a new creation (5:17).
- đź”— [[Galatians 06#Verse 15.|Galatians 6:15]] - Behold, a new creation (5:17).
- đź”— [[Romans 05#Verse 10.|Romans 5:10-11]] - Reconciled to God through Christ (5:18-19).
- đź”— [[Colossians 01#Verse 20.|Colossians 1:20]] - Reconciled to God through Christ (5:18-19).
- đź”— [[Ephesians 06#Verse 20.|Ephesians 6:20]] - An ambassador in chains (5:20).
- đź”— [[Isaiah 53#Verse 05.|Isaiah 53:5-6, 10]] - The sinless One bore our sins (5:21).
- đź”— [[1 Peter 02#Verse 22.|1 Peter 2:22-24]] - The sinless One bore our sins (5:21).
## 🙏 Devotional Reflection
đź“ť SOAP: [[2 Corinthians 05 - SOAP|Believing Is Seeing]]
## đź“‚ Internal Notes