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5:17
“New things have come.”
The dying and rising of Jesus is a change so decisive that nothing will ever be the same. We look at each other di erently, too: no longer “according to the esh,” but as people destined for immortality. What would change in our interactions with others if we looked at each person as one for whom Christ died?
5:20
An ambassador is a diplomat who represents another country and negotiates agreements and treaties. The role of the apostle is like that of an ambassador, seeking to reconcile us to God in the name of Christ.
* [5:10] We must all appear: the verb is ambiguous: we are scheduled to “appear” for judgment, at which we will be “revealed” as we are (cf. 2 Cor 11; 2:14; 4:10–11).
* [5:11–15] This paragraph is transitional. Paul sums up much that has gone before. Still playing on the term “appearance,” he reasserts his transparency before God and the Corinthians, in contrast to the self- commendation, boasting, and preoccupation with externals that characterize some others (cf. 2 Cor 1:12– 14; 2:14; 3:1; 3:7–4:6). 2 Cor 5:14 recalls 2 Cor 3:7–4:6, and sums up 2 Cor 4:7–5:10.
*[5:13] Out of our minds: this verse con rms that a concern for ecstasy and charismatic experience may lie behind the discussion about “glory” in 2 Cor 3:7–4:6. Paul also enjoys such experiences but, unlike others, does not make a public display of them or consider them ends in themselves. Rational: the Greek virtue sōphrosynē, to which Paul alludes, implies reasonableness, moderation, good judgment, self-control.
* [5:14–15] These verses echo 2 Cor 4:14 and resume the treatment of “life despite death” from 2 Cor 4:7–5:10.
* [5:16–17] Consequently: the death of Christ described in 2 Cor 5:14–15 produces a whole new order (2 Cor 5:17) and a new mode of perception (2 Cor 5:16). According to the esh: the natural mode of perception, characterized as “ eshly,” is replaced by a mode of perception proper to the Spirit. Elsewhere Paul contrasts what Christ looks like
f. [5:10] Mt 16:27; 25:31–46; Rom 2:16; 14:10–11.
g. [5:11] 1:12–14.
h. [5:12] 3:1 / 2 Cor 1:14; Phil 1:26.
i. [5:14] Rom 6:1–6.
j. [5:15] Rom 4:25; 6:4–11; 14:9; Col 3:3–4.
according to the old criteria (weakness, powerlessness, folly, death) and according to the new (wisdom, power, life); cf. 2 Cor 5:15, 21; 1 Cor 1:17–3:3. Similarly, he describes the paradoxical nature of Christian existence, e.g., in 2 Cor 4:10–11, 14. A new creation: rabbis used this expression to describe the e ect of the entrance of a proselyte or convert into Judaism or of the remission of sins on the Day of Atonement. The new order created in Christ is the new covenant (2 Cor 3:6).
* [5:18–21] Paul attempts to explain the meaning of God’s action by a variety of di erent categories; his attention keeps moving rapidly back and forth from God’s act to his own ministry as well. Who has reconciled us to himself: i.e., he has brought all into oneness. Not counting their trespasses: the reconciliation is described as an act of justi cation (cf. “righteousness,” 2 Cor 5:21); this contrasts with the covenant that condemned (2 Cor 3:8). The ministry of reconciliation: Paul’s role in the wider picture is described: entrusted with the message of reconciliation (2 Cor 5:19), he is Christ’s ambassador, through whom God appeals (2 Cor 5:20a). In v 20b Paul acts in the capacity just described.
* [5:21] This is a statement of God’s purpose, expressed paradoxically in terms of sharing and exchange of attributes. As Christ became our righteousness (1 Cor 1:30), we become God’s righteousness (cf. 2 Cor 5:14–15).
k. 5:17] Gal 6:15; Eph 2:15 / Is 43:18–21; Rev 21:5.
l. [5:19] Rom 5:10–11; Col 1:20.
m. [5:20] Eph 6:20; Phlm 9.
n. [5:21] Is 53:6–9; Gal 3:13 / Rom 3:24–26; 1 Cor 1:30;
1 Pt 2:24; 1 Jn 3:5–8.
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 CORINTHIANS 
him, whether we are at home or away. 10For we must all appear* before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive recompense, according to what he did in the body, whether good or evil.f
The Ministry of Reconciliation. 11* Therefore, since we know the fear of the Lord, we try to persuade others; but we are clearly apparent to God, and I hope we are also apparent to your consciousness.g 12We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you an opportunity to boast of us, so that you may have something to say to those who boast of external appearance rather than of the heart.h 13For if we are out of our minds,* it is for God; if we are rational, it is for you. 14* For the love of Christ impels us, once we have come to the conviction that one died for all; therefore, all have died.i 15He indeed died for all, so that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.j
16Consequently,* from now on we regard no one according to the esh; even if we once knew Christ according to the esh, yet now we know him so no longer. 17k So whoever is in Christ is a new creation: the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come. 18* And all this is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19namely, God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting their trespasses against them and entrusting to
us the message of reconciliation.l 20So we are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.m 21* For our sake he made him to be sin who did not know sin,n so that we might become the righteousness of God in him.