2 Corinthians 5:20

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.

King James Version · Read in your translation · Open the Explore console

Word by word — the Greek

Word	Greek	Strong’s	Meaning
then	οὖν oun	G3767	(adverbially) certainly · conjunction
ambassadors	πρεσβεύομεν, presbeuomen	G4243	to be a senior · verb — present active indicative, 1st person plural
for	Ὑπὲρ Huper	G5228	"over" · preposition
Christ	Χριστοῦ Christou	G5547	anointed · noun — genitive singular masculine, a title
though	ὡς hōs	G5613	which how · particle
God	θεοῦ theou	G2316	figuratively · noun — genitive singular masculine, a title
beseech	παρακαλοῦντος parakalountos	G3870	to call near · verb — present active participle, genitive singular masculine
by	δι᾽ di᾽	G1223	through (in very wide applications · preposition
us	ἡμῶν hēmōn	G2257	of (or from) us
pray	δεόμεθα deometha	G1189	to beg (as binding oneself) · verb — present middle or passive deponent indicative, 1st person plural
in	ὑπὲρ huper	G5228	"over" · preposition
Christ’s stead	Χριστοῦ· Christou	G5547	anointed · noun — genitive singular masculine, a title
reconciled	καταλλάγητε katallagēte	G2644	to change mutually · verb — second aorist passive imperative, 2nd person plural
God	θεῷ. theō	G2316	figuratively · noun — dative singular masculine, a title

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (James Strong, 1890/1894), public domain; digitized by Open Scriptures (CC BY-SA). KJV word tagging: eBible.org (public domain). Original-language text, parsing and brief lexicon: STEPBible.org data from Tyndale House, Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).

Cross-references

Ephesians 6:20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
Luke 14:23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.
Malachi 2:7 For the priest’s lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.
Ezekiel 18:31-32 Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O…
Isaiah 55:6-7 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
Luke 10:16 He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me.
John 20:21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
2 Corinthians 5:11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your con…

Cross-references from OpenBible.info (CC BY), in the lineage of the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (public domain).

Commentary

Matthew Henry on 2 Corinthians 5:16–end

In these verses the apostle mentions two things that are necessary in order to our living to Christ, both of which are the consequences of Christ's dying for us; namely, regeneration and reconciliation. I. Regeneration, which consists of two things; namely, 1. Weanedness from the world: "Henceforth we know no man after the flesh, Co2 5:16. We do not own nor affect any person or thing in this world for carnal ends and outward advantage: we are enabled, by divine grace, not to mind nor regard this world, nor the things of this world, but to live above it. The love of Christ is in our hearts, and the world is under our feet." Note, Good Christians must enjoy the comforts of this life, and their…

Read the whole note in the console

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 2 Corinthians 5:20

for Christ . . . in Christ's stead--The Greek of both is the same: translate in both cases "on Christ's behalf." beseech . . . pray--rather, "entreat [plead with you] . . . beseech." Such "beseeching" is uncommon in the case of "ambassadors," who generally stand on their dignity (compare Co2 10:2; Th1 2:6-7). be ye reconciled to God--English Version here inserts "ye," which is not in the original, and which gives the wrong impression, as if it were emphatic thus: God is reconciled to you, be ye reconciled to God. The Greek expresses rather, God was the RECONCILER in Christ . . . let this reconciliation then have its designed effect. Be reconciled to God, that is, let God reconcile you to…

Read the whole note in the console

Adam Clarke on 2 Corinthians 5:20

We are ambassadors for Christ - Ὑπερ Χριστου - πρεσβευομεν. We execute the function of ambassadors in Christ's stead. He came from the Father to mankind on this important embassy. He has left the world, and appointed us in his place. Ambassador is a person sent from one sovereign power to another; and is supposed to represent the person of the sovereign by whom he is deputed. Christ while on earth represented the person of the Sovereign of the world; his apostles and their successors represent the person of Christ. Christ declared the will of the Father to mankind; apostles, etc., declare the will of Christ to the world. We are ambassadors for Christ. As though God did beseech you by us - W…

The Church Fathers

We are reconciled to God if we believe in Christ.
— Pelagius, COMMENTARY ON THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS 5

Paul wants to show both his devotion to God's providence and his belief that it is his duty to love the whole human race.
— Ambrosiaster, COMMENTARY ON PAUL'S EPISTLES

Let us consider the deeds of the Truth, that we may see where the actions of our depravity lie. For if we are members of the supreme Head, we ought to imitate Him to whom we are joined. For what does Paul, that outstanding preacher, say as an example for our instruction? "We are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were exhorting through us; we beseech you for Christ's sake, be reconciled to God." Behold, by sinning we have created discord between ourselves and God, and yet God first sent His ambassadors to us, so that we ourselves who sinned might come to peace with God when asked. Therefore let human pride be ashamed, let anyone be confounded who does not first make satisfaction to his neighbor, when after our fault, so that we might be reconciled to Him, God Himself who was offended beseeches us through intervening ambassadors.
— Gregory the Dialogist, Forty Gospel Homilies, Homily 32

The Church Fathers: public-domain translations (Ante-Nicene and Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers), verse-indexed by SermonIndex (CC BY 4.0).

Dictionary and topics

Ambassador — In the Old Testament the Hebrew word tsir, meaning “one who goes on an errand,” is rendered thus (Josh. 9:4; Prov. 13:17; Isa. 18:2; Jer. 49:14; Obad. 1:1). This is also the rendering of melits,…
Apostle — A person sent by another; a messenger; envoy. This word is once used as a descriptive designation of Jesus Christ, the Sent of the Father (Heb. 3:1; John 20:21). It is, however, generally used as…
Reconcilation — A change from enmity to friendship. It is mutual, i.e., it is a change wrought in both parties who have been at enmity. (1.) In Col. 1:21, 22, the word there used refers to a change wrought in the…
Ambassadors · FIGURATIVE — FIGURATIVE
Atonement, The · Reconciliation to God effected by — Reconciliation to God effected by
Call Of God, The · By his ministers — By his ministers
Minister, Christian · .AMBASSADORS FOR CHRIST — .AMBASSADORS FOR CHRIST
Ministers · Described as: Ambassadors for Christ — Described as: Ambassadors for Christ
Reconciliation · BETWEEN GOD AND MAN — BETWEEN GOD AND MAN
Reconciliation With God · Ministers, in Christ’s stead, should beseech men to seek — Ministers, in Christ’s stead, should beseech men to seek
Titles And Names Of Ministers · Ambassadors for Christ — Ambassadors for Christ

Dictionary: Easton's (1897) and Smith's (1863), public domain. Topics: Nave's Topical Bible (1896) and Torrey's Topical Textbook (1897), public domain. Both as parsed by NEUU (CC BY 4.0).

2 Corinthians 5:20

Word by word — the Greek

Cross-references

Commentary

Matthew Henry on 2 Corinthians 5:16–end

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 2 Corinthians 5:20

Adam Clarke on 2 Corinthians 5:20

The Church Fathers

Dictionary and topics

2 Corinthians 5:20

Word by word — the Greek

Cross-references

Commentary

Matthew Henry on 2 Corinthians 5:16–end

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 2 Corinthians 5:20

Adam Clarke on 2 Corinthians 5:20

The Church Fathers

Dictionary and topics

John Gill on 2 Corinthians 5:20

John Calvin on 2 Corinthians 5:18–end

Tyndale Open Study Notes on 2 Corinthians 5:20