• 2 Corinthians 5:18
    The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures

    • 18 τὰ the δὲ but πάντα all (things) ἐκ out of τοῦ the θεοῦ God τοῦ the (one) καταλλάξαντος having reconciled ἡμᾶς us ἑαυτῷ to himself διὰ through Χριστοῦ Christ καὶ and δόντος having given ἡμῖν to us τὴν the διακονίαν service τῆς of the καταλλαγῆς, reconciliation,

  • 2 Corinthians Study Notes—Chapter 5
    New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (Study Edition)

    • 5:18

      God, who reconciled us to himself: All humans need to be reconciled to God because the first man, Adam, was disobedient, and he passed sin and imperfection on to all his descendants. (Ro 5:12) As a result, they are in a state of alienation from God; they are at enmity with God, whose standards do not allow for condoning wrongdoing. (Ro 8:7, 8) The Greek words for “to reconcile” and “reconciliation” basically convey the meaning “change; exchange,” and in this context they refer to changing from a hostile relationship to a friendly, harmonious relationship with God. Paul here shows that God first reconciled “us” (Paul, his associates, and all spirit-anointed Christians) to Himself through Christ, that is, by means of Christ’s ransom sacrifice. Then Paul says that God “gave us the ministry of the reconciliation.”​—See study note on Ro 5:10.

      the ministry of the reconciliation: That is, the ministry of helping people to become “reconciled to God through the death of his Son.” (Ro 5:10) This ministry involves an urgent message to help those alienated from God to come into a peaceful relationship with him, to become his friend.​—2Co 5:18-20; for a discussion of the term “ministry” (Greek, di·a·ko·niʹa), see study notes on Ac 11:29; Ro 11:13.