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  • 2 Corinthians 5:21
    New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures
    • 21 The one who did not know sin,+ he made to be sin* for us, so that by means of him we might become God’s righteousness.+

  • 2 Corinthians 5:21
    The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures
    • 21 τὸν The (one) μὴ not γνόντα having known ἁμαρτίαν sin ὑπὲρ over ἡμῶν us ἁμαρτίαν sin ἐποίησεν, he made, ἵνα in order that ἡμεῖς we γενώμεθα might become δικαιοσύνη righteousness θεοῦ of God ἐν in αὐτῷ. him.

  • 2 Corinthians 5:21
    New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures—With References
    • 21 The one who did not know sin+ he made to be sin*+ for us, that we might become God’s righteousness+ by means of him.

  • 2 Corinthians 5:21
    The Bible in Living English
    • 21 Him who had not known sin he made into sin for us in order that we may become righteousness of God’s in him.

  • 2 Corinthians 5:21
    American Standard Version
    • 21 Him who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf; that we might become the righteousness of God in him.

  • 2 Corinthians 5:21
    The Emphasized Bible
    • 21 Him who knew not sin In our behalf he made to be sin, That we might become God’s righteousness in him.

  • 2 Corinthians 5:21
    King James Version
    • 21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

  • 2 Corinthians
    Watch Tower Publications Index 1986-2026
    • 5:21 it-2 761; w00 8/15 18-19; w98 12/15 18

  • 2 Corinthians
    Watch Tower Publications Index 1930-1985
    • 5:21 sl 82; im 398; w37 236

  • 2 Corinthians
    Research Guide for Jehovah’s Witnesses—2019 Edition
    • 5:21

      Insight, Volume 2, p. 761

      The Watchtower,

      8/15/2000, pp. 18-19

      12/15/1998, p. 18

  • 2 Corinthians Study Notes—Chapter 5
    New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (Study Edition)
    • 5:21

      The one who did not know sin: That is, Jesus, who never sinned. However, Jehovah made him to be sin for us, that is, for our sake. Jehovah arranged for Jesus to die as a sin offering to pay the penalty for mankind’s sin. (Compare Le 16:21; Isa 53:12; Ga 3:13; Heb 9:28.) The phrase “made to be sin for us” could also be rendered “made to be a sin offering for us.” Regarding Jesus, the apostle John says: “He is a propitiatory sacrifice [or, “an atoning sacrifice; a means of appeasement”] for our sins, yet not for ours only but also for the whole world’s.” (1Jo 2:2) While the Israelites had a limited means of approach to God through their animal sacrifices, Christians have a superior basis for approaching God, the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.​—Joh 14:6; 1Pe 3:18.

      so that by means of him we might become God’s righteousness: That is, by means of Jesus, we may attain a righteous, or approved, standing before God. Paul may have had in mind Isaiah’s prophecy regarding Jehovah’s Messianic servant, who is said to “bring a righteous standing to many people.”​—Isa 53:11.

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