2 corinthians 5

Read 2 Corinthians 5 at Bible Gateway.

2 Corinthians 5:1-21 chiastic structure:

1a) 2 Cor 5:1-11a, We live pleasing to Him + we persuade men since we will all appear before the judgment seat of Christ;

1a) 2 Cor 5:1-5, If the earthly body is destroyed, we will not be found naked but clothed with our heavenly body;

1a) 2 Cor 5:1a, For we know;
1b) 2 Cor 5:1b, If our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God;
1c) 2 Cor 5:1c, A house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens;
1d) 2 Cor 5:2, In this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation from heaven;
central axis) 2 Cor 5:3, If indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked;
2d) 2 Cor 5:4a, For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened because we want to be further clothed;
2c) 2 Cor 5:4b, That mortality may be swallowed up by life;
2b) 2 Cor 5:5a, He who has prepared us is God, who has also given us the Spirit;
2a) 2 Cor 5:5b, As a guarantee;

1b) 2 Cor 5:6, We are confident that at home in the body is to be absent from the Lord;
central axis) 2 Cor 5:7, For we walk by faith, not by sight;
2b) 2 Cor 5:8, We are confident that absent from the body is to be present with the Lord;
2a) 2 Cor 5:9-11a, Let us be well pleasing to Him: we will all appear before the judgment seat of Christ/ knowing the terror of the Lord, we persuade men;

1b) 2 Cor 5:11b, But we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your conscience;

central axis) 2 Cor 5:12a, For we do not commend ourselves again to you, but give you opportunity to boast on our behalf;

2b) 2 Cor 5:12b, That you may have an answer for those who boast in appearance and not in heart;

2a) 2 Cor 5:13-21, We live no longer for ourselves + we are ambassadors for Christ with the word of reconciliation;

1a.1) 2 Cor 5:13, If we are beside ourselves, it is for God + if we are of sound mind, it is for you;
1a.2) 2 Cor 5:14-15, Christ died for all so that all all died, to live for Him who died for them;

1a) 2 Cor 5:14a, For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus:
1b) 2 Cor 5:14b, That if One died for all;
central axis) 2 Cor 5:14c, Then all died;
2b) 2 Cor 5:15a, And He died for all;
2a) 2 Cor 5:15b, That those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.

1b) 2 Cor 5:16-17a, We regard no one according to the flesh, since if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;
central axis) 2 Cor 5:17b, Old things have passed away;
2b) 2 Cor 5:17c, Behold, all things have become new;
2a.1) 2 Cor 5:18a, Now all things are of God;
2a.2) 2 Cor 5:18b-21, God in Christ reconciled the world to Himself, that we might be made righteous in Him;

1a) 2 Cor 5:18b, Who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ;
1b) 2 Cor 5:18c, And has given us the ministry of reconciliation;
central axis) 2 Cor 5:19, “That is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them;”
2b) 2 Cor 5:19b-20a, And has given us the word of reconciliation + we are ambassadors for Christ:
2a) 2 Cor 5:20b-21, Be reconciled to God, for Christ was made sin for us, that we might be made righteous in Him.

The thing that stood out to me today was this pair:

1a.2) 2 Cor 5:14-15, Christ died for all so that all all died, to live for Him who died for them;

2a.2) 2 Cor 5:18b-21, God in Christ reconciled the world to Himself, that we might be made righteous in Him.

Vs. 21 is the famous verse that teaches that our righteousness in Christ is imputed righteousness through Christ’s work and not our own. It is there that some people leave the matter, and say that since we are dead to the Law for righteousness, any assertion that we ought to obey God’s commandments is akin to heresy. But in the matching pair, we see that He died for all (resulting in our reconciliation) so that we should no longer live for ourselves, but for Him who died for us. This means, living to God, denying the flesh, which is what the Law defines for us. It is really that simple!