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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Corinthians 5:16-21

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, 2 Cor. 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... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 2 Corinthians 5:20-21

5:20-21 So then we are acting as ambassadors on Christ's behalf, for God is sending you his invitation through us. We beseech you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. He made him who had no acquaintance with sin to be sin for us, that through him we might become the righteousness of God. Because we are trying to help him to win men, we urge you not to have received the offer of the grace of God all to no purpose. (For scripture says, "At an accepted time I heard you, and in the day of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Corinthians 5:21

For he hath made him to be sin for us ,.... Christ was made of a woman, took flesh of a sinful woman; though the flesh he took of her was not sinful, being sanctified by the Spirit of God, the former of Christ's human nature: however, he appeared "in the likeness of sinful flesh"; being attended with infirmities, the effects of sin, though sinless; and he was traduced by men as a sinner, and treated as such. Moreover, he was made a sacrifice for sin, in order to make expiation and atonement... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Corinthians 5:21

For he hath made him to be sin for us - Τον μη γνοντα ἁμαρτιαν, ὑπερ ἡμων ἁμαρτιαν εποιησεν· He made him who knew no sin, (who was innocent), a sin-offering for us. The word ἁμαρτια occurs here twice: in the first place it means sin, i.e. transgression and guilt; and of Christ it is said, He knew no sin, i.e. was innocent; for not to know sin is the same as to be conscious of innocence; so, nil conscire sibi , to be conscious of nothing against one's self, is the same as nulla... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Corinthians 5:21

Verse 21 21.Him who knew no sin. Do you observe, that, according to Paul, there is no return to favor with God, except what is founded on the sacrifice of Christ alone? Let us learn, therefore, to turn our views in that direction, whenever we desire to be absolved from guilt. He now teaches more clearly, what we adverted to above — that God is propitious to us, when he acknowledges us as righteous. For these two things are equivalent — that we are acceptable to God, and that we are regarded by... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Corinthians 5:21

He hath made him to be sin for us; rather, he made; he speaks with definite reference to the cross. The expression is closely analogous to that in Galatians 3:13 , where it is said that Christ has been "made a curse for us." He was, as St. Augustine says, "delictorum susceptor, non commissor." He knew no sin; nay, he was the very righteousness, holiness itself ( Jeremiah 23:6 ), and yet, for our benefit, God made him to be "sin" for us, in that he "sent him in the likeness of sinful... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Corinthians 5:21

The Sinless counted as a sinner . We give but the bare outline of a course of thought on this subject, because it is so suggestive of controversial theological topics, and can be treated from the points of view of several distinct theological schools. I. CHRIST AS A SINLESS MAN . What proofs of this have we? And how does such sinlessness separate him from man and ensure his acceptance with God? II. THE SINLESS CAN NEVER , IN FACT , BE OTHER THAN SINLESS ... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Corinthians 5:21

For he hath made him to be sin for us - The Greek here is, ‘for him who knew no sin, he hath made sin, or a sin-offering for us.’ The design of this very important verse is, to urge the strongest possible reason for being reconciled to God. This is implied in the word (γὰρ gar) “for.” Paul might have urged other arguments, and presented other strong considerations. But he chooses to present this fact, that Christ has been made sin for us, as embodying and concentrating all. It is the most... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 2 Corinthians 5:21

2 Corinthians 5:21. For he made him, who knew no sin A commendation peculiar to Christ; to be sin Or a sin-offering rather, (as the expression often signifies both in the Old Testament and the New;) for us Who knew no righteousness, who were inwardly and outwardly nothing but sin, and who must have been consumed by the divine justice, had not this atonement been made for our sins; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him Might be accounted and constituted righteous by... read more

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