Online Resource Library
Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comRobertson Word Pictures - 2 Corinthians 5:14 - 5:14
(Show All Books | Show All Chapters)
This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
The love of Christ (hē agapē tou Christou). Subjective genitive, Christ’s love for Paul as shown by 2Co 5:15.
Constraineth us (sunechei hēmas). Old and common verb, to hold together, to press the ears together (Act 7:57), to press on every side (Luk 8:45), to hold fast (Luk 22:63), to hold oneself to (Act 18:5), to be pressed (passive, Luk 12:50; Phi 1:23). So here Paul’s conception of Christ’s love for him holds him together to his task whatever men think or say.
Judging this (krinantas touto). Having reached this conclusion, ever since his conversion (Gal 1:17.).
One died for all (heis huper pantōn apethanen). This is the central tenet in Paul’s theology and Christology. Huper (over) here is used in the sense of substitution as in Joh 11:50; Gal 3:13, death in behalf so that the rest will not have to die. This use of huper is common in the papyri (Robertson, Grammar, p. 631). In fact, huper in this sense is more usual in Greek than anti, pro or any other preposition.
Therefore all died (ara hoi pantes apethanon). Logical conclusion (ara, corresponding), the one died for the all and so the all died when he did, all the spiritual death possible for those for whom Christ died. This is Paul’s gospel, clear-cut, our hope today.