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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadCambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges - 2 Corinthians 5:18 - 5:18
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18. τὰ δὲ πάντα ἐκ τοῦ θεοῦ τοῦ καταλλάξαντος ἡμᾶς ἑαυτῷ διὰ Χριστοῦ καὶ δόντος ἡμῖν τ. δ. τ. κ. This great change is not our own work: but all things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and, gave to us the ministry of reconciliation. That ἡμᾶς means all mankind is clear from κόσμον in 2Co 5:19; and that ἡμῖν means the Apostles is clear from ἐν ἡμῖν in 2Co 5:19. Had ἡμῖν meant all mankind, we should have had ἐν αὐτοῖς in 2Co 5:19. Here, as elsewhere in Scripture, the change on man’s side is emphasized: Rom 10:10-11; Rom 11:15. In Rom 5:11 the A.V. renders καταλλαγή by ‘atonement,’ which in 1611 was ‘at-one-ment’ and equivalent to ‘reconciliation.’ “Since we cannot atone you” (Richard II., I. i. 203). “I would do much to atone them” (Othello, IV. i. 244). The notion of making amends by paying something is a later meaning. See Trench, Synonyms § lxxvii. Comp. διαλλάγηθι τῷ ἀδελφῷ σου (Mat 5:24): συνήλλασσεν αὐτοὺς εἰς εἰρήνην (Act 7:26): and ἀποκαταλλάσσω (Eph 2:16; Col 1:20-21). S. Paul does not use the LXX. words ἱλάσκομαι, ἐξιλάσκομαι, ἱλασμός. He uses ἱλαστήριον Rom 3:25.
τὴν διακονίαν τῆς καταλλαγῆς. Comp. 2Co 3:9. To the preachers of the Gospel is committed the work of persuading men to accept God’s offer of reconciliation with Himself. For διακονία used of the Apostles comp. 2Co 4:1, 2Co 6:3; Rom 11:13; 1Ti 1:12; and often in Acts.