This call to reconciliation which continues until 6:13 is an appeal to the Corinthians to reconcile with Paul who, as an ambassador of the ministry of reconciliation, is also not counting the offenses done against him (vv. 18-19), but like the One he represents, he also forgets all "trespasses" in view of Christ who has become the sin offering that satisfies guilt (vv. 20-21). The offenses of people who have died, have died with them. Since the Corinthians have died in Christ, their offenses against Paul have also died. What matters now is the "new thing" that has emerged because of the raising of Christ. With this "new thing" there is a new beginning. Because of the love of Christ (vv. 14-15) then, Paul looks at the "new" Corinthians whom the Lord has re-created by his death (vv. 16-17).
2 Corinthians 1-7 is a letter Paul wrote after receiving news from Titus that the crisis in Corinth has been resolved. 1 Corinthians was written because of the division that has occured in the Corinthian community: cliques have been formed around certain personalities, Paul's teachings have been misinterpreted such that there were some who thought that freedom meant licentiousness, and worst, even the eucharistic celebration has become disorderly. The letter, far from helping resolve the problem became an occassion for another one, namely, a tension in the relationship between Paul and the Corinthians. The condition became more acute because of the presence of evangelists coming from Jerusalem who discredited Paul. Because of the seriousness of the situation, Paul had to interrupt his work in Asia (now, Turkey) to make an unannounced visit in Corinth. There he was badly received to the extent that someone even offended him. We do not know that nature of the offense, but Paul was so hurt that he left Corinth and as soon as it was possible, wrote a letter to the Corinthians -- his "letter of tears" (maybe 2 Cor. 10-13 with some). He sent the letter through Titus. The letter was so severe that Paul was anxious at the way it would be received by the Corinthians. In that letter, Paul expressed his pain at the Corinthians but asked for reconciliation. When Titus delayed, Paul decided to meet him on his journey back. They met at Troas and there Paul received the news that the crisis has been resolved. Relieved and consoled, Paul wrote 2 Corinthians 1-7; here, Paul reviews his worry and anxiety over the events in Corinth and expresses his joy at the resolution of the problem. Here, one also finds Paul re-expressing the way he asks for reconciliation. In 2 Cor. 13:1-10, Paul was threatening in the way he told the Corinthians that he would make another visit to them, giving them a choice as to the way he, Paul, would come to them. In 2 Cor. 5:11-6:10, he re-expresses his menacing tone in a call to reconciliation. 1
Call To Reconciliation
The immediate context of 2 Corinthians 5:14-17 can be outlined as follows:
- vv. 11-13 We have been transparent to both God and to you. And if we continue to persuade it is so that you may find reason to respond to those who come to you with the appearance of apostles.
- vv. 14-15 The love of Christ compels me to think that because he died for all, all have died. vv. 16-17 Since Christ is no longer to be regarded as he was in the flesh, so too those who have been raised in Him. Whoever is in Christ is a new creation.
- vv. 18-19 All this God has done, reconciling all -- making all friends -- in Christ "not counting trespasses" and entrusting to us the task of reconciliation.
- vv. 20-21 For the sake of Christ who was made sin for us, we therefore ask you to be reconciled to God.
This call to reconciliation which continues until 6:13 is an appeal to the Corinthians to reconcile with Paul who, as an ambassador of the ministry of reconciliation, is also not counting the offenses done against him (vv. 18-19), but like the One he represents, he also forgets all "trespasses" in view of Christ who has become the sin offering that satisfies guilt (vv. 20-21). The offenses of people who have died, have died with them. Since the Corinthians have died in Christ, their offenses against Paul have also died. What matters now is the "new thing" that has emerged because of the raising of Christ. With this "new thing" there is a new beginning. Because of the love of Christ (vv. 14-15) then, Paul looks at the "new" Corinthians whom the Lord has re-created by his death (vv. 16-17).
Notice that Paul is actually saying to the Corinthians "let bygones be bygones". He says this, however, from a theological motive, that of Christ's death and resurrection as the means by which God turns enmity into friendship (the idea behind reconciliation. And it is because he, Paul, has been entrusted with the task of reconciliation that he is making the first step towards turning a bad relationship into something that is desired by God.
Love Of Christ
"The love of Christ compels us". Paul will forget the offenses against him, regarding them as the offenses of the dead, because of the love of Christ. The argument is similar to the one found in Romans 6 about death and sin: those who have died have died to sin (Rom. 6:2). Here however, the argument is that sin should no longer be ascribed to the dead. The contrasting statement about the "new creation" completes the idea: the "new creation", like a new-born babe, should be treated as an opportunity for a new relationship.
Does Paul mean "love for Christ" (objective genitive) or "the love that Christ has for him? (subjective genitive)". Whether one or the other, Paul takes it as the motive for forgetting the offenses done to him and for the Corinthians to do the same. Forgetting the offenses of another is difficult; how difficult could it be if done remembering the love of Christ who died for all?
New Creation
"Whoever is in Christ is a new creation". The Catechism associates this passage to the grace of baptism where the baptized becomes a "new creation" (CCC 1214) making one a sharer in the divine life (CCC 1265), making him/her sanctified (CCC 1999). Within the immediate context of Paul's appeal for reconciliation, the statement actually underlines the motive for a reconciled relationship with the Corinthians. On one level, Paul regards the Corinthians' offenses against him as a thing of the dead, but on another level, he looks at the news given to him by Titus as a new beginning with the Corinthians. It is in the face of this new beginning that he looks at this opportunity for reconciliation in the light of the new creation that has emerged with the reconciling act of God in Christ.
- 1. See my reconstruction of the events that led Paul to write the collection of letters called 2 Corinthians in this site.
