2 Corinthians 5:17

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New International Version (©1984)
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

New Living Translation (©2007)
This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

English Standard Version (©2001)
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

International Standard Version (©2008)
Therefore, if anyone is in the Messiah, he is a new creation. Old things have disappeared, and-look!-all things have become new!

Clarke’s Commentary on the Bible

If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature – It is vain for a man to profess affinity to Christ according to the flesh, while he is unchanged in his heart and life, and dead in trespasses and sins; for he that is in Christ, that is, a genuine Christian, having Christ dwelling in his heart by faith, is a new creature; his old state is changed: he was a child of Satan, he is now a child of God; he was a slave of sin, and his works were death; he is now made free from sin, and has his fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. He was before full of pride and wrath; he is now meek and humble. He formerly had his portion in this life, and lived for this world alone; he now hath God for his portion, and he looks not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are eternal. Therefore, old things are passed away.

Behold, all things are become new – The man is not only mended, but he is new made; he is a new creature, ? , a new creation, a little world in himself; formerly, all was in chaotic disorder; now, there is a new creation, which God himself owns as his workmanship, and which he can look on and pronounce very good. The conversion of a man from idolatry and wickedness was among the Jews denominated a new creation. He who converts a man to the true religion is the same, says R. Eliezer, as if he had created him.

Wesley’s Notes

5:17 Therefore if any one be in Christ – A true believer in him. There is a new creation – Only the power that makes a world can make a Christian. And when he is so created, the old things are passed away – Of their own accord, even as snow in spring. Behold – The present, visible, undeniable change! All things are become new – He has new life, new senses, new faculties, new affections, new appetites, new ideas and conceptions. His whole tenor of action and conversation is new, and he lives, as it were, in a new world. God, men, the whole creation, heaven, earth, and all therein, appear in a new light, and stand related to him in a new manner, since he was created anew in Christ Jesus.

Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary

5:16-21 The renewed man acts upon new principles, by new rules, with new ends, and in new company. The believer is created anew; his heart is not merely set right, but a new heart is given him. He is the workmanship of God, created in Christ Jesus unto good works. Though the same as a man, he is changed in his character and conduct. These words must and do mean more than an outward reformation. The man who formerly saw no beauty in the Saviour that he should desire him, now loves him above all things. The heart of the unregenerate is filled with enmity against God, and God is justly offended with him. Yet there may be reconciliation. Our offended God has reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ. By the inspiration of God, the Scriptures were written, which are the word of reconciliation; showing that peace has been made by the cross, and how we may be interested therein. Though God cannot lose by the quarrel, nor gain by the peace, yet he beseeches sinners to lay aside their enmity, and accept the salvation he offers. Christ knew no sin. He was made Sin; not a sinner, but Sin, a Sin-offering, a Sacrifice for sin. The end and design of all this was, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him, might be justified freely by the grace of God through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus. Can any lose, labour, or suffer too much for Him, who gave his beloved Son to be the Sacrifice for their sins, that they might be made the righteousness of God in him?

On this day…

• Psalm 104 – 2024
• Psalm 105 – 2024
• Deuteronomy 2 – 2023
• Deuteronomy 1 – 2023
• The Pleasure of God in His Son – 2011
• There Never Seems to Be Enough Time – 2011
• Life is at its noblest and its best when our effort co-operates with God’s grace – 2011
• The bitterest ingredient in the ‘cup of divine displeasure’ – 2011
• Where am I bound for? For heaven–or for hell? – 2011
• RESTRAINING GRACE – 2011