2 Corinthians 5:18
And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
Study Note
Study Note
The declaration 'all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation' links the ontological claim ('all things are of God') with the soteriological event ('reconciled us') and the ecclesiological vocation ('ministry of reconciliation') in a single theological movement. The word 'katallassō' (reconcile) appears in the New Testament almost exclusively in Paul and always in the direction of God reconciling humanity to himself rather than humans reconciling God to themselves — a reversal of the typical sacrificial logic of pagan religion. The conferral of the 'ministry of reconciliation' upon believers makes the church a participatory extension of God's own reconciling action, giving ecclesiology a directly missiological foundation. This verse undergirds the entire missionary theology of 2 Corinthians 5:19-20 and has been foundational in ecumenical and post-colonial missiology.
Other Translations
But all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and gave unto us the ministry of reconciliation;
And the all things <FI>are<Fi> of God, who reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and did give to us the ministration of the reconciliation,
But all things are of God, who has made us at peace with himself through Christ, and has given to us the work of making peace;
Cross References
And no sin offering, whereof any of the blood is brought into the tabernacle of the congregation to reconcile withal …
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good …
I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is …
And one lamb out of the flock, out of two hundred, out of the fat pastures of Israel; for a …
Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an …
And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house.
And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not …