2 Corinthians 5:20 Meaning and Explanation
“Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Paul and his fellow workers serve as Christ's ambassadors, through whom God appeals to people: be reconciled to God.
What Does 2 Corinthians 5:20 Mean?
Having received the ministry of reconciliation, Paul calls himself and his coworkers 'ambassadors for Christ.' An ambassador speaks for the one who sent him, so that God's own appeal comes through them: 'be ye reconciled to God.'
The dignity and tenderness of this verse are striking. The infinite God stoops to plead with people through human messengers, as if entreating each one personally. The message is not a demand but an invitation: receive the reconciliation God has already made through Christ. Heaven's appeal is gentle, and it is addressed to every heart that will hear.
2 Corinthians 5:20 in the Original Language
presbeuo (πρεσβεύω), 'ambassadors' -- to act as a representative or envoy on behalf of another.
Frequently Asked Questions About 2 Corinthians 5:20
What does 2 Corinthians 5:20 mean?
Paul and his fellow workers serve as Christ's ambassadors, through whom God appeals to people: be reconciled to God.