2 Corinthians 5:20 (GNV)

Passage

Now then are we ambassadours for Christ: as though God did beseeche you through vs, we pray you in Christes steade, that ye be reconciled to God.

Nearby Context

2 Corinthians 5:18 And all things are of God, which hath reconciled vs vnto himselfe by Iesus Christ, and hath giuen vnto vs the ministerie of reconciliation.

2 Corinthians 5:19 For God was in Christ, and reconciled the world to himselfe, not imputing their sinnes vnto them, and hath committed to vs the word of reconciliation.

2 Corinthians 5:20 Now then are we ambassadours for Christ: as though God did beseeche you through vs, we pray you in Christes steade, that ye be reconciled to God.

2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sinne for vs, which knewe no sinne, that we should be made the righteousnesse of God in him.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "ambassadours", "christ", "though", "beseeche", "through", "pray", "christes", and "steade". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "ambassadours" and "christ", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 19's "For God was in Christ and reconciled..." into verse 21's "For he hath made him to be...", so "ambassadours" and "christ" belong inside that flow. In 2 Corinthians context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "ambassadours" and "christ" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.