2 Corinthians 5:21 (LSB)

Passage

He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Nearby Context

2 Corinthians 5:19 namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their transgressions against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

2 Corinthians 5:20 So then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as God is pleading through us. We beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

2 Corinthians 5:21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "knew", "behalf", "might", "become", and "righteousness". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "knew" and "behalf", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The prior verse says "So then we are ambassadors for Christ...", giving immediate footing for "knew" and "behalf". In 2 Corinthians context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

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