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InterlinearVerse GEN EXO LEV NUM DEU JOB JOS JDG RUTH 1 SAM 2 SAM PSA AMOS HOS 1 KI 2 KI 1 CHR 2 CHR PROV ECC SNG JOEL MIC ISA ZEP HAB JER LAM YNA (JNA) NAH OBA DAN EZE EZRA EST NEH HAG ZEC MAL LAO GES LES ESG DNG 2 PS TOB JDT ESA WIS SIR BAR LJE PAZ SUS BEL MAN 1 MAC 2 MAC 3 MAC 4 MAC YHN (JHN) MARK MAT LUKE ACTs YAC (JAM) GAL 1 TH 2 TH 1 COR 2 COR ROM COL PHM EPH PHP 1 TIM TIT 1 PET 2 PET 2 TIM HEB YUD (JUD) 1 YHN (1 JHN) 2 YHN (2 JHN) 3 YHN (3 JHN) REV
2 Cor C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 C7 C8 C9 C10 C11 C12 C13
2 Cor 5 V1 V2 V3 V4 V5 V6 V7 V8 V9 V10 V11 V12 V13 V14 V15 V16 V18 V19 V20 V21
OET (OET-LV) So_then if anyone is in chosen_one/messiah, a_new creation he_is, the ancient things passed_away, see, it_has_become new.
OET (OET-RV) So then if anyone is in Messiah, they’re a new creation—the old has gone, and wow, it’s now become new!
In this section, Paul explained the goal that he and his coworkers had (5:11a–b). He also said that God knew and approved of what they did (5:11c). He wrote that their accomplishments should cause the believers in Corinth to be proud of them (5:12). The basis for 5:13 may be that the false teachers had accused Paul of being crazy. Sometimes obeying God requires doing things which do not make sense to people who do not know God. Paul also explained the basis for his ministry (5:14–15).
He explained the new way believers should think of each other (5:16–17). He explained the basis for that new way of thinking (5:18–19). He told them that apostles are like ambassadors for Christ, and he urged people to be reconciled to God (5:20). He explained the basis for believers becoming righteous (5:21). He urged believers to follow God completely (6:1–2).
Other examples of headings for this section are:
The Ministry of Reconciliation (NIV)
Paul explained the basis for his ministry
Friendship with God through Christ (GNT)
God wants all people to reconcile with him
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.
So, if anyone has a relationship with Christ, he has a new being/nature.
Therefore, if anyone believes in Christ, he has received a new nature.
Therefore: Like “So” in 5:16a, this word indicates that 5:17 is a result of what Paul said in 5:14–15.
if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation: This indicates that God gives people a new nature when they believe in Jesus. Since believers have the new nature, they are able to follow Jesus. Other ways to translate this are:
Anyone who is joined to Christ is a new being (GNT)
anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person (NLT)
If anyone believes in Christ, God has made him new
If anyone accepts Christ, God has given to him a new nature
in Christ: Here this phrase refers to believing in Christ and therefore having a relationship with him.
The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come!
The old things have gone, and behold/hey, what is new has come!
The old life is gone; a new life has begun! (NLT)
The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come: There is a textual issue in 5:17b. (1) The earliest Greek manuscripts have the word new (BSB, RSV, NIV, GNT, NJB, NLT, GW, NET, REB, ESV). (2) Some later Greek manuscripts have the words all things new (KJV). It is recommended that you follow option (1). The NRSV, CEV, JBP, and NCV use “everything” in their translation, but using this word may be a translation choice rather than following option (2). A Greek word that is often translated as “look,” which the BSB translates as Behold, occurs between the two clauses in 5:17b. It emphasizes the clause the new has come. Here is another way to translate this:
everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new (NRSV)
The old has passed away: The Greek clause is literally “the old things came to an end.” The old creation for a believer has ceased. Even though believers still sometimes sin in the old ways, they have begun the new life. Other ways to translate this clause are:
The old things have gone (NCV)
The old life is gone (NLT)
The old way of living has disappeared (GW)
his old ways and deeds have ended
the new has come: The Greek clause indicates that the new creation has come into existence in the believer’s life. Other ways to translate this clause are:
what is new has come (NET)
a new life has begun (NLT)
A new way of living has come into existence (GW)
his new being/existence has begun
Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result
ὥστε
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ὥστε εἰ τὶς ἐν Χριστῷ καινή κτίσις τά ἀρχαία παρῆλθεν ἰδού γέγονεν καινά)
Here, the word Therefore could introduce an inference from: (1) [5:16](../05/16.md). In this case, Paul is saying that “regarding” Christ in a new way indicates that a person is also a new creation. Alternate translation: [Regarding Christ in this new way shows that] (2) [5:14–15](../05/14.md). In this case, Paul is saying that how Christ died for people causes them to be a new creation. Alternate translation: [Because Christ died for people]
Note 2 topic: grammar-connect-condition-hypothetical
εἴ
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ὥστε εἰ τὶς ἐν Χριστῷ καινή κτίσις τά ἀρχαία παρῆλθεν ἰδού γέγονεν καινά)
Here Paul uses the conditional form to show that being in Christ leads to being a new creation. If the conditional form does not indicate a cause-and-effect relationship like this in your language, you could express the if statement in a way that does show the relationship. Alternate translation: [as long as] or [supposing that]
Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor
ἐν Χριστῷ
in Christ
Paul uses the spatial metaphor in Christ to describe the union of believers with Christ. In this case, being in Christ, or united to Christ, indicates that a person believes in Christ and is a Christian. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a phrase that indicates that the person is a Christian, someone who is united to Christ. Alternate translation: [is a Christian] or [is united to Christ]
Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / gendernotations
καινὴ κτίσις
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ὥστε εἰ τὶς ἐν Χριστῷ καινή κτίσις τά ἀρχαία παρῆλθεν ἰδού γέγονεν καινά)
Although the word he is masculine, Paul is using it to refer to any person, either man or woman. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word that applies to both men and women or you could refer to both genders. Alternate translation: [that person is a new creation] or [he or she is a new creation]
Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis
καινὴ κτίσις
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ὥστε εἰ τὶς ἐν Χριστῷ καινή κτίσις τά ἀρχαία παρῆλθεν ἰδού γέγονεν καινά)
Here Paul does not directly state what is a new creation. He could be implying that: (1) the person in Christ is a new creation. Alternate translation: [that person is a new creation] (2) the world is a new creation, and the person can experience that when he or she is in Christ. Alternate translation: [there is a new creation] or [that person experiences the new creation]
Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns
καινὴ κτίσις
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ὥστε εἰ τὶς ἐν Χριστῷ καινή κτίσις τά ἀρχαία παρῆλθεν ἰδού γέγονεν καινά)
If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of creation, you could express the idea by using a verb such as “create.” Paul could be focusing on: (1) what is created. Alternate translation: [he is something that God has newly created] (2) the act of creating. Alternate translation: [God has newly created him]
Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit
τὰ ἀρχαῖα & καινά
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ὥστε εἰ τὶς ἐν Χριστῷ καινή κτίσις τά ἀρχαία παρῆλθεν ἰδού γέγονεν καινά)
Here, the phrases old things and new things could refer to: (1) things that characterize a person and their life. Alternate translation: [The things of the old life … things of the new life] (2) the world and how a person experiences it. Alternate translation: [The things of the old world … things of the new world]
Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / exclamations
ἰδοὺ
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ὥστε εἰ τὶς ἐν Χριστῷ καινή κτίσις τά ἀρχαία παρῆλθεν ἰδού γέγονεν καινά)
Here, the word behold draws the attention of the audience and asks them to listen carefully. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express behold with a word or phrase that asks the audience to listen. Alternate translation: [listen] or [hear me]
γέγονεν καινά
˱it˲_˓has˒_become new
Here, the phrase new things could be: (1) the subject of have come. Alternate translation: [new things have happened] (2) the object of have come, and the subject is the person who is in Christ. Alternate translation: [he has become new]
Note 9 topic: translate-textvariants
γέγονεν καινά
˱it˲_˓has˒_become new
Some early manuscripts include the word “all” in this clause, so that it reads, “all things have become new.” Consider whether translations that your readers might be familiar with include “all.” Otherwise, it is recommended that you follow the ULT here, since the best manuscripts do not include “all.”
OET (OET-LV) So_then if anyone is in chosen_one/messiah, a_new creation he_is, the ancient things passed_away, see, it_has_become new.
OET (OET-RV) So then if anyone is in Messiah, they’re a new creation—the old has gone, and wow, it’s now become new!
Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.
Acknowledgements: The SR Greek text, lemmas, morphology, and VLT gloss are all thanks to the CNTR.