Quotes & Notes on:
2 Corinthians 5:17
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John Wesley's Notes:
Therefore if any one be in Christ-A true believer in him.
There is a new creation-Only the power that makes a world can make a
Christian. And when he is so created,
the old things are passed away-Of their own accord, even as snow in
spring.
Behold-The present, visible, undeniable change!
All things are become new-He has new life, new senses, new faculties,
new affections, new appetites, new ideas and conceptions. His whole
tenor of action and conversation is new, and he lives, as it were, in a
new world. God, men, the whole creation, heaven, earth, and all therein,
appear in a new light, and stand related to him in a new manner, since
he was created anew in Christ Jesus.
- Treasury of Scripture Knowledge:
* be. 2Co 5:19; 12:2; Isa 45:17,24,25; Joh 14:20; 15:2; 17:23; Ro 8:1,9
Ro 16:7,11; 1Co 1:30; Ga 3:28; 5:6; Eph 1:3,4; Php 4:21
* he is. or, let him be. a new. Ps 51:10; Eze 11:19; 18:31; 36:26; Mt
12:33; Joh 3:3,5; Ga 6:15 Eph 2:10
* old. 2Co 5:16; Isa 43:18; 65:17,18; Mt 9:16; 24:35; Ro 6:4-6; 7:6; 8:9
Ro 8:10; 1Co 13:11; Eph 2:15; 4:22-24; Php 3:7-9; Col 3:1-10 Heb 8:9-13;
2Pe 3:10-13; Re 21:1-5
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Adam Clarke's Commentary:
If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature] It is vain for a man to
profess affinity to Christ according to the flesh, while he is unchanged
in his heart and life, and dead in trespasses and sins; for he that is
in Christ, that is, a genuine Christian, having Christ dwelling in his
heart by faith, is a new creature; his old state is changed: he was a
child of Satan, he is now a child of God; he was a slave of sin, and his
works were death; he is now made free from sin, and has his fruit unto
holiness, and the end everlasting life. He was before full of pride and
wrath; he is now meek and humble. He formerly had his portion in this
life, and lived for this world alone; he now hath GOD for his portion,
and he looks not at the things which are seen, but at the things which
are eternal. Therefore, old things are passed away.
Behold, all things are become new.] The man is not only mended, but he
is new made; he is a new creature, kainh ktisiv, a new creation, a
little world in himself; formerly, all was in chaotic disorder; now,
there is a new creation, which God himself owns as his workmanship, and
which he can look on and pronounce very good. The conversion of a man
from idolatry and wickedness was among the Jews denominated a new
creation. He who converts a man to the true religion is the same, says
R. Eliezer, as if he had created him.
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Family Bible Notes:
In Christ; united to him by faith. A new creature; created in Christ
Jesus unto good works. Eph 2:10; 4:24; Col 3:10. Old things are passed
away; former views and feelings with regard to spiritual things are
changed. Become new; he seeks new ends; has a new rule of action and
pursues a new course of conduct; has new joys and new sorrows, new hopes
and new fears, new relations and new prospects.
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1599 Geneva Bible Notes:
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a (o) new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
(11) An exhortation for every man who is renewed with the Spirit of Christ to meditate on heavenly things, and not earthly. (o) As a thing made new by God, for though a man is not newly created when God gives him the spirit of regeneration, but only his qualities are changed, yet nonetheless it pleased the Holy Spirit to speak so, to teach us that we must attribute all things to the glory of God. Not that we are as rocks or stones, but because God creates in us both the will to will well, and the power to do well.
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People's New Testament Commentary:
Because, crucified with Christ (Ro 6:6), buried into his death (Ro
6:4), we have died with Christ (2Co 5:14), and risen to walk in a new
life (Ro 6:4). The old life ended when we died and were buried. Born
anew, we are new creatures who must live a new life.
All things are become new. The affections, the motives, the thoughts,
the hopes, the whole life.
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Robertson's Word Pictures:
A new creature (kainê ktisis). A fresh start is made (kainê).
Ktisis is the old word for the act of creating (Ro 1:20), but in N.T. by
metonymy it usually bears the notion of ktisma, the thing created or
creature as here. The old things are passed away (ta archaia parêlthen).
Did pass by, he means. Second aorist active of parerchomai, to go by.
The ancient (archaia) way of looking at Christ among other things. And
yet today there are scholars who are trying to revive the old prejudiced
view of Jesus Christ as a mere man, a prophet, to give us "a reduced
Christ." That was once Paul's view, but it passed by forever for him. It
is a false view and leaves us no gospel and no Saviour. Behold, they are
become new (idou, gegone kaina). Perfect active indicative of ginomai,
have become new (fresh, kaina) to stay so.
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Albert Barnes' Commentary:
Therefore if any man be in Christ. The phrase, to "be in Christ,"
evidently means to be united to Christ by faith; or to be in him as the
branch is in the vine--that is, so united to the vine, or so in it, as
to derive all its nourishment and support from it, and to be sustained
entirely by it. Joh 15:2, "Every branch in me;" Joh 15:4, "Abide in me,
and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide
in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me." See also Joh 15:1;
5:1-7. See Barnes for Joh 15:2. To be "in Christ" denotes a more tender
and close union; and implies that all our support is from him. All our
strength is derived from him; and denotes further that we shall partake
of his fulness, and share in his felicity and glory, as the branch
partakes of the strength and rigour of the parent vine. The word
"therefore" (wste) here implies, that the reason why Paul infers that
any one is a new creature who is in Christ is that which is stated in
the previous verse; to wit, the change of views in regard to the
Redeemer to which he there refers, and which was so great as to
constitute a change like a new creation. The affirmation here is
universal, "if any man be in Christ;" that is, all who become true
Christians-- undergo such a change in their views and feelings as to
make it proper to say of them that they are new creatures. No matter
what they have been before, whether moral or immoral; whether infidels
or speculative believers; whether amiable, or debased, sensual, and
polluted, yet if they become Christians they all experience such a
change as to make it proper to say they are a new creation.
He is a new creature. Marg., "Let him be." This is one of the instances
in which the margin has given a less correct translation than is in the
text. The idea evidently is, not that he ought to be a new creature, but
that he is in fact; not that he ought to live as becomes a new
creature--which is true enough--but that he will in fact live in that
way, and manifest the characteristics of the new creation. The phrase "a
new creature" (kainh ktisiv) occurs also in Ga 6:15. The word rendered
"creature" (ktisiv) means, properly, in the New Testament, creation. It
denotes
(1.) the act of creating, Ro 1:20;
(2.) a created thing, a creature, Ro 1:25; and refers
(a.) to the universe, or creation in general, Mr 10:6; 13:19; 2Pe 3:4;
(b.) to man, mankind, Mr 16:15; Col 1:23. Here it means a new creation
in a moral sense; and the phrase "new creature" is equivalent to the
expression in Eph 4:24: "The new man, which after God is created in
righteousness and true holiness." It means, evidently, that there is a
change produced in the renewed heart of man that is equivalent to the
act of creation, and that bears a strong resemblance to it--a change, so
to speak, as if the man was made over again, and had become new. The
mode or manner in which it is done is not described; nor should the
words be pressed, to the quick, as if the process were the same in both
cases--for the words are here evidently figurative. But the phrase
implies evidently the following things:
(1.) That there is an exertion of Divine power in the conversion of the
sinner as really as in the act of creating the world out of nothing, and
that this is as indispensable in the one case as in the other.
(2.) That a change is produced so great as to make it proper to say that
he is a new man. He has new views, new motives, new principles, new
objects and plans of life. He seeks new purposes, and he lives for new
ends. If a drunkard becomes reformed, there is no impropriety in saying
that he is a new man. If a man who was licentious becomes pure, there is
no impropriety in saying that he is not the same man that he was before.
Such expressions are common in all languages, and they are as proper as
they are common. There is such a change as to make the language proper.
And so in the conversion of a sinner. There is a change so deep, so
clear, so entire, and so abiding, that it is proper to say, here is a
new creation of God--a work of the Divine power as decided and as
glorious as when God created all things out of nothing. There is no
other moral change that takes place on earth so deep, and radical, and
thorough, as the change at conversion. And there is no other where there
is so much propriety in ascribing it to the mighty power of God.
Old things are passed away. The old views in regard to the Messiah, and
in regard to men in general, 2Co 5:16. But Paul also gives this a
general form of expression, and says that old things in general have
passed away--referring to everything. It was true of all who were
converted that old things had passed away. And it may include the
following things:
(1.) In regard to the Jews--that their former prejudices against
Christianity, their natural pride, and spirit of seducing others, their
attachment to their rites and ceremonies, and dependence on them for
salvation, had all passed away. They now renounced that dependence,
relied on the merits of the Saviour, and embraced all as brethren who
were of the family of Christ.
(2.) In regard to the Gentiles--their attachment to idols, their love of
sin, and degradation, their dependence on their own works, had passed
away, and they had renounced all these things, and had come to mingle
their hopes with those of the converted Jews, and with all who were the
friends of the Redeemer.
(3.) In regard to all, it is also true that old things pass away. Their
former prejudices, opinions, habits, attachments pass away. Their
supreme love of self passes away. Their love of sin passes away. Their
love of the world passes away. Their supreme attachment to their earthly
friends rather than God passes away. Their love of sin--their
sensuality, pride, vanity, levity, ambition--passes away. There is a
deep and radical change on all these subjects--a change which commences
at the new birth; which is carried on by progressive sanctification; and
which is consummated at death and in heaven.
Behold, all things are become new. That is, all things in view of the
mind. The purposes of life, the feelings of the heart, the principles of
action, all become new. The understanding is consecrated to new objects,
the body is employed in new service, the heart forms new attachments.
Nothing can be more strikingly descriptive of the facts in conversion
than this; nothing more entirely accords with the feelings of the
new-born soul. All is new. There are new views of God and of Jesus
Christ; new views of this world and of the world to come; new views of
truth and of duty; and everything is seen in a new aspect and with new
feelings. Nothing is more common in young converts than such feelings,
and nothing is more common than for them to say that all things are new.
The Bible seems to be a new book; and though they may have often read it
before, yet there is a beauty about it which they never saw before, and
which they wonder they have not before perceived. The whole face of
nature seems to them to be changed, and they seem to be in a new world.
The hills, and vales, and streams; the sun, the stars, the groves, the
forests, seem to be new. A new beauty is spread over them all; and they
now see them to be the work of God, and his glory is spread over them
all, and they can now say---
"My Father made them all."
The heavens and the earth are filled with new wonders, and all things
seem now to speak forth the praise of God. Even the very countenances of
friends seem to be new; and there are new feelings towards all men; a
new kind of love to kindred and friends; a love before unfelt for
enemies; and a new love for all mankind.
{1} "he is" "Let him be"
{a} "new creature" Joh 3:3; Ga 6:15
{b} "all things are become new" Isa 65:17; Re 21:5
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Jamieson-Faussett Brown:
Therefore--connected with the words in 2Co 5:16, "We know Christ no
more after the flesh." As Christ has entered on His new heavenly life by
His resurrection and ascension, so all who are "in Christ" (that is,
united to Him by faith as the branch is In the vine) are new creatures
(Ro 6:9-11). "New" in the Greek implies a new nature quite different
from anything previously existing, not merely recent, which is expressed
by a different Greek word (Ga 6:15).
creature--literally, "creation," and so the creature resulting from the
creation (compare Joh 3:3,5; Eph 2:10; 4:23; Col 3:10,11). As we are "in
Christ," so "God was in Christ" (2Co 5:19): hence He is Mediator between
God and us.
old things--selfish, carnal views (compare 2Co 5:16) of ourselves, of
other men, and of Christ.
passed away--spontaneously, like the snow of early spring [BENGEL]
before the advancing sun.
behold--implying an allusion to Isa 43:19; 65:17.
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Spurgeon Devotional Commentary:
(No comment on this verse)
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William Burkitt's Notes:
As if the apostle had said, "If any one amongst you pretend to be a
Christian indeed, ingrafted into Christ, by baptism and regeneration,
and is a member of his body; he is by regeneration made a new man, all
the faculties of his soul are renewed: his principles, affections, and
practices, are all new: Old things are passed, or passing away daily,
the old carnal inclinations of mind are wearing off, the old will is
changed, the old life is reformed; and in a word, whatever was old and
carnal, is now beome new and spiritual." Behold all things are become
new: new affections, new inclinations, new dispositions, a new course,
and a new conversation. Nothing is new physically; he is the same
person, he has the same faculties: but all things are new qualitatively;
he is renewed in the spirit of his mind.
Learn hence, 1. That all such as call themselves the disciples of
Christ, and own themselves to be his followers, are and ought to be new
creatures. This implies a real and inward, a thorough and prevailing
change, both in heart and life; not a civil change, barely from
profaneness to sobriety; not a sudden change, only under some great
affliction or awakening providence; not a change from one sect or party
of professors to another; but the change of the new creature consists in
a new mind, a new will, a new judgment, new affections; in a new
conversation, not in a new form and profession; the change of the new
creature introduces the life of God, and produces the nearest likeness
to God.
Learn, 2. That this new creation, wrought in a man by the word and
Spirit God, is an indubitable evidence of his interest in Christ, and
title to salvation; for where the new creature is, there all the saving
graces of the Spirit are, as a pledge and an earnest of glory and
happpiness.
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Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary:
(No comment on this verse)
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The Fourfold Gospel:
(No comment on this verse)
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