SEV Biblia, Chapter 5:20
Así que, somos embajadores de Cristo, como si Dios rogase por medio nuestro; os rogamos en Nombre de Cristo: Reconciliaos a Dios.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - 2 Corinthians 5:20
Verse 20. We are ambassadors for Christ] uper cristou- presbeuomen. We execute the function of ambassadors in Christ's stead. He came from the Father to mankind on this important embassy. He has left the world, and appointed us in his place. Ambassador is a person sent from one sovereign power to another; and is supposed to represent the person of the sovereign by whom he is deputed. Christ while on earth represented the person of the Sovereign of the world; his apostles and their successors represent the person of Christ.
Christ declared the will of the Father to mankind; apostles, &c., declare the will of Christ to the world. We are ambassadors for Christ.
As though God did beseech you by us] What we say to you we say on the authority of God; our entreaties are his entreaties; our warm love to you, a faint reflection of his infinite love; we pray you to return to God, it is his will that you should do so; we promise you remission of sins, we are authorized to do so by God himself. In Christ's stead we pray you to lay aside your enmity and be reconciled to God; i.e. accept pardon, peace, holiness, and heaven; which are all procured for you by his blood, and offered to you on his own authority.
"What unparalleled condescension and divinely tender mercies are displayed in this verse! Did the judge ever beseech a condemned criminal to accept of pardon? Does the creditor ever beseech a ruined debtor to receive an acquittance in full? Yet our almighty Lord, and our eternal Judge, not only vouchsafes to offer these blessings, but invites us, entreats us, and with the most tender importunity solicits us not to reject them." The Rev. J. Wesley's notes in loc.
This sentiment is farther expressed in the following beautiful poetic version of this place, by the Rev. Charles Wesley:- "God, the offended God most high, Ambassadors to rebels sends; His messengers his place supply, And Jesus begs us to be friends.
Us, in the stead of Christ, they pray, Us, in the stead of Christ, entreat, To cast our arms, our sins, away, And find forgiveness at his feet.
Our God, in Christ, thine embassy And proffer'd mercy we embrace; And, gladly reconciled to thee, Thy condescending mercy praise.
Poor debtors, by our Lord's request A full acquittance we receive; And criminals, with pardon blest, We, at our Judge's instance, live."
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 20. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ , etc..] Since God has made reconciliation by Christ, and the ministry of it is committed to us, we are ambassadors for him; we come with full powers from him, not to propose terms of peace, to treat with men about it, to offer it to them, but to publish and proclaim it as made by him: we represent him, and God who made it by him, as though God did beseech you by us ; to regard this embassy and message of peace, which we bring from him; to consider from whence it takes its rise, what methods have been used to effect it, and how it is accomplished; which should oblige to say and sing with the angels, glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, and good will towards men; and to behave in peaceable manner to all men, and one another: we pray you in Christ's stead ; representing him as if he was present before you: be ye reconciled to God ; you, who are new creatures, for whom Christ has died, and peace is made; you, the members of the church at Corinth, who upon a profession of faith have been taken into such a relation; be ye reconciled to all the dispensations of divine Providence towards you; let your wills bow, and be resigned to his, since he is the God of peace to you; and as you are reconciled by Christ as a priest, be reconciled to him as your King, and your God; to all his ordinances and appointments; to all the orders and laws of his house; conform in all things to his will and pleasure, which we, as his ambassadors, in his name and stead, have made known unto you. You ought to be all obedience to him, and never dispute anything he says or orders.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 16-21 - The renewed man acts upon new principles, by new rules, with new ends and in new company. The believer is created anew; his heart is no merely set right, but a new heart is given him. He is the workmanshi of God, created in Christ Jesus unto good works. Though the same as man, he is changed in his character and conduct. These words must an do mean more than an outward reformation. The man who formerly saw n beauty in the Saviour that he should desire him, now loves him abov all things. The heart of the unregenerate is filled with enmity agains God, and God is justly offended with him. Yet there may be reconciliation. Our offended God has reconciled us to himself by Jesu Christ. By the inspiration of God, the Scriptures were written, whic are the word of reconciliation; showing that peace has been made by the cross, and how we may be interested therein. Though God cannot lose by the quarrel, nor gain by the peace, yet he beseeches sinners to la aside their enmity, and accept the salvation he offers. Christ knew n sin. He was made Sin; not a sinner, but Sin, a Sin-offering, Sacrifice for sin. The end and design of all this was, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him, might be justified freely by the grace of God through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus. Can an lose, labour, or suffer too much for Him, who gave his beloved Son to be the Sacrifice for their sins, that they might be made the righteousness of God in him __________________________________________________________________
Greek Textus Receptus
υπερ 5228 PREP χριστου 5547 N-GSM ουν 3767 CONJ πρεσβευομεν 4243 5719 V-PAI-1P ως 5613 ADV του 3588 T-GSM θεου 2316 N-GSM παρακαλουντος 3870 5723 V-PAP-GSM δι 1223 PREP ημων 2257 P-1GP δεομεθα 1189 5736 V-PNI-1P υπερ 5228 PREP χριστου 5547 N-GSM καταλλαγητε 2644 5649 V-2APM-2P τω 3588 T-DSM θεω 2316 N-DSM
Vincent's NT Word Studies
20. We are ambassadors (presbeuomen). Only here and Eph. vi. 10.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
5:20 {We are ambassadors therefore on behalf of Christ} (huper cristou oun presbeuomen). Old word from presbus, an old man, first to be an old man, qen to be an ambassador (here and #Eph 6:20 with en halusei in a chain added), common in both senses in the Greek. "The proper term in the Greek East for the Emperor's Legate" (Deissmann, _Light from the Ancient East_, p. 374), in inscriptions and papyri. So Paul has a natural pride in using this dignified term for himself and all ministers. The ambassador has to be _persona grata_ with both countries (the one that he represents and the one to which he goes). Paul was Christ's _Legate_ to act in his behalf and in his stead. {As though God were intreating by us} (hws tou qeou parakalountos di' hemwn). Genitive absolute with hws used with the participle as often to give the reason (apparent or real). Here God speaks through Christ's Legate. {Be ye reconciled to God} (katallagete twi qewi). Second aorist passive imperative of katallassw and used with the dative case. "Get reconciled to God," and do it now. this is the ambassador's message as he bears it to men from God.
