Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

2 Corinthians 5:18

τὰ δὲ πάντα κ. τ. λ.: but all things, sc., all these new things, are of God. See reff. St. Paul is especially anxious in this Epistle to trace up spiritual blessings to their true source; see chap. 2Co 1:21, 2 Corinthians 4:6; 2 Corinthians 5:5, and cf. 1 Corinthians 3:23, ὑμεῖς δὲ Χριστοῦ, Χριστὸς δὲ Θεοῦ. τοῦ καταλλάξαντος κ. τ. λ.: who reconciled (note the aorist) us, sc., all mankind, to Himself through Christ. The words καταλλάσσω, καταλλαγή should be studied (see reff.) in all the contexts where they occur. The verb signifies (i.) to exchange and (ii.) to reconcile, i.e., to reestablish friendly relations between two parties who are estranged, no matter on which side the antagonism exists. Thus in Matthew 5:24 it is the brother who has given offence (not he who has received it) that is spoken of as “being reconciled” to the other (cf. also 1 Samuel 29:4). And so too St. Paul's usage is to speak of man being reconciled to God, not of God being reconciled to man; but far too much has been made of this distinction. In fact, in 2 Macc. (see reff.) the usage is the other way, for God is there always spoken of as “being reconciled” to His servants. It is, no doubt, more reverent in such a matter to keep as close to the language of the N.T. as we can, and to speak nakedly of God “being reconciled” to man might readily suggest false and unworthy views as to the Supreme. But that St. Paul would have felt any difficulty in such a phrase is very unlikely. The important point to observe in the present passage is that it is God Himself who is the ultimate Author of this Reconciliation; cf. Romans 5:8; Romans 8:31-32, and especially John 3:16. That the Reconciliation is “through Christ” is the heart of the Gospel of the Atonement (cf. Romans 3:24; Colossians 1:20, etc.). καὶ δόντος ἡμῖν κ. τ. λ.: and gave to us, sc., to me, Paul (he is not now thinking of others), the Ministry of Reconciliation; cf. chap. 2 Corinthians 3:9, ἡ διακονία τῆς δικαιοσύνης, the genitive in both cases being, of course, of the thing ministered.

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Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

2 Corinthians 5:18

Old Testament

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