Reading For November 12th

Read 2 Corinthians 5.11-21
In 5.11-21: the Ministry of reconciliation.
In verse 11: Well known: Nothing is hidden in ministry as defined in 4.2.
In verses 12-13: The tone is defensive.
Commending himself and being beside himself echo his opponents' criticisms (4.5; 10.12; 11.16).
In verses 14-15: Love of Christ: Christ's love is meant (Rom 8.35; Gal 2.20), though love for Christ results.
Died for all: Christ's death is a sacrifice with universal benefit (Rom 18-19).
All have died: We expect, "all can live."
But in v. 15 explains: No longer live for oneself is death to the self (Gal 2.20).
In verse 16: Human point of view: What it means to see Christ this way is disputed: knowing merely the historical facts about Jesus? trying to understand Christ without seeing the bigger story? failing to see Christ as the gunnel of God spirit?
In verse 17: Christ is the sphere of God's new creation (4.5-6); to enter Christ is the sphere of God's new creation (4.5-6); to enter Christ is to experience old becoming new.
In verses 18-20: God as the prime mover continues an earlier theme (2.14; 4.1; 5.5).
Reconciliation makes enemies friends (Rom 5.10).
Ministry of reconciliation continues God's work (6.1)
In verse 21: Rom 8.3; Gal 3.13.
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