VOTD: 2 Corinthians 5:19-20


NIV: 2 Corinthians 5:19-20

that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.


Themes: Reconciliation, Forgiveness, Stewardship, and Advocacy. The overarching theme of this verse is reconciliation; the idea of God in Christ forgiving mankind for their sins, aiming to restore a relationship with them. God’s act of not counting people’s sins against them is a theme of boundless forgiveness. Here, stewards or ambassadors of Christ are portrayed as entrusted with the message to spread this reconciliation. The verse also presents a theme of advocacy, as God supposedly uses these ambassadors to call on others to reconcile with him.

Emotions: Compassion, Hope, Urgency. The verse outlines God’s vast compassion as he chooses not to count people's sins against them. There's a sense of hope from the message of reconciliation; the prospect of a renewed relationship between God and mankind. Ambassadors implore others to be reconciled with God, implying a sense of urgency in this task.

Imagery: The image of God reconciling the world to himself displays a picture of divine harmony and unity. God not counting people’s sins manifests an image of abundant mercy and forgiveness. The depiction of believers as Christ's ambassadors who are mediating God's appeal creates a picture of divine purpose and responsibility.

Illustration: Visualize a scene where believers, metaphorically represented as ambassadors wearing badges of Christ, are spreading the divine message of reconciliation. In the background, paint an image of God's outstretched arms indicating forgiveness, not counting the sins of men and women who are depicted as returning towards Him, suggesting the theme of reconciliation. The emotions of compassion, hope, and urgency can be reflected in the expressions and body languages of the ambassadors and the crowd. The overall tone should be hopeful and optimistic.





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