NEW TESTAMENT

2 Corinthians 5:21

The Holy Bible · English
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21

For him who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

ExplanationCommentary
EXPLANATION

Verse 21. Him (Christ) who knew no sin, (who had never sinned, nor was capable of sinning) he (God) hath made [4] sin for us. I had translated, with some French translators, he hath made a sacrifice for sin, as it is expounded by S. Augustin and many others, and grounded upon the authority of the Scriptures, in which the sacrifices for sins are divers times called sins, as Osee 4:8 and in several places in Leviticus, by the Hebrew word Chattat, which signifies a sin, and is translated a victim for sin. But as this is not the only interpretation, and that my design is always a literal translation of the text, not a paraphrase, upon second thoughts I judged it better to follow the very words of the Greek, as well as of the Latin text. For besides the exposition already mentioned, others expound these words, him he hath made sin for us, to signify that he made Christ like unto sinners, a mortal man, with the similitude of sin. Others that he made he reputed a sinner; with the wicked was he reputed; (Mar. 15:28) God having laid upon him all our iniquities. Isaiah 53:6.—That we might be made the justice of God in him; that is, that we might be justified and sanctified by God’s sanctifying grace, and the justice we receive from him. Witham.—Sin for us. That is, to be a sin-offering, a victim for sin. Challoner.

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