Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [2 Corinthians: Chapter 5].
Christou oun presbeuomen\). Old word from \presbus\, an old man,
first to be an old man, then to be an ambassador (here and Eph
6:20 with \en halus•i\ 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} (\h•s tou theou parakalountos
di' h•m•n\). Genitive absolute with \h•s\ 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}
(\katallag•te t•i the•i\). Second aorist passive imperative of
\katallass•\ 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.
5:21 {Him who knew no sin} (\ton m• gnonta hamartian\). Definite
claim by Paul that Jesus did not commit sin, had no personal
acquaintance (\m• gnonta\, second aorist active participle of
\gin•sk•\) with it. Jesus made this claim for himself (Joh
8:46). This statement occurs also in 1Pe 2:22; Heb 4:15; 7:26;
1Jo 3:5. Christ was and is "a moral miracle" (Bernard) and so
more than mere man. {He made to be sin} (\hamartian epoi•sen\).
The words "to be" are not in the Greek. "Sin" here is the
substantive, not the verb. God "treated as sin" the one "who knew
no sin." But he knew the contradiction of sinners (Heb 12:3).
We may not dare to probe too far into the mystery of Christ's
suffering on the Cross, but this fact throws some light on the
tragic cry of Jesus just before he died: "My God, My God, why
didst thou forsake me?" (Mt 27:46). {That we might become}
(\hina h•meis gen•metha\). Note "become." This is God's purpose
(\hina\) in what he did and in what Christ did. Thus alone can we
obtain God's righteousness (Ro 1:17).
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Word Pictures in the New Testament
(2 Corinthians: Chapter 5)