2 Corinthians 5:14

Love. Gr. agape (see on Matt. 5:43, 44; 1 Cor. 13:1).

Of Christ. Paul doubtless refers to Christ’s love for him, rather than to his love for Christ (see Rom. 5:5; 8:35, 39; 2 Cor. 13:14; Eph. 3:19; cf. 4T 457; 7T 139; GW 293). Although nothing but the love of Christ can be an adequate controlling power in the life, it is true that our love for Him is also vital. But Christ’s love for us is ever the dominant factor — “we love him, because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19; cf. John 3:16).

Constraineth. Gr. sunecho, “to hold together,” “to hold fast,” “to urge,” “to impel,” “to control.” He who chooses to be guided by the love of Christ will not turn aside from the path of duty, whether to the right hand or to the left, but will, like Paul, press forward in the Lord’s work, undaunted and with singleness of mind (see Acts 20:24; 2 Cor. 4:7-11). The love of Christ keeps the believer safely in the strait and narrow way (see on Matt. 7:13, 14).

We thus judge. Or, “we have decided,” “we are convinced.” Paul’s declaration of consecration in vs. 14, 15 is doubtless an expression of the decision to which he came at conversion (see Acts 9:6; 26:19). Ever since, the great truth of Christ’s atonement has been the motivating and controlling factor in his life.

If ... then. Gr. ei ... ara. Textual evidence attests (cf. p. 10) the omission of ei.

Accepting this omission, ara should be translated “and so,” “accordingly,” “consequently.”

One died for all. The vicarious, substitutionary death of Christ, the truth that He died in the place of the sinner, is not open to question, as an “if” might imply (see on Isa. 53:4; Matt. 20:28). In taking Adam’s place (1 Cor. 15:22, 45) Christ became the head of the human race, and died on the cross as its representative. Thus, in a sense, when He died the entire race died with Him. As He represented all men, so His death stood for the death of all (1 Peter 3:18; 1 John 2:2; 4:10; see on Rom. 5:12, 18, 19). In Him all men died; He paid in full the claims of the law (John 3:16; Rom. 6:23). His death was adequate to pay the penalty for all sin. This does not, however, mean universal salvation, for each individual sinner must accept the atonement provided by the Saviour in order to make it effective in his own case (see on John 1:9-12; John 3:16-19). On the other hand, there is no scriptural basis for limiting the word “all” to a supposedly elect minority, with the rest of mankind excluded from access to the saving grace of the cross and therefore predestined to be lost (see on John 3:16-21; Eph. 1:4-6).

Not only did the death of Christ provide an atonement for sin, and thereby deliver repentant sinners from the second death (see Rev. 20:5, 14), it also made possible their dying to the depraved, unregenerate nature and their rising to walk in newness of life (see on Rom. 6:3, 4; cf. Gal. 2:19, 20; Phil. 3:10; Col. 3:3).