Mike Ratliff makes several good points in this post. I’d like to comment on my observation on the two 2 Corinthians verses.

In the KJV And Geneva versions we read:

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. KJV

One of many things I appreciate about the KJV is that the translators actual did put the words added to the ancient text in Italics to emphasize they added them to help make the reading more understanding. No doctrine or teaching is changed, they just fill in the gaps that one writing in Greek are left to the reader to fill in. In other words the Greeks figured the reader would understand the text without these small connecting words.

As it turns out the Geneva Bible previously translated does the same.

2 Corinthians 5:17 1599 Geneva Bible

^17 [a]Therefore if any man be in Christ, let him be a ^[b]new creature. Old things are passed away: behold, all things are become new.

Footnotes

1. 2 Corinthians 5:17 An exhortation for every man which is renewed with the spirit of Christ, to meditate heavenly things, and not earthly.
2. 2 Corinthians 5:17 As a thing made anew of God, for though a man be not newly created when God giveth him the spirit of regeneration, but only his qualities are changed, yet notwithstanding it pleased the holy Ghost to speak so, to teach us, that we must attribute all things to the glory of God: not that we are as stocks or blocks: but because God creates in us, both the will to will well, and the power to do well.

The Geneva Bible also has footnotes, and the translator’s commentary agrees with what Mike wrote about our being a new creation.

When I want a good verse by verse, even a phrase by phrase, commentary I go to Old John Gill’s work from the mid-18th Century. Gill writes even more than Mike does…

Btw, when I read Gill I find it easier to look at his semicolons “;” as I would a period “.” in the text. If I treat the text that way, Gill’s very long sentences get parsed out almost in an outline format.

2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore if any man be in Christ,…. There’s a secret being in Christ from everlasting;

so all that are loved by him, espoused unto him, chosen and preserved in him, to whom he was a covenant head, surety, and representative, are in him, united to him, and one with him;

not in such sense as the Father is in him, and the human nature is in him, but as husband and wife, and head and members are one: and there is an open being in Christ at conversion, when a man believes in Christ, and gives up himself to him;

faith does not put a man into Christ, but makes him appear to be in him: and such an one “is a new creature”;

or, as some read it, “let him be a new creature”: who understand being in Christ to be by profession, and the sense this, whoever is in the kingdom or church of Christ, who professes himself to be a Christian, ought to be a new creature: the Arabic version reads it, “he that is in the faith of Christ is a new creature”.

All such who are secretly in Christ from everlasting, though as yet some of them may not be new creatures, yet they shall be sooner or later;

and those who are openly in him, or are converted persons, are actually so;

they are a new “creation”, as the words may be rendered: ברייה חדשה, “a new creation”, is a phrase often used by the Jewish (h) doctors, and is applied by the apostle to converted persons;

and designs not an outward reformation of life and manners, but an inward principle of grace, which is a creature, a creation work, and so not man’s, but God’s;

and in which man is purely passive, as he was in his first creation;

and this is a new creature, or a new man, in opposition to, and distinction from the old man, the corruption of nature;

and because it is something anew implanted in the soul, which never was there before;

it is not a working upon, and an improvement of the old principles of nature, but an implantation of new principles of grace and holiness;

here is a new heart, and a new spirit, and in them new light and life, new affections and desires, new delights and joys;

here are new eyes to see with, new ears to hear with, new feet to walk, and new hands to work and act with:

old things are passed away: the old course of living, the old way of serving God, whether among Jews or Gentiles;

the old legal righteousness, old companions and acquaintance are dropped;

and all external things, as riches, honours, learning, knowledge, former sentiments of religion, are relinquished:

behold, all things are become new; there is a new course of life, both of faith and holiness;

a new way of serving God through Christ by the Spirit, and from principles of grace;

a new, another, and better righteousness is received and embraced;

new companions are sought after, and delighted in;

new riches, honours, glory, a new Jerusalem, yea, new heavens, and a new earth, are expected by new creatures: or the sense of the whole may be this, if any man is entered into the kingdom of God, into the Gospel dispensation, into a Gospel church state, which seems to be the sense of the phrase “in Christ”, in Gal 3:28 he is become a new creature, or is got into a new creation, as it were into a new world, whether he be a Jew or a Gentile;

for with respect to the former state of either, “old things are passed away”;

if a Jew, the whole Mosaic economy is abolished; the former covenant is waxen old, and vanished away;

the old ordinances of circumcision and the passover are no more; the daily sacrifice is ceased, and all the other sacrifices are at an end, Christ, the great sacrifice, being offered up;

the priesthood of Aaron is antiquated, there is a change of it, and of the whole law; the observance of holy, days, new moons and sabbaths, is over;

the whole ceremonial law is at end; all the shadows of it are fled and gone, the things they were shadows of being come by Christ, the sum and substance of them;

and there is no more a serving God in the oldness of the letter, but in the newness of the Spirit: and if a Gentile, all the former idols he worshipped he turns from, and his language is, “what have I to do any more with idols? or what agreement hath the temple of God with idols?” all former sacrifices, superstitious rites and ceremonies, with which he worshipped them, are relinquished by him;

with all other Heathenish customs, rules, and methods of conduct he had been used to: “behold, all things are become new”;

to the one, and to the other;

the Gospel dispensation is a new state of things;

a new form of church state is erected, not national, as among the Jews, but congregational, consisting of persons gathered out of the world, and anew embodied together;

new ordinances are appointed, which were never in use before, as baptism and the Lord’s supper;

a new and living way is opened by the blood of Christ into the holiest of all, not by the means of slain beasts, as among the Jews, nor by petty deities as with the Gentiles;

a new commandment of love is enjoined all the followers of the Lamb;

and another name is given them, a new name, which the mouth of the Lord their God has named, not of Jews nor Gentiles, but of Christians;

and new songs are put into their mouths, even praise to God: in short, the Gospel church state seems to be, as it were, a new creation, and perhaps is meant by the new heavens and new earth, Isa 65:15 as well as those who are the proper members of it, are new creatures in the sense before given.

(h) T. Hieros. Roshhashana, fol. 59. 3. Vajikra Rabba, fol. 170. 4. Bemidbar Rabba, fol, 202. 3. Cosri, fol. 62. 2. & R. Levi ben Gersom in Exod, fol. 108. 1. Tzeror Hammor, fol. 121. 2.

I want to add a short comment on v16.

2 Corinthians 5:16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.

When I read Gill’s comment on that phrase, I see him making the point that we look at not just the physical image of Christ in his human and incarnate form, but in the total fullness of his Spiritual form revealed in the whole Bible, both NT & OT.

Yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh: some of them had seen him in the flesh; others valued him on account of his being of the Jewish nation, and of his relation to them according to the flesh; and all of them had formerly entertained carnal apprehensions of him, and his kingdom, as though it would be a temporal one:

yet now henceforth know we him more; no more in this mortal state, being risen from the dead; nor do we value ourselves upon having seen him in the flesh; for though such a sight and knowledge of him was desirable, yet a spiritual knowledge is much more preferable; and many there were who knew him in the flesh, who neither enjoy his spiritual presence here, nor will they be favoured with his glorious presence hereafter. Moreover, we do not judge of him as we did before we had a spiritual knowledge of him, and as our countrymen did, by his outward circumstances, by his parentage and education, his poverty and afflictions, his company and conversation, that he could not be the Messiah, the Son of God, and therefore was worthy of death; we have quite other thoughts and apprehensions of him now, believing him to be the Christ of God, a spiritual Saviour and Redeemer, whose kingdom is not of this world; we have relinquished all our national prejudices, and former notions, concerning the Messiah, his kingdom, and people. Some copies add, “after the flesh”; and the Arabic version, “yet now know we him no more in that”. Gill

The Geneva footnote says it this way:

2 Corinthians 5:16 An amplification: This is, saith he, so true, that we do not now think carnally of Christ himself, who hath now left the world, and therefore must be considered of us spiritually.

Just a last observation…..it seems to me that one of the popular traps we fall into today might be illustrated by the popular series The Chosen”. Despite the name this series isn’t about God’s effectual call, nor a believer’s election before the foundation of the world. But the Jesus presented is an image, said to be quite human and believable, but molded by the screen writers and director image. It’s said 95% of the dialogue is theirs with maybe 5% is of 5he Bible, and probably that highly selectively filtered. If you carefully exams the series you will see many shades of this manmade image which is more full acceptable in a synergistic, ecumenical world and not necessarily the full spiritual image found in the Bible text.

This seems pretty pervasive in the 21st Century, for those of you reading this a couple hundred years from now! We create Jesus in our own image of what we want him to be, often ignoring the hard or sharp sides of what the Bible reveals about him.

A simple example will do. Our church Sunday School started a study in The Book of Revelation. The benefit of doing this in a class is that all can comment. On the opening day someone, mentioned in a somewhat challenging or almost negative way that he didn’t like the image of Jesus portrayed in the book. Even commenting the book was more like the text of God in the Koran or the OT. And not the Jesus of love in the NT.

I thought he was presenting a significant negative tone, and seemed to be implying that we shouldn’t trust what will be said in the text. Maybe he was just offering a caution. I’m not sure his motive.

I tried to address those statements, with the need to consider that, Revelation, was in fact directly from God. Just read the opening authorship and the blessing from reading it to see that confirmed.

Revelation 1:1-3 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: 2 Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. 3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

I also added that Paul makes the point that all Scripture is beneficial.

2 Timothy 3:15-17 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Luke 24:25-27 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: 26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? 27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

and Jesus in Luke 24 twice confirmed that the OT was about himself.

Luke 24:44-48 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. 45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, 46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: 47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 And ye are witnesses of these things.

And John likewise shares he was a witness explicitly total to Reveal not Hide, what he saw in the Book of Revelation. The book ends again with the blessing and the confirmation of the text.

Revelation 22:6-7 And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done. 7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.

Revelation 22:14-21 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. 15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. 16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. 17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. 18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: 19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. 20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. 21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

I’m not sure that this could be any clearer. It is true the Book of Revelation is difficult, but not impossible to understand. And it’s not culturally sensitive, but it doesn’t present a different Jesus, but Reveals our history from the time of John and many aspects of the Biblical Jesus we need to understand.

Pray that those reading this will have their eyes, ears and hearts opened.

or as Mike writes that they are redeemed from death, especially if they have yet to be called to faith…that God draws the.

John 6:44-45 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. 45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.

John 6:47-48 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. 48 I am that bread of life.

John 6:37-40 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. 38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. 39 And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. 40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

These words of Jesus echo the same themes and tone that I read about him in Revelation.

The Word of God makes us clean