11 Therefore, since we know the fear of the Lord,ae we try to persuade people. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your consciences. 12 We are not commending ourselves to you again, but giving you an opportunity to be proud of us, so that you may have a reply for those who take pride in outward appearance rather than in the heart. 13 For if we are out of our mind,af it is for God; if we are in our right mind,ag it is for you. 14 For the love of Christ compels us, since we have reached this conclusion, that one died for all,ah and therefore all died. 15 And he died for allai so that those who live should no longer live for themselves,aj but for the oneak who died for them and was raised.

THE MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION

16 From now on, then, we do not know anyone from a worldly perspective.D Even if we have known Christ from a worldly perspective,E yet now we no longer know him in this way. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;al the old has passed away, and see,am the new hasF come!an 18 Everything is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.ao 19 That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the worldap to himself,aq not counting their trespasses against them, and he has committed the message of reconciliation to us.

20 Therefore, we are ambassadorsar for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf,as “Be reconciled to God.” 21 He made the one who did not know sinat to be sinG for us,au so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.