2Cor 5:17 | JFB | STEP | 17. Therefore —connected with the words in , "We know Christ no more after the flesh." As Christ has entered on His new heavenly life by His resurrection and ascension, so all who are "in Christ" (that is, united to Him by faith as the branch is In the vine) are new creatures ( ). "New" in the Greek implies a new nature quite different from anything previously existing, not merely recent, which is expressed by a different Greek word ( ). creature —literally, "creation," and so the creature resulting from the creation (compare ). As we are "in Christ," so "God was in Christ" ( ): hence He is Mediator between God and us. old things —selfish, carnal views (compare ) of ourselves, of other men, and of Christ. passed away —spontaneously, like the snow of early spring [BENGEL ] before the advancing sun. behold

2 Corinthians 5:17

17. Therefore—connected with the words in 2Co 5:16, "We know Christ no more after the flesh." As Christ has entered on His new heavenly life by His resurrection and ascension, so all who are "in Christ" (that is, united to Him by faith as the branch is In the vine) are new creatures (Ro 6:9-11). "New" in the Greek implies a new nature quite different from anything previously existing, not merely recent, which is expressed by a different Greek word (Ga 6:15).

creature—literally, "creation," and so the creature resulting from the creation (compare Joh 3:3, 5; Eph 2:10; 4:23; Col 3:10, 11). As we are "in Christ," so "God was in Christ" (2Co 5:19): hence He is Mediator between God and us.

old things—selfish, carnal views (compare 2Co 5:16) of ourselves, of other men, and of Christ.

passed away—spontaneously, like the snow of early spring [BENGEL] before the advancing sun.

behold—implying an allusion to Isa 43:19; 65:17.