King James VersionⓘKing James Version (1611) — the classic formal, word-for-word English translation. Historic and widely memorized, but uses Early Modern English vocabulary.King James Version (1611) — the classic formal, word-for-word English translation. Historic and widely memorized, but uses Early Modern English vocabulary.
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
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American Standard VersionⓘAmerican Standard Version (1901) — a more literal, precision-focused revision in the King James tradition.American Standard Version (1901) — a more literal, precision-focused revision in the King James tradition.
17 Wherefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature: the old things are passed away; behold, they are become new.
18 But all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and gave unto us the ministry of reconciliation;
World English BibleⓘWorld English Bible — a modern, public-domain update to the KJV/ASV formal style, without archaic language.World English Bible — a modern, public-domain update to the KJV/ASV formal style, without archaic language.
17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new.
18 But all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Jesus Christ, and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation;
Bible in Basic EnglishⓘBible in Basic English (1949) — deliberately written using a limited vocabulary of about 1,000 words.Bible in Basic English (1949) — deliberately written using a limited vocabulary of about 1,000 words.
17 So if any man is in Christ, he is in a new world: the old things have come to an end; they have truly become new.
18 But all things are of God, who has made us at peace with himself through Christ, and has given to us the work of making peace;
The Berea's Reflection
Paul makes two moves in these verses that belong together, even though the first one gets quoted far more often. If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation — the old has passed away, the new has come. That's an identity statement. Something has actually changed, not just been forgiven and left the same.
What comes next is usually left off: "all this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and gave us the ministry of reconciliation." Becoming a new creation isn't the end of the sentence. It comes with a purpose — carrying that same reconciling message to others. Paul doesn't present new life in Christ as a private upgrade to enjoy quietly; he presents it as something that immediately puts you to work.
It's worth being honest about what "new creation" does and doesn't mean. It doesn't mean old struggles, old habits, or old temptations vanish overnight. It means your fundamental identity and standing before God has genuinely changed — you are no longer defined by your old life, even while parts of it still have to be put to death in practice.
If you are in Christ, this passage says something has already changed in you, and something has already been given to you to do.
Think About It
Do you actually live like your old identity has passed away, and do you see yourself as carrying a message of reconciliation to anyone?
Commentary— Tyndale Open Study Notes (plain English)
5:16-17 merely from a human point of view: Paul might be reflecting on his belief at one time as a Pharisee that the Messiah would come to set the Jews free from political oppression. • How differently we know him now! Christ rose from the dead, ushered in the new creation (5:17), and was established as the redeemer from sin and Lord of the universe (Rom 1:3-4; Phil 2:6-11; Col 1:15-20).
5:18-21 God entrusts to his servants the message and ministry of reconciliation through Christ. • God has given us this task of reconciling people: Paul is speaking of his own ministry, but sharing this wonderful message is the responsibility of all believers. Christ’s ambassadors call people to accept what God has done so they can be made right with God through Christ. • Christ paid the penalty for people’s sins—to take away all that stood between God and humans and to make us right with God.
Commentary— Tyndale Open Study Notes (plain English)
5:16-17 merely from a human point of view: Paul might be reflecting on his belief at one time as a Pharisee that the Messiah would come to set the Jews free from political oppression. • How differently we know him now! Christ rose from the dead, ushered in the new creation (5:17), and was established as the redeemer from sin and Lord of the universe (Rom 1:3-4; Phil 2:6-11; Col 1:15-20).
5:18-21 God entrusts to his servants the message and ministry of reconciliation through Christ. • God has given us this task of reconciling people: Paul is speaking of his own ministry, but sharing this wonderful message is the responsibility of all believers. Christ’s ambassadors call people to accept what God has done so they can be made right with God through Christ. • Christ paid the penalty for people’s sins—to take away all that stood between God and humans and to make us right with God.
