2 Corinthians 5:14,15 - Love & Living for Christ.

2Co.5:14, 15: Love & Living for Christ.

2 Cor 5:14 (KJV)  For the love of Christ constraineth us;
because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
2 Cor 5:15 (KJV)  And that he died for all, that they which live
should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for
them, and rose again.

2 Cor 5:14 (NIV)  For Christ's love compels us, because we are
convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.
2 Cor 5:15 (NIV)  And he died for all, that those who live
should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and
was raised again.

2 Cor 5:14 (NRSV)  For the love of Christ urges us on, because
we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have
died.
2 Cor 5:15 (NRSV) And he died for all, so that those who live
might live no longer for themselves, but for him who died and was
raised for them.

2 Cor 5:14 (NAB)  For the love of Christ impels us, once we have
come to the conviction that one died for all; therefore, all have
died.
2 Cor 5:15 (NAB)  He indeed died for all, so that those who live
might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake
died and was raised.

2 Cor 5:14 (NJB)  For the love of Christ overwhelms us when we
consider that if one man died for all, then all have died;
2 Cor 5:15 (NJB)  his purpose in dying for all humanity was that
those who live should live not any more for themselves, but for him
who died and was raised to life.

2 Cor 5:14 (TEV)  We are ruled by the love of Christ, now that
we recognize that one man died for everyone, which means that they
all share in his death.
2 Cor 5:15 (TEV)  He died for all, so that those who live should
no longer live for themselves, but only for him who died and was
raised to life for their sake.

2 Cor 5:14 (NCV)  The love of Christ controls us, because we
know that One died for all, so all have died.
2 Cor 5:15 (NCV)  Christ died for all so that those who live
would not continue to live for themselves. He died for them and was
raised from the dead so that they would live for him.

2 Cor 5:14 (NLT) Whatever we do, it is because Christ's love
controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for everyone, we also
believe that we have all died to the old life we used to live.
2 Cor 5:15 (NLT) He died for everyone so that those who receive
his new life will no longer live to please themselves. Instead, they
will live to please Christ, who died and was raised for them.

2 Cor 5:14 (EAV)  For the love of Christ controls and urges and
impels us because we are of the opinion and conviction that [if] One
died for all, then all died;
2 Cor 5:15 (EAV)  And He died for all, so that all those who
live might live no longer to and for themselves, but to and for Him
Who died and was raised again for their sake.

2 Cor 5:14 (TLB)  Whatever we do, it is certainly not for our
own profit but because Christ's love controls us now. Since we
believe that Christ died for all of us, we should also believe that we
have died to the old life we used to live.
2 Cor 5:15 (TLB) He died for all so that all who live--having
received eternal life from him--might live no longer for themselves, to
please themselves, but to spend their lives pleasing Christ who died
and rose again for them.

INTRODUCTION

These two verses need to be read and studied together:

As RSV shows, verse 15 in Greek begins with the word [And]. This
connecting word serves to introduce an elaboration of the final words of
verse 14.... Note that Barclay begins the verse with "So...." (UBS
Translator Handbook Series)

DEFINITIONS

Constraineth. "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. The love of Christ keeps
the believer safely in the strait and narrow way. [SDA Commentary]

The verb here has a wide range of meanings in Greek, but the
basic meanings may be grouped under the idea of restraint or
compulsion (NIV "compels"), or general control (RSV, TEV, REB, FrCL). (UBS
Translator Handbook Series)

Constraineth us -- compresses with irresistible power all our
energies into one channel (, (Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown
Commentary)

The Greek word here means "to hold fast." In other words, the
love of Christ was constraining them to certain courses of action.
They knew that Jesus, out of his great love, had given up his life
for their sakes. (The Life Application Commentary Series)

COMMENTARY

LOVE OF CHRIST

Grammatically this may be either Christ's love for us or our
love for Christ. Nearly all interpreters, however, choose the first
option, "Christ's love". (UBS Translator Handbook Series)

In the context the genitive in the phrase ("the love of Christ")
is less likely to be objective ("our love for Christ") than
subjective ("the love Christ showed"), though some commentators and
grammarians believe that both senses are intended. [Expositors Bible
Commentary]

Christ's love for us (and possibly it may also mean our love for
Christ) controls us; i.e., keeps us within bounds. [Ryrie SB]

The controlling power of Paul's life was the love of Christ.
This does not mean Paul's love for Christ, although certainly that
was there. It means rather the love Christ had for Paul. The apostle
was so overwhelmed by Jesus' love for him that to serve and honor
Christ became the controlling motive of his life. This love that led
Christ to the cross to die for sinners. [Wiersbe Expository Outlines]

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". [SDA Commentary]

It is the love Christ has for us and has expressed on Calvary,
rather than our love for Christ that exerts compelling force in the
Christian's life..... Christ's love has unleashed a force within us that
cannot be denied. That love is transforming in character, and most
surely will renew the believer. [Victor Bible Background Commentary]

The connectives here drive home Paul's meaning. Why does
Christ's love compel us? Because that love found expression in His dying
for "all" (here, clearly all believers). Therefore the believer, in
union with Jesus, died as well, and in union with Jesus was raised to
new life (Rom. 6:1-14)... Paul's point is that through the death of
Jesus and our union with Him, God intends to so work in our lives that
we will come to the place where Paul now is--a place where we live
for Jesus rather than for ourselves!.... What a vital truth for us
to keep in mind.... Through His great love a power has been
introduced within us that will move us as it moved Paul to "no longer live
for [ourselves] but for Him who died for [us] and was raised again"
(5:15). [Victor Bible Background Commentary]

LIVING FOR CHRIST

We should no longer live to please ourselves; we should spend
our lives pleasing Christ, who died for us and rose from the grave.
[Life Application SB]

A powerful theological argument. Christ died for all. He died
for us in order that we who live should stop living for ourselves,
and begin to live for Him. That is, God's purpose in the Cross was
to change us, and change the focus of our lives. [Victor Teacher's
Commentary]

Paul tells us that Christ died not just to forgive our sins, but
to transform us. He died, "that those who live should no longer
live for themselves but for Him who died for them." [The 365-Day
Devotional Commentary]

Basic to understanding the thought of verses 14 and 15 is Paul's
idea of the union of the believer with Christ. Though Paul does not
state here in these two verses that believers are "in Christ" in the
sense of being "in union with Christ," this concept lies behind the
thought expressed in these two verses. (UBS Translator Handbook Series)

"Dying" with Christ should lead, to "living for Christ" (v. 15).
Paul is not speaking of all men without exception but of "those who
live" in union with the resurrected Christ. While all men died
potentially when the Man who represented them all died, not all were raised
when he rose. But for those who rose with Christ to walk "in newness
of life" (Rom 6:4; Col 3:1, 2), slavery to sin and self has ended
while devotion to Christ and his church has begun (cf. Rom 6:6, 11).
The outcome of Christian self-denial is a Christ-centered life
filled with concern for others. [Expositors Bible Commentary]

This is what Christ designed, that those who live, who are made
alive unto God by means of his death, should live to him that died for
them, and rose again for their sakes also, and that they should not
live to themselves, v. 15. Note, We should not make ourselves, but
Christ, the end of our living and actions: and it was one end of
Christ's death to cure us of this self-love, and to excite us always to
act under the commanding influence of his love. A Christian's life
should be consecrated to Christ; and then do we live as we ought to
live when we live to Christ, who died for us. (Matthew Henry's
Commentary)

All those who by faith entered into the benefits of Christ's
sacrifice (and now live spiritually) should respond by living selflessly
and being involved in that ministry of reconciliation. They should
no longer live for themselves but for Him. [Bible Knowledge
Commentary]

Christ's love, which had converted Paul, now compelled him (cf.
1 John 3:16). [Bible Knowledge Commentary]

"The love Christ showed for us compels us to love and serve him
[Expositors Bible Commentary]

The emphasis here is the complete reorientation of the life from
self to God. The new life bears witness to the transforming power of
the Holy Spirit. The heart's warmest affections and best energies
are given to Christ, in the small things of life as well as in the
great. The life brings forth the fruits of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22, 23)
and reflects the soul's delight in doing the will of God (Ps. 1:2;
119:97). Love to God and to one's fellow men becomes life's controlling
motive, and the glory of God is the end of all thought and action. Such
a life becomes more and more sensitive to sin, more conscious of
its own need, and more ready to depend upon the grace of Christ.
[SDA Commentary]

We should not make ourselves, but Christ, the end of our living
and actions. A Christian's life should be devoted to Christ. Alas,
how many show the worthlessness of their professed faith and love,
by living to themselves and to the world! [Matthew Henry
Commentary]

Paul makes a distinction here between those for whom Christ died
and those who actually "live," thus demonstrating that there may be
many for whom he died who do not live to God, or who are not savingly
benefitted by his death. The atonement was for all, but only a part are
actually made alive to God. Multitudes reject it; but the fact that he
died for all; that he tasted death for every man, that he not only
died for the elect but for all others, that his benevolence was so
great as to embrace the whole human family in the design of his death,
is a reason why they who are actually made alive to God should
consecrate themselves entirely to his service. The fact that he died for
all evinced such unbounded and infinite benevolence that it should
induce us who are actually benefitted by his death, and who have any
just views of it, to devote all that we have to his service. (Barnes'
Notes)

Multitudes are selfish even in their religion; and the main
purpose which they have in view, is to promote their own objects, and
not the honor of the Master whom they profess to serve. They seek
and profess religion only because they desire to escape from wrath,
and to obtain the happiness of heaven, and not from any love to the
Redeemer or any desire to honor him, Or they seek to build up the
interests of their own church and party, and all their zeal is expended on
that and that alone, without any real desire to honor the Saviour. Or
though in the church, they are still selfish, and live wholly to
themselves. They live for fashion, for gain, for reputation. They practice
no self-denial; they make no effort; to advance the cause of God
the Saviour. (Barnes' Notes)

In the expression [those who live], the verb "to live" may refer
to physical life only, but [those] refers to those who have the
newness of spiritual life. (UBS Translator Handbook Series)

Christ died as a representative of the human race. God made Him
a sin offering for us that we might live for Him and not for
ourselves. Atonement is potentially universal, available to all people. It
becomes an active reality only in the lives of those who commit
themselves to Christ. [Disciple SB]

Jesus died for the salvation of all. Believers receive that
salvation and forsake self-centered living for Christ-centered living.
[Disciple SB]

Why did He die? That we might live through Him (1 John 4:9);
that we might live with Him (1 Thes. 5:10); and that we might live
for Him (2 Cor. 5:15). There can be no selfishness in the heart of
the Christian who understands the love of Christ. [Wiersbe
Expository Outlines]

Christ died so that his followers could live; they die to sin
and self that they might live for God to whom they belong.
[Jamieson, Fausset, And Brown Commentary]

Those who by faith would become united with him, his death was
their death to sin and self, so that they now live in and with the
resurrected Christ (v. 15). [NIV SB]

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 [SDA
Commentary]

Because Christ was willing to make the ultimate sacrifice, to
die for all, those who believe in Jesus should be willing to abandon
their old, selfish ways in order to live for Christ (Rom 6:6-14; Gal
2:20; Col 2:20). Like Paul, we should no longer live to please
ourselves. We should die to ourselves and live for Christ, who is alive
today and interceding with God on our behalf (Rom 6:22). (The Life
Application Commentary Series)

Our Saviour is ever working for us. He has ascended on high and
pleads in behalf of the purchase of His blood. He pleads before His
Father the agonies of the crucifixion. He raises His wounded hands and
intercedes for His church, that they may be kept from falling under
temptation.
If our perceptions could be quickened to take in this wonderful
work of our Saviour for our salvation, love, deep and ardent, would
burn in our hearts. Our apathy and cold indifference would then alarm
us. Entire devotion and benevolence, prompted by grateful love, will
impart to the smallest offering, the willing sacrifice, a divine
fragrance, making the gift of priceless value. 3T396-7

If men could be led to consider the amazing sacrifice made by
the Majesty of heaven, selfishness would be banished from their
hearts. MH500-2

How much owest thou unto my Lord? Has he ever done anything for
thee? Has he forgiven thy sins? Has he covered thee with a robe of
righteousness? Has he set thy feet upon a rock? Has he established thy goings?
Has he prepared heaven for thee? Has he prepared thee for heaven?
Has he written thy name in his book of life? Has he given thee
countless blessings? Has he laid up for thee a store of mercies, which eye
hath not seen nor ear heard? Then do something for Jesus worthy of
his love. Give not a mere wordy offering to a dying Redeemer. How
will you feel when your Master comes, if you have to confess that you
did nothing for him, but kept your love shut up, like a stagnant
pool, neither flowing forth to his poor or to his work. Out on such
love as that! What do men think of a love which never shows itself in
action? Why, they say, "Open rebuke is better than secret love." Who
will accept a love so weak that it does not actuate you to a single
deed of self-denial, of generosity, of heroism, or zeal! Think how he
has loved you, and given himself for you! Do you know the power of
that love? Then let it be like a rushing mighty wind to your soul to
sweep out the clouds of your worldliness, and clear away the mists of
sin. "For Christ's sake" be this the tongue of fire that shall sit
upon you: "for Christ's sake" be this the divine rapture, the
heavenly afflatus to bear you aloft from earth, the divine spirit that
shall make you bold as lions and swift as eagles in your Lord's
service. Love should give wings to the feet of service, and strength to
the arms of labour. Fixed on God with a constancy that is not to be
shaken, resolute to honour him with a determination that is not to be
turned aside, and pressing on with an ardour never to be wearied, let
us manifest the constraints of love to Jesus. May the divine
loadstone draw us heavenward towards itself. Charles H Spurgeon

APPLICATION

LOVE AND LIVING FOR CHRIST

Once you realize all that it cost God to forgive you, you will
be held as in a vise, constrained by the love of God.  [In His
Time; My Utmost For His Highest re Eph.1:7]

As God so loved the world as to give his Son for it, and as
Christ so loved the world as to pour out his life for it, so we,
influenced by the very same love, desire to spend and be spent for the
glory of God, and the salvation of immortal souls. (Adam Clarke
Commentary)

Only love for the Lord will move anyone to truly follow Him.
[Victor Bible Reader's Companion]

There is only one thing that will really bring about change in a
believer's life, and move him or her toward Christlikeness. That is the
love that Christ Himself pours into the heart in which He dwells.
[Victor Teacher's Commentary]

Jesus did not come to men with commands and threatenings, but
with love that is without a parallel. Love begets love; and thus the
love of Christ displayed upon the cross woos and wins the sinner, and
binds him, repenting, to the cross, believing and adoring the
matchless depths of a Saviour's love. RH03-04-75

The love of Christ in the heart is what is needed. Self is in
need of being crucified. When self is submerged in Christ, true love
springs forth spontaneously. It is not an emotion or an impulse, but a
decision of a sanctified will. It consists not in feeling, but in the
transformation of the whole heart, soul, and character, which is dead to self
and alive unto God. Our Lord and Saviour asks us to give ourselves
to Him. Surrendering self to God is all He requires, giving
ourselves to Him to be employed as He sees fit. Until we come to this
point of surrender, we shall not work happily, usefully, or
successfully anywhere. 6BC1100,1

You are to be imbued with such love for Christ that you will
yield to Him your whole affections, surrendering your life to Him who
gave His life for you. Imbued with the love of Christ, you are to be
constrained to perform acts of unselfish service until such acts become your
life practice. CH633

To live to him is the opposite to living unto ourselves. It is
to seek his honor; to feel that we belong to him; that all our time
and talents; all our strength of intellect and body; all the avails
of our skill and toil, all belong to him, and should be employed in
his service..... To him, and him alone should we live; and in his
cause our lives should be, as Paul's was, a living sacrifice, holy and
acceptable in his sight. (Barnes' Notes)

RELATED THOUGHTS

Jesus Died For You Can't You Live For Him [Baseball Cap]

One of the worst things desperate pastors and parents do is turn
to inadequate motivators of spiritual growth. Some say "you must"
and try to force growth. Some say "you should" in hope that guilt
will move the reluctant. Some say "you can," and try to create a
willingness to try.
Paul said, "Jesus loves you." And he counted on an awakening
response of love for Jesus to move others to want to grow and change.
Keep on telling others, "Jesus loves you, and I love you too."
Love is the unseen reality that motivates spiritual growth and
change. [The 365-Day Devotional Commentary]

However discouraging things may be, if Christ is in the heart,
believers will be compelled by love to grow. And growth will transform the
stumbling, unspiritual men and women of today into tomorrow's saints. [The
365-Day Devotional Commentary]

George Mueller, at more than ninety years of age, in an address
to ministers and other Christian workers, said, "I was converted in
November 1825, but I didn't come to the point of total surrender of my
heart until four years later, in July 1829. It was then I realized my
love for money, prominence, position, power, and worldly pleasure was
gone. God, and He alone, became my all in all. In Him I found
everything I needed, and I desired nothing else. By God's grace, my
understanding of His sufficiency has remained to this day, making me an
exceedingly happy man. It has led me to care only about the things of God.
And so, dear believers, I kindly ask if you have totally surrendered
your heart to God, or is there something in your life you refuse to
release, in spite of God's call? [Streams in the Desert by Cowman]