John Calvin Commentary 2 Corinthians 5:14

"For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that one died for all, therefore all died;" — 2 Corinthians 5:14 (ASV)

For the love of Christ. The term love may be taken either in a passive sense or in an active one. I prefer the latter.

For if we are not harder than iron, we cannot refrain from devoting ourselves entirely to Christ when we consider what great love he exercised towards us when he endured death in our place. Paul, too, explains himself when he adds that it is reasonable that we should live to him, being dead to ourselves.

Therefore, as he had previously stated (2 Corinthians 5:11), that he was stirred up to duty by fear, since he would one day have to give an account, so he now brings forward another motive—that measureless love of Christ towards us, of which he had provided us with evidence in his death. “The knowledge,” I say, “of this love, ought to constrain our affections, so that they may go in no other direction than that of loving him in return.”

There is a metaphor implied in the word constrain. It denotes that everyone who truly considers and ponders that wonderful love, which Christ has manifested towards us by his death, inevitably becomes, so to speak, bound to him, and constrained by the closest tie, and devotes himself wholly to his service.

If one died for all. This purpose must be carefully kept in view—that Christ died for us, that we might die to ourselves. The explanation must also be carefully noted—that to die to ourselves is to live to Christ; or, to put it more fully, it is to renounce ourselves, so that we may live to Christ.

For Christ redeemed us with this purpose—that he might have us under his authority, as his own special possession. Therefore, it follows that we are no longer our own masters. There is a similar passage in Romans 14:7-9.

At the same time, two things are presented here separately: first, that we are dead in Christ, so that all ambition and eagerness for distinction may be laid aside, and that we may feel it no hardship to be considered as nothing; and furthermore, that we owe Christ our life and death, because he has wholly bound us to himself.