John Calvin Commentary 2 Corinthians 5:18

"But all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and gave unto us the ministry of reconciliation;" — 2 Corinthians 5:18 (ASV)

All things are of God. He means, all things that belong to Christ’s kingdom. “If we would be Christ’s, we must be regenerated by God. Now that is no ordinary gift.” He does not, therefore, speak here of creation generally, but of the grace of regeneration, which God confers specifically upon his elect.

And he affirms that it is of God — not on the ground of his being the Creator and Maker of heaven and earth, but because he is the new Creator of the Church, by fashioning his people anew, according to his own image.

Thus all flesh is humbled, and believers are admonished that they must now live to God, because they are a new creature (2 Corinthians 5:17). This they cannot do unless they forget the world, as they are also no longer of the world (John 17:16), because they are of God.

Who has reconciled us. Here there are two leading points — the one relating to the reconciliation of men with God, and the other to the way in which we may enjoy the benefit of this reconciliation.

Now these things correspond admirably with what came before, for as the Apostle had given preference to a good conscience above every kind of distinction (2 Corinthians 5:11), he now shows that the whole of the gospel tends to this.

He shows, however, at the same time, the dignity of the apostolic office, so that the Corinthians may be instructed as to what they ought to seek in him, since they could not distinguish between true and false ministers because only show delighted them.

Accordingly, by mentioning this, he motivates them to advance further in the doctrine of the gospel. For an absurd admiration of worldly persons, who serve their own ambition rather than Christ, originates from our not knowing what the office of the preaching of the gospel includes or signifies.

I now return to those two leading points that are addressed here. The first is — that God has reconciled us to himself by Christ.

This is immediately followed by the declaration — Because God was in Christ, and has in his person accomplished reconciliation. The manner is added — By not imputing to men their trespasses.

Again, a second declaration is added — Because Christ, having been made a sin-offering for our sins, has procured righteousness for us. The second part of the statement is — that the grace of reconciliation is applied to us by the gospel, so that we may become partakers of it.

Here we have a remarkable passage, if there is any such in any part of Paul’s writings. Therefore, we should carefully examine the words one by one.

The ministry of reconciliation. Here we have a distinguished description of the gospel, as an embassy for reconciling men to God. It is also a special dignity of ministers — that they are sent to us by God with this commission, acting as messengers and, in a way, guarantors.

This, however, is not said so much for the purpose of praising ministers as for the comfort of the godly, so that whenever they hear the gospel, they may know that God is dealing with them and, so to speak, comes to terms with them for their return to his grace.

What could be more desirable than this blessing? Let us therefore bear in mind that this is the main design of the gospel — that since we are by nature children of wrath (Ephesians 2:3), we may, by the ending of the quarrel between God and us, be received by him into favor.

Ministers are equipped with this commission so that they may bring us news of so great a benefit; indeed, they may assure us of God’s fatherly love toward us.

Any other person, it is true, might also be a witness to us of the grace of God, but Paul teaches that this office is specifically entrusted to ministers.

When, therefore, a duly ordained minister proclaims in the gospel that God has been made propitious to us, he should be listened to just like an ambassador of God, representing, so to speak, a public office and equipped with rightful authority to assure us of this.