For our sake, he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

1) Who is speaking in these verses and to whom are they speaking?
In this verse Paul is speaking to the Corinthian church. This is a letter that he wrote to them reminding them of the truth of the gospel. At the time that Paul wrote this, the Corinthians were dealing with false teachers who were persuading many to follow a false gospel.

2) What is the greater context of this passage?
In the greater context of the book of 2 Corinthians, Paul is reminding them of what they knew to be true and reiterating basic theology. Within the first part of this chapter, Paul describes our Heavenly dwelling place and reminds the Corinthians that one day we will be with Christ fully. The second part of this passage, which is where we find our verse, Paul reminds this church of their reconciliation with the Lord. He wants them to never forget the price that Jesus paid on the cross so that as believers they would be eternally right with God no longer under His wrath.

3) Who is the “our” in this verse and who is the “him”?
For our (humanity) sake he (God) made him (Jesus) to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him (Jesus) we (humanity) might become the righteousness of God.

4) How did Jesus become our sin?
In the previous verses Paul explains this. Specifically, in 5:19, Paul says, “that is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them,”. God sent Jesus to the cross and poured all of His wrath out for humanity’s sin on Jesus because of that every human has the ability to be in relationship with God if they choose. (John 3:16) Once Jesus died, death and sin were conquered, defeated once and for all.

1) Who is speaking in these verses and to whom are they speaking?
In this letter, we see the heart of a pastor, Paul, to his people. He desperately wants the Corinthians to remember what they know to be true, remember the one true gospel. He is going back to the basics so they are reminded of their firm foundation. Without the ministry of reconciliation between God and man through Jesus, we are lost! When we lose sight of the gospel, going back to the simple, authentic, and powerful truth of God’s Word sets us back on track to see clearly the truth of whose we are, who we are, and what God says about how we should be.

2) What is the greater context of this passage?
This verse could stand alone as a simple, yet powerful truth of the gospel message. When we read it in greater context, it makes this one line verse even more impactful. Understanding the reconciliation between God and man is the cornerstone of the Christian faith. Knowing and believing what Christ did on the Cross is the transformative trajectory change all creation longs for and needs because without it, we are lost in our sin.

3) Who is the “our” in this verse and who is the “him”?
Paul, in his writing, sometimes makes it difficult to follow with his use of pronouns. It is important that we as readers of the Word know who is being talked about within the context of the verse. When we read it with nouns instead of pronouns, the verse may make more senses. “For our (humanity) sake he (God) made him (Jesus) to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him (Jesus) we (humanity) might become the righteousness of God.” The important thing to remember is God sent His Son, Jesus, to die on the cross so that all of humanity would have the opportunity to be in relationship with God, the great I AM.

4) How did Jesus become sin?
Throughout Scripture we see that through Jesus’s death on the cross God was pouring out His wrath for the sin of humanity. Jesus’s blood was shed so that we might be cleansed of all unrighteousness. When we make the choice to passionately follow Christ, the Holy Spirit lives and works within us, and we are made right and we are set free. “For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.” Romans 8:2

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We love getting help while we study and www.studylight.org is one of many excellent resources.  Just type in the verse you’re looking at and Boom! It’s right in front of you in English and Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament), which are the original languages the Bible was written in.

Want to know more about a specific word in a verse? Click on “Strong’s Interlinear Bible” then click the word you’d like to study. Find super awesome stuff like “origin”, “definition”, and even all the different ways that single word has been translated into English! If you want to be geeky, you can even click the word and hear its original pronunciation – That Is Awesome!

Want to get more background on a word or phrasing or passage? Click “Study Tools”, then pick a few commentaries to read their scholarly approach, keeping in mind that just because a commentary says it, doesn’t mean it’s true. (just like the internet :-))

Finding the original meaning is a huge deal when we study Scripture and can make all the difference in our understanding as we apply God’s truths to our everyday lives.

In our modern-day relationships, we want people to understand our original intention as we communicate; how much more so between God and humanity?!

Here’s a little bit more on why we take Digging Deeper so seriously.

Embracing God’s fullness in our lives is rooted in scripture and memorizing His word is vital to our continued growth and depth with Jesus.
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