2 Corinthians 5:17 Text
King James Version (KJV)
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
World English Bible (WEB)
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new.
What 2 Corinthians 5:17 Means
Paul says that anyone who is in Christ is a new creation, with old things passed away and all things become new. The phrase in Christ is one of his favorite ways to describe being joined to Jesus by faith. New creation echoes the language of Genesis and suggests a deep change of identity, not only a polite improvement of behavior. The KJV says new creature and the WEB says new creation; the Greek word behind creation can mean both the act of creating and its result. Readers sometimes expect this to mean every old habit vanishes at once, but the context points to a changed standing and a new direction, with growth still to come. The next verses speak of reconciliation with God and a ministry of reconciling others.
Context of 2 Corinthians 5:17
Paul wrote 2 Corinthians probably from Macedonia around AD 55 to 56, to a church in Corinth with which he had a strained relationship. In chapter 5 he explains why he and his co-workers live the way they do, driven by Christ's love. This verse follows his statement that believers no longer view anyone from a merely human viewpoint, and leads into his message of reconciliation. To read the whole book, see random verse from 2 Corinthians.
How to Apply 2 Corinthians 5:17
If you feel stuck being the person you used to be, let this verse remind you that identity can change at the root before behavior fully catches up. Pick one small habit that fits who you hope to become, and practice it patiently. Progress is usually slow and uneven, and that is normal.
Related Verses
- Ezekiel 36:26 – A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
- Galatians 6:15 – For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.
- Isaiah 43:18-19 – Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.
- Colossians 3:9-10 – Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man , which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
Looking for more verses on this theme? Browse Bible Verses About Hope, each with a short note on its context.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to be a new creation in Christ?
It means a person united to Christ receives a new identity and a new direction, a fresh start with God. Paul does not claim all struggles end immediately. The change begins at the center of who you are and works outward over time.
Does 2 Corinthians 5:17 mean old habits disappear instantly?
Not usually. Most readers take it to describe a real change of standing and allegiance that starts at once, while growth in character takes time. Paul elsewhere urges believers to keep growing, which implies old patterns can linger and need patient work.
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