47 2 Cor 5.11-21 Paraphrase and notes

Therefore: in view of the amazing expectation of the future physical reunion with the Lord (vs 8 to be at home with the Lord) and the sobering prospect of having our life's work judged by Him (vs 10, and 1 Cor 3.13-15) as either good (agathos, in this context, worthwhile) or bad (phaulos, in this context, worthless, as in 1 Cor 3.15).  Consider Jesus' parable of the master's evaluation of the results his servants achieved with the money he had invested with them (Mt 25.14-28).

Knowing the fear of the Lord: knowing (oida, understanding) the gravity of both the love and the judgment of the Lord, and experiencing the deep and sober reverence for Him that makes us both desire to approach Him but also to be found acceptable to Him, e.g. "fearing" Him.

Persuade: peitho, we try to convince others.

^12  We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart.

^13  For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you.

We are not again defending our apostleship and authority delegated by Christ, but instead arming you with the information (about the true criteria of the Lord's ambassadors: the ministry of reconciliation) you can use to answer those Corinthians trying to undermine us and win you over by impressive outward appearances; those trying to switch your values from inward godliness to outward appearances.

This is because if we must appear outwardly humble and not eloquent, it is in service to God (as we told you in Chap. 4, we are the "jars of clay" with outward appearances "wasting away" but inwardly being renewed daily); and if we are making sense (as we hope) it is for your benefit.

^14  For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died;

^15  and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

For: because.

Love: agape, commitment to seek others' benefit regardless of the beneficiary's worthiness or response.

Therefore all died: Christ's death (Rm 5.6-8) imputed to believers (Rm 6.3-4), thus satisfying God's justice requiring death for sin (Rm 1.32, 6.23a) and imputing to believers Christ's righteousness (Rm 3.21-25, 2 Cor 5.21).

Those who live no longer live for themselves but for Him:  Gal 2.20.

Was raised: Christ's resurrection demonstrates and affirms that God will justify the person who believes in Him (Rm 4.25b, "He was raised for (dia, because of) our justification".)

Therefore: because the love of Christ controls Paul and Co. (vs 14).

According to the flesh: in a non-spiritual way.

Though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh: Paul once considered Christ in a non-spiritual way, as a mere man falsely claiming to be God, and consequently Paul persecuted the Church and, by extension, Christ Himself (Ac 9.1-2, 5, 13-14; 1 Cor 15.9).

Therefore: reasoning now from a spiritual point of view.

In Christ: by God-given faith (Eph 2.8) believing in Christ as savior and Lord (Rm 10.9-10), and consequently identified by God with Christ's death (sin paid for), resurrection (justified, considered by God as righteous in all respects (Eph 1.4b, Col 1.22), and new spiritual life in Christ, e.g. identified with Him, possessing His righteousness (2 Cor 5.21b), and motivated by His priorities and empowered by His indwelling Spirit (Gal 2.20, Ac 1.8, Rm 8.15, Eph 1.13-14).

Old passed away, new come: a reference to the "new birth" Jesus discussed with Nicodemus, Jn 3.3-8.

^18  All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;

^19  that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.

All this: Christ's love which motivated His substitutionary death for any and all believers (vs 14), His love compelling Paul and Co. to reach out to believers (vs 14).

Is from God: the decision to provide reconciliation, the implementation of the plan to accomplish it (Rm 5.1, 10-11), and the calling of people to believe in Him (Jn 6.44, Rm 8.30) and enabling them by faith (Eph 2.8), is all accomplished by God with no contribution by any believer (1 Cor 1.30, Jn 1.13).

Ambassadors: presbeuo, emissaries, messengers with delegated authority.

Appeal: parakaleo, in this context a comforter coming alongside beseeching, sincerely entreating someone to their benefit.

Implore: deomai, to beg.

Christ appeals, Paul begs: note this is not a disinterested offering of reconciliation in a "take it or leave it" sense.  This is a heart felt desire for a person to be reconciled.