“And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.”
My Notes
What Does 2 Corinthians 5:15 Mean?
Paul states the purpose of Christ's death: "that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again." The death of Christ produces a reorientation of the believer's life direction — from self-directed to Christ-directed. You no longer live for yourself because someone else's death purchased your life.
The phrase "died for all" establishes the universal scope of Christ's sacrifice. The "that" (hina — in order that, for the purpose of) makes the reorientation purposeful: Christ died for all specifically so that the living would redirect their lives. The death wasn't just remedial (fixing sin); it was directional (redirecting lives).
The logic is transactional: Christ died → you live → you now owe your living to him. The life you're currently living was purchased at the cost of his death. Therefore, that life belongs to the purchaser, not to you. Self-directed living is a contradiction of the transaction that made your living possible.
Reflection Questions
- 1.Who are you living for today — yourself or the one who died for you?
- 2.How does viewing your life as 'purchased' change your sense of ownership over your own decisions?
- 3.What does 'not henceforth live unto themselves' look like in your specific daily choices?
- 4.How does the resurrection (not just the death) make redirection toward Christ possible?
Devotional
He died for you so you'd stop living for yourself. That's the purpose clause of the cross, stripped to its essentials. Not just forgiveness — redirection. Not just freedom from sin — reorientation toward Christ.
The logic is beautifully transactional: you're alive because he died. The life you're breathing right now was purchased. And the purchaser didn't buy it so you could spend it on yourself. He bought it so you'd spend it on him. Self-directed living after the cross is like spending someone else's money on yourself. The funds aren't yours.
"Not henceforth live unto themselves" is the death of self-centered Christianity. The gospel doesn't exist to improve your life for your benefit. It exists to redirect your life for Christ's purposes. Every version of Christianity that makes you the primary beneficiary has reversed the direction Paul describes. You're not the customer. You're the purchased.
The resurrection is included — "died for them, and rose again" — because a dead savior can't redirect your life. Only a living Christ can be the object of a redirected life. You don't redirect your life toward a memory. You redirect it toward a person who is currently alive and currently capable of receiving the life you now owe.
The question the cross asks you every morning: who are you living for today? Yourself or the one who died for you? The answer determines whether you're living consistently with the transaction that gave you your life.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh..... Since the death and resurrection of Christ, which has broken…
And that he died for all ... - This verse is designed still further to explain the reasons of the conduct of the…
And that he died for all, that they which live, etc. - This third position he draws from the preceding: If all were…
Here observe, I. The apostle makes an apology for seeming to commend himself and his fellow-labourers (Co2 5:13), and…
that they which live should not … live unto themselves Cf. Rom 5:8-11; Rom 6:10-13; Rom 14:7; Gal 2:20; Gal 5:24-25; Gal…
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture