Commentaries:
Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown
Therefore—connected with the words in II Corinthians 5:16, "We know Christ no more after the flesh." As Christ has entered on His new heavenly life by His resurrection and ascension, so all who are "in Christ" (that is, united to Him by faith as the branch is In the vine) are new creatures (Romans 6:9-11). "New" in the Greek implies a new nature quite different from anything previously existing, not merely recent, which is expressed by a different Greek word (Galatians 6:15).
creature—literally, "creation," and so the creature resulting from the creation (compare John 3:3, John 3:5; Ephesians 2:10; Ephesians 4:23; Colossians 3:10-11). As we are "in Christ," so "God was in Christ" (II Corinthians 5:19): hence He is Mediator between God and us.
old things—selfish, carnal views (compare II Corinthians 5:16) of ourselves, of other men, and of Christ.
passed away—spontaneously, like the snow of early spring [BENGEL] before the advancing sun.
behold—implying an allusion to Isaiah 43:19; Isaiah 65:17.
Other Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown entries containing 2 Corinthians 5:17:
Song of Solomon 2:11
Isaiah 48:6
Ezekiel 11:19
2 Corinthians 5:16
Galatians 6:15
Ephesians 2:10
DISCLAIMER: Church of the Great God (CGG) provides these resources to aid the individual in studying the Bible. However, it is up to the individual to "prove all things, and hold fast to that which is good" (I Thessalonians 5:21). The content of these resources does not necessarily reflect the views of CGG. They are provided for information purposes only.