In 2 Corinthians 5:21, most English translations (French and Spanish translations as well) say Jesus "became sin" or was "made to be sin" for us, and that is not the idea behind the scripture. The idea there is rather of Jesus being made a "sin offering."
This error, wherever it came from, borders on the blasphemy of saying that Jesus was condemned as a sinner (for us/our sins). Some translations unfortunately do outright say that. Then if such is the case, Jesus cannot possibly at the same time be the pure Lamb of God (a sin offering) that takes away the sin of the word (John 1:29). The precious blood of Jesus was shed to take away sin, but sin cannot in any way serve to take away sin. There is no precedent for this in all the history of God dealing with the sins of his people. Is there any other scripture that says what 2 Corinthians 5:21 is supposedly saying with the phrase "He becane sin"?
Caution:
This post is a call to be alert. It is not about expressing preference for a Bible translation over another. Regardless of the translation, God can by his Holy Spirit steer his servants away from any danger, even if it comes from what they trust (e.g. a biblical text). So, they can never trust a document or a man's understanding and teaching on a matter more than they trust God to guide them.
10/08/2022
Hebrews 9:13-14 KJ2000
2 Corinthians 5:21
Updated King James Version
For he has made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Better:
For he has made him to be a sin offering for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
A sin offering is what Jesus was as He offered Himself as a sacrifice. Sin is a transgression of the law of God (1 John 3:4), so a person cannot become that. A person can commit sin, but not become sin.
And sin can in no way be an "offering" to God.
The New Living Translation gets it right (right here) in 2 Corinthians 5:21:
For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.
13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies to the purifying of the flesh: 14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
Note:
The following Hebrews 10 passage is most important to understand how Jesus became the one to do away with all the various sin offerings that could not take away sin once and for all before He came and offered Himself on the cross. To not acknowledge that leaves the door open to say also that sin goes on "in Christ" and that is all normal and expected. That is, Christians normally go on sinning, living in sin, knowing right from wrong and still doing wrong/sinning, in contradiction to being set free from bondage to sin by the Son and living a new life, having been set free from sin (John 8:34-36, Romans 6:1-7, Romans 6:14, 1 John 3:6-8). Freedom from sin that Jesus died to give to each sinner that He saves must be denied as a reality before it is possible to speak of sinning that never ends for the believer.
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Hebrews 10:11-18:
Updated King James Version
11 And every priest stands daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: 12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; 13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. 14 For by one offering he has perfected for ever them that are sanctified. 15 Whereof the Holy Spirit also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, 16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; 17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. 18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.
11 And every priest stands daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: 12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; 13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. 14 For by one offering he has perfected for ever them that are sanctified. 15 Whereof the Holy Spirit also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, 16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; 17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. 18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.
Compare with Romans 3:25
Berean Study Bible
God presented Him as an atoning sacrifice through faith in His blood, in order to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance He had passed over the sins committed beforehand.*
*Sins committed before the point of turning to God are forgiven. The way forward is not ongoing forgiveness of necessarily ongoing sin. Jesus says, "go, and sin no more" (John 8:11). Peter says, "he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin" (1 Peter 4:1). So, sinning is not the plan for the Christian. Ongoing rebellion to God is not the plan. But if the righteous falls, he will get back up (Proverbs 24:16). And by the grace of God it is also possible to "never fall" (2 Peter 1:10).
New Living Translation
For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past
World English Bible
whom God set forth to be an atoning sacrifice, through faith in his blood, for a demonstration of his righteousness through the passing over of prior sins, in God's forbearance
Young's Literal Translation
whom God did set forth a mercy seat, through the faith in his blood, for the shewing forth of His righteousness, because of the passing over of the bygone sins in the forbearance of God
Compare with Romans 8:3
Bereans Study Bible
For what the Law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful man, as an offering for sin. He thus condemned sin in the flesh...
New American Standard Bible
For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh...
King James Version
How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
King James 2000
And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us, and has given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling fragrance.
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What is a sin offering?
Scriptures on the use of sin offerings under the Old Covenant:
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2 Timothy 2:15
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who doesn't need to be ashamed, correctly dividing the word of truth.
