For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
For - accounting for his being 'beside himself' with enthusiasm: the love of Christ toward us, the highest proof of which is His death for us (Romans 5:6-8), producing in turn love in us to him, and not "terror" (2 Corinthians 5:11).
Constraineth us - compresses х sunechei (G4912)] with irresistible power all our energies into one channel (Acts 18:5, "pressed in the spirit:" the same Greek). Love is jealous of any rival object engrossing the soul (2 Corinthians 11:1-3).
Because we thus judge - literally, (as) 'having judged thus;' a judgment formed at conversion, and ever since regarded as a settled truth.
That if - i:e., that since х ei (G1487), with the indicative]. So C, Vulgate. But 'Aleph (') B Delta G f g omit "if:" 'that one died for all' х huper (G5228), 'in behalf of all']. The object of His vicarious death was not that He should be by Himself, but have many to live to and with Him (John 12:24). 'Therefore all (literally, 'the all'-namely, for whom He "died") died.' His dying is the same as if they all died. In their so dying, they died to sin and self, that they might live to God their Redeemer, whose henceforth they are (Romans 6:2-11; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; Galatians 2:20; Colossians 3:3; 1 Peter 4:1-3).