Context

Paul's writing a second letter to the Christian community in Corinth and he's got a whole lot to say about what it means to believe in Jesus. Naturally.

Basically, Paul doesn't put a lot of stock in "acting holy." He thinks folks that do are pretty big posers who are just looking to show off to the rest of the world. They're into outside appearances.

They're total material girls.

But, according to Paul, real faith is what you believe in your heart, not what you present to the outside world. And Paul thinks that Christians should become new creations with this faith. So once you believe in Jesus, it changes who you are as a person. You can't go back to being the same materialist, braggy jerk you were before. You've gotta live a different way and become something and someone different.

It's a total Jesus makeover and you are gonna come out looking fierce.

Where you've heard it

The idea of God's people as "new creations," is pretty popular in Christian communities. Hey, who doesn't like to make something new out of something old? Isn't that what upcycling is for?

Additional Notable References:

• Since God's first creation, Adam, didn't turn out so swell, Paul keeps talking about God creating something new with Christians. If at first you don't succeed…
• New Creation is a women's clothing company that sells "gentle feminine styles." Would Paul approve of showing off holiness through clothes, though?
• John Newton's poem "Old Things Are Passed Away" is a meditation on this passage.

Pretentious Factor

If you were to drop this quote at a dinner party, would you get an in-unison "awww" or would everyone roll their eyes and never invite you back? Here it is, on a scale of 1-10.

Taking old things and making them new is so hot right now. We think you'll definitely score some approving nods with this quote.