<p><em>2 Corinthians 5:21</em> is part of a larger section where the Apostle <em>Paul</em> speaks of man's reconciliation <em>to God through Christ</em>. This verse states that He made Christ, who knew no sin, to be sin for us, so that those who believe in Him might be the righteousness of God. This introduces the concept of penal substitution, which is one of the most important theological themes in Christianity.</p>
<p>The theological interpretation of this verse is that <em>Christ</em> died in the place of sinners, becoming the perfect sacrifice for the forgiveness of sins. In this way, sin is removed from the believer's account and transferred to the account of Christ, who in turn imparted His righteousness to the believer so that he could be justified before God.</p>