What does 'constraineth us' mean in 2 Corinthians 5:14?

In 2 Corinthians 5:14, 'constraineth us' means the love of Christ drives or compels us. It is an inward motivation that moves believers. Paul writes to the Corinthians that Christ's love drives them because He died for all, and all were dead in trespasses and sins until His life-giving power was triggered by faith in the Gospel.

Les explains that in 2 Corinthians 5:14 Paul is writing to the Corinthians, who were Gentiles. The phrase 'the love of Christ constraineth us' means the love of Christ drives us. Les connects this to Paul's doctrine that if one died for all, then all were dead. He notes that the whole human race is dead in trespasses and sins until Christ moves in with His life-giving power, which is triggered by faith in the Gospel. So the constraint is Christ's love moving believers because of His death for all.

2 Corinthians 5:14

For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:

What is Paul's doctrine in 2 Corinthians 5:14?

In 2 Corinthians 5:14, Paul teaches that the love of Christ constrains or drives us, because we conclude that if one died for all, then all were dead. This is his doctrine: the whole human race was dead in trespasses and sins until Christ moves in with life-giving power, triggered by faith in the Gospel.