³⁷ All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’;^(A) anything beyond this comes from the evil one.^[a](B)

¹² Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. All you need to say is a simple “Yes” or “No.” Otherwise you will be condemned.^(A)

¹⁵ Because I was confident of this, I wanted to visit you^(A) first so that you might benefit twice.^{(B) 16} I wanted to visit you on my way^(C) to Macedonia^(D) and to come back to you from Macedonia, and then to have you send me on my way^(E) to Judea.^{(F) 17} Was I fickle when I intended to do this? Or do I make my plans in a worldly manner^(G) so that in the same breath I say both “Yes, yes” and “No, no”?

¹⁸ But as surely as God is faithful,^(H) our message to you is not “Yes” and “No.” ¹⁹ For the Son of God,^(I) Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us—by me and Silas^[a](J) and Timothy^(K)—was not “Yes” and “No,” but in him it has always^(L) been “Yes.” ²⁰ For no matter how many promises^(M) God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen”^(N) is spoken by us to the glory of God.^{(O) 21} Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm^(P) in Christ. He anointed^(Q) us, ²² set his seal^(R) of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.^(S)