A Visit Postponed

15 Because of this confidence, I planned to come to you first,(A) so that you could have a second benefit,[a] 16 and to visit you on my way to Macedonia,(B) and then come to you again from Macedonia and be helped by you(C) on my journey(D) to Judea.(E) 17 Now when I planned this, was I of two minds? Or what I plan, do I plan in a purely human[b](F) way so that I say “Yes, yes” and “No, no” at the same time? 18 As God is faithful,(G) our message to you is not “Yes and no.” 19 For the Son of God,(H) Jesus Christ, whom we proclaimed among you—Silvanus,[c](I) Timothy, and I—did not become “Yes and no.” On the contrary, in him it is always “Yes.”(J) 20 For every one of God’s promises(K) is “Yes” in him. Therefore, through him we also say “Amen”(L) to the glory of God.(M) 21 Now it is God who strengthens us together with you in Christ, and who has anointed(N) us. 22 He has also put his seal on us and given us the Spirit in our hearts(O) as a down payment.(P)

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Footnotes

  1. 1:15 Other mss read a second joy
  2. 1:17 Or a worldly, or a fleshly, or a selfish
  3. 1:19 Or Silas; Ac 15:22–32; 16:19–40; 17:1–16

Paul Delays His Visit to Corinth

15 And with this confidence, I was wanting to come to you previously, in order that you may have a second proof of my goodwill, 16 and through you to go to Macedonia, and to come to you again from Macedonia, and to be sent on my way by you to Judea. 17 Therefore, when I[a] was wanting to do this, perhaps then was I making use of vacillation? Or was I deciding what I was deciding according to the flesh, in order that with me my “yes” may be “yes” and my “no” may be “no” at the same time?[b] 18 But God is faithful, so that our word to you is not “yes” and “no.” 19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, the one who was proclaimed among you by us, by me and Silvanus and Timothy, did not become “yes” and “no,” but has become “yes” in him. 20 For as many as are the promises of God, in him they are “yes”; therefore also through him is the “amen” to the glory of God through us. 21 Now the one who establishes us together with you in Christ and who anoints us is God, 22 who also sealed us and gave the down payment of the Spirit in our hearts.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 1:17 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“was wanting”) which is understood as temporal
  2. 2 Corinthians 1:17 *The words “at the same time” are supplied for clarity

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)

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 1:19 Greek Silvanus, a variant of Silas