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)

Read full chapter

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

Why Paul’s Visit Was Postponed

15 Because I was confident, I planned to come to you first so you might receive a double blessing. 16 I planned to leave you in order to go[a] to Macedonia, and then come back to you from Macedonia, and let you send me on to Judea.

17 When I planned this, I did not do it lightly, did I? Are my plans so fickle[b] that I can say “Yes” and “No”[c] at the same time? 18 As certainly as God is faithful, we haven’t talked to you with mixed messages like that.[d] 19 For God’s Son, Jesus the Messiah,[e] who was preached among you by us—by me, Silvanus, and Timothy—was not “Yes” and “No.” But with him it is always “Yes.” 20 For all God’s promises are “Yes” in him. And so through him we can say “Amen,”[f] to the glory of God. 21 Now the one who makes us—and you as well—secure in union with the Messiah[g] and has anointed us is God, 22 who has placed his seal on us and has given us the Spirit in our hearts as a down payment.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 1:16 Lit. To go through you
  2. 2 Corinthians 1:17 Lit. according to the flesh
  3. 2 Corinthians 1:17 Lit. “Yes, yes” and “No, no”
  4. 2 Corinthians 1:18 Lit. faithful, our word to you is not “Yes” and “No”
  5. 2 Corinthians 1:19 Or Christ
  6. 2 Corinthians 1:20 Lit. through him is the “Amen”
  7. 2 Corinthians 1:21 Or Christ