2 Corinthians 1:15-22
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
15 Since I was sure of this, I wanted to come to you first, so that you might have a double favor;[a](A) 16 I wanted to visit you on my way to Macedonia and to come back to you from Macedonia and have you send me on to Judea.(B) 17 Was I vacillating when I wanted to do this? Do I make my plans according to ordinary human standards,[b] ready to say “Yes, yes” and “No, no” at the same time? 18 As surely as God is faithful, our word to you is not[c] “Yes and No.” 19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we proclaimed among you, Silvanus and Timothy and I, was not “Yes and No,” but in him it has always been “Yes.”(C) 20 For in him every one of God’s promises is a “Yes.” For this reason it is through him that we say the “Amen,” to the glory of God.(D) 21 But it is God who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us,(E) 22 who has put his seal on us and given[d] us his Spirit in our hearts as a down payment.(F)
Read full chapter
2 Corinthians 1:15-22
New English Translation
15 And with this confidence I intended to come to you first so that you would get a second opportunity to see us,[a] 16 and through your help to go on into Macedonia and then from Macedonia to come back[b] to you and be helped on our way into Judea by you. 17 Therefore when I was planning to do this, I did not do so without thinking about what I was doing, did I?[c] Or do I make my plans[d] according to mere human standards[e] so that I would be saying[f] both “Yes, yes” and “No, no” at the same time? 18 But as God is faithful, our message 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[g] and Timothy—was not “Yes” and “No,” but it has always been “Yes” in him. 20 For every one of God’s promises are “Yes” in him; therefore also through him the “Amen” is spoken, to the glory we give to God. 21 But it is God who establishes[h] us together with you in Christ and who anointed us,[i] 22 who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a down payment.[j]
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 2 Corinthians 1:15 tn Grk “a second grace,” “a second favor” (used figuratively of a second visit by Paul).
- 2 Corinthians 1:16 tn Grk “come again.”
- 2 Corinthians 1:17 tn The Greek construction anticipates a negative answer. This is indicated in the translation by the ‘tag’ question “did I?” at the end of the sentence.
- 2 Corinthians 1:17 tn Grk “the things that I plan, do I plan (them).”
- 2 Corinthians 1:17 tn Grk “according to the flesh.”
- 2 Corinthians 1:17 tn Grk “so that with me there should be.”
- 2 Corinthians 1:19 sn Silvanus is usually considered to be the same person as Silas (L&N 93.340).
- 2 Corinthians 1:21 tn Or “strengthens.”
- 2 Corinthians 1:21 tn Grk “But he who establishes us together with you in Christ and anointed us is God.”
- 2 Corinthians 1:22 tn Or “first installment,” “pledge,” “deposit.”sn Down payment. The Greek word ἀρραβών (arrabōn) denotes the first payment or first installment of money or goods which serves as a guarantee or pledge for the completion of the transaction. In the NT the term is used only figuratively of the Holy Spirit as the down payment of the blessings promised by God (it occurs later in 2 Cor 5:5, and also in Eph 1:14). In the “already—not yet” scheme of the NT the possession of the Spirit now by believers (“already”) can be viewed as a guarantee that God will give them the balance of the promised blessings in the future (“not yet”).
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NET Bible® copyright ©1996-2017 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com All rights reserved.