2 Corinthians 1:12-18

Paul's Change of Plans 2 Corinthians 1:12-18: Paul could rejoice because he had a clear conscience. He lived a simple, honest life with godly sincerity. His desire in all things was to be controlled by the will of God. Paul wanted to live godly before people of the world and especially before the Corinthian brethren where he had worked so hard. He wrote to the brethren concerning these things in a very simple and understandable way. He hoped they would read and understand completely what he had written. The reaction of the brethren to Paul's first letter showed that they had largely understood and accepted his message as truth.

The confidence that Paul felt in these brethren had to do with the fact that he knew they would and had accepted the truth that he had previously written to them. He felt he could be even more helpful to them in imparting spiritual gifts if he was able to make two visits instead of only one. The two visits Paul had hoped to make included a brief stop at Corinth on his way to Macedonia and then a longer visit on his return. He would then go to Judea and he hoped that these brethren might help him on his way. Paul did not want these brethren to think that he was fickled because he did not follow through on these plans. He was neither flighty nor was he trying to please men. Paul wanted the brethren to understand that God can be trusted to keep His promises and so can he.