2 Corinthians 1:15-24

Applebury's Comments

Explanation of His Deferred Visit
Scripture

2 Corinthians 1:15-24. And in this confidence I was minded to come first unto you, that ye might have a second benefit; 16 and by you to pass into Macedonia, and again from Macedonia to come unto you, and of you to be set forward on my journey unto Judaea. 17 When I therefore was thus minded, did I show fickleness? or the things that I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, that with me there should be the yea yea and the nay nay? 18 But as God is faithful, our word toward you is not yea and nay. 19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us even by me and Silvanus and Timothy, was not yea and nay, but in him is yea. 20 For how many soever be the promises of God, in him is the yea: wherefore also through him is the Amen, unto the glory of God through us. 21 Now he that established us with you in Christ, and anointed us, is God; 22 who also sealed us, and gave us the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

23 But I call God for a witness upon my soul, that to spare you I forbare to come unto Corinth. 24 Not that we have lordship over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for in faith ye stand fast.

Comments

And in this confidence.Paul was confident that the Corinthians understood that he was their spiritual father and that they were his spiritual children. See 1 Corinthians 4:14-16. With this in mind, he had planned at first to come to Corinth and after passing through their area to go on to Macedonia and then to come back from Macedonia to Corinth in order that he might visit them twice. In this way he would demonstrate his good toward them. This differed from the original only in that it would give the Corinthians a second benefit, that is, they would have the privilege of having the apostle with them on two occasions. It suggests a deeper concern for them than for the Macedonians. It was not to be understood as cancelling his original plan. See 1 Corinthians 16:5-7. He wanted them to continue to understand that what he had written in the first letter about his intention to visit them would be fulfilled.

set forward on my journey.This does not seem to suggest any financial aid, since Paul had made a rule in dealing with Corinth to accept no support from them, lest his motives be misunderstood or he should give occasion to the false teachers to justify their desire to be paid.

Luke tells of an occasion when Paul met with the brethren from Ephesus on his way to Jerusalem. He told how Paul spoke to them and then knelt down and prayed with them. All wept and fell on his neck and kissed him, sorrowing most of all for his word that they would not be able to see him again. See Acts 20:17-28. Paul probably had a meeting of this sort in mind when he suggested coming back to Corinth and have them send him on his way to Judea.

When I was thus minded.The defense which Paul makes at this point is against anticipated objections. This is common in his writings because he knew the minds of those to whom he wrote. An example of it is given in Romans 6:1-23; Romans 7:1-25 where he answered possible objections on the part of his readers.

There is no indication that the Corinthians had known anything about this plan to visit them twice until they read it in this letter. Timothy, of course, had been sent to Corinth and was with Paul as he was writing II Corinthians. See 1 Corinthians 4:16-17; 1 Corinthians 16:10. There is no indication, however, that he knew anything about the plan mentioned in the above verses while he was at Corinth.

Titus also had been sent to Corinth. This fact is mentioned in 2 Corinthians 2:13; 2 Corinthians 7:6-14; 2 Corinthians 8:6; 2 Corinthians 8:16; 2 Corinthians 8:23, and 2 Corinthians 12:18. There is no indication that Titus could have known that Paul was planning to make a trip first to Corinth and then to Macedonia. Paul had not been able to make contact with him until he found him in Macedonia, from which point he was writing this second Corinthian letter.

It seems best then to assume that Paul was anticipating possible criticism of the plan which he had not been able to put into effect. The Corinthians were being informed about it for the first time as they read this letter. He wanted them to know about it because he wanted them to understand his love for them as their father in the gospel. He also knew that there were some among them who assumed that he would not come at all. See 1 Corinthians 4:18.

did I show fickleness?The word translated fickleness means lightness. Some assume that Paul was vacillating as if he had been saying one thing but was now saying something entirely different. Paul explained this word by using two other expressions: (1) purpose according to flesh; and (2) the yea, yea, and the nay, nay.

According to flesh seems to suggest the manner in which men make plans without considering their relation to God, a thing that Paul never did. See 2 Corinthians 1:12 on fleshly wisdom. James mentions those who say today or tomorrow we will go into the city and spend a year there and trade and get gain. (James 4:13). He adds that because a man doesn-'t know what the morrow will bring, he ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall both live and do this or that (2 Corinthians 4:15). When Paul wrote to the Corinthians about his proposed trip he said I will come to you shortly if the Lord will (1 Corinthians 4:19). Later, he spoke of his desire to spend some time with them and added, If the Lord permit (1 Corinthians 16:7).

James also throws light on the meaning of the yes, yes. See James 5:12. It is in a different context, for James is reminding the brethren that they are not to swear by heaven or earth or anything else. That is to say, they could not bind heaven and earth to make up any deficiency in the truthfulness of their statement. Therefore their yes was to be yes. This was to be a positive affirmation that what they are saying was true or that their no meant just no. But Paul is talking about his plan that had to do with future events. He could not, as men might do, say Yes affirming by this yes that he did not need to consider the Lord's will. The defense that Paul is making in these somewhat difficult phrases (that is, difficult for us to understand, not for the Corinthians) seems to be against the possible charge that he made his plan lightly, not considering the will of God. That this is so, seems to be clear from the fact that he stated these questions in forms that required No for an answer. He wasn-'t treating the matter lightly, was he? The only answer that could be given was No. He didn-'t make the plan according to men who disregard God, did he? The answer was No. His Yes wasn-'t Yes without considering God's will, was it? Again, the only answer was No.

But as God is faithful.The questions which Paul had just asked required a negative answer. To make sure that the Corinthians understood it, he added, Our word to you is not -Yes and No-'. This does not suggest vacillation, for it is based on the principle of the trustworthiness of God. The visit he planned to make to Corinth and had deferred was based on the principle of trustworthiness of God whom he served as an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God.

For the Son of God, Jesus Christ.Having stated that his plan to visit Corinth had not been made lightly, he now proves his trustworthiness by a three-fold argument: (1) that based on his preaching; (2) that based on God's promises; and (3) that based on the evidence of God's approval on his ministry.

Paul and his companions, Silvanus and Timothy, had preached the Son of God, Jesus Christ, in the midst of the Corinthians. This was not a matter on their part of Yes and No, for in Himthat is, in Christis the Yes. The certaintyvalidity, trustworthinessof the message of the apostle and his companions was not a matter of men's speech but of Christ Himself.

For how many soever be the promises of God.God is trustworthy; the message concerning His Son, Jesus Christ, is trustworthy; the promises of God which are fulfilled in His Son are likewise trustworthy.

Paul and those associated with him could wholeheartedly say Amen to this.

Now he that establisheth us with you in Christ.God is the One who established both Paul and the Corinthians in their relationship to Christ, and in the day of our Lord Jesus (2 Corinthians 6:14).

The Corinthians had gotten their sins washed away by the blood of the Lamb, when they were baptized into Christ; they were separated from their sins; they were pardoned in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God. See 1 Corinthians 6:11. They could depend on that relationship because they were instructed by the inspired apostle of Christ. Paul had obeyed the gospel which Ananias had preached to him when he said, Now why do you delay? Arise and get yourself baptized and wash away your sins, because you called on the name of the Lord (Acts 22:16). They could be sure about their relationship to Christ because of their obedience to the word that had come from Him.

anointed us.Anointing had to do with one's installation in office. In the Old Testament times, both prophets, priests, and kings were anointed as they were installed in office. Christ Himself was anointed with the Holy Spirit as He began His ministry as Prophet, Priest, and King. See Luke 4:18; Acts 10:38. The apostles were baptized in the Holy Spirit so that they might speak as the Spirit gave them utterance and reveal the message from God. See 1 Corinthians 2:6-16.

When Paul insists that God anointed us, in all probability he was referring to the whole apostolic group. When John wrote to the church mentioning the anointing which they had from the Holy One, he referred to this power that came to the apostles who were baptized in the Holy Spirit and those upon whom they laid their hands in order that they might bring the inspired teaching to all who would hear. John affirms that the message thus spoken was true. See 1 John 2:19-27. In the same way, the Corinthians could trust what Paul said because he was an apostle of Christ through the will of God.

who also sealed us.Paul tells the Ephesians that they had been sealed by the promised Holy Spirit. See Ephesians 1:13. The Holy Spirit through the apostles by the word which they preached had produced in them the identifying marks of a Christian, that is, Christian character and conduct. See Galatians 5:22-24; Revelation 7:3.

Paul was speaking of those things that marked him as a genuine apostle of Jesus Christ. His word was trustworthy. See 2 Corinthians 12:12 where he reminded them that the signs of an apostle were wrought among them. They were the signs and wonders and mighty works which he had done in the midst of them.

Since God's approval rested on him, they could trust his word and be assured of the sincerity of his plan to come to them.

and gave us the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.Paul also refers to earnest in 2 Corinthians 5:5 and Ephesians 1:14. It ought not to be confused with firstfruits (1 Corinthians 15:20) which suggest that Christ's resurrection indicates that all the dead will be raised.

Earnest is usually defined as money paid down to guarantee the full payment of a debt. An instance in which the word meant a pledge, token or guarantee that one's word would be made good is mentioned in Genesis 38:17-18; Genesis 38:25. This meaning fits well each of its uses in the New Testament in which it is used. It is something that guarantees that God's promise will be fulfilled.

The earnest or the guarantee is the Spirit, that is, the Holy Spirit is the One who gives the guarantee. In this instance, the guarantee had to do with Paul's apostleship and trustworthiness of his word. See 1 Corinthians 2:6-16 where Paul argues for his inspiration as well as that of the other apostles. He declared that the Spirit had revealed the mind of God to them, and that they spoke that revelation in words that were Spirit-taught. He affirmed that wethe apostleshave the mind of Christ. He knew that Christ, by the Spirit, had guided him into all the truth (John 16:13-14). He was aware of the fact that the Corinthians could trust his word because it was -guaranteed by the Holy Spirit, for it came from God through the Holy Spirit.

in our hearts.that is, in the hearts of the inspired apostles. The inspired message was in their minds, for they had the mind of Christ. This is not intangible subjectivism, but an awareness on the part of the apostles that they were actually being used by the Holy Spirit to reveal the truth of God. The accompanying miracles gave objective testimony to this truth. See Hebrews 2:3-4.

But I call God for a witness.In this most solemn manner Paul assured the Corinthians that they could understand that he was telling the truth. The trip that he was planning had to be deferred because he had not learned of their reaction to the instruction given in First Corinthians. He had asked, Shall I come to you with a rod of chastisement, or shall I come in love and a spirit of gentleness? It was to spare them the embarrassment and sorrow of having to be reproved again, that he deferred the trip until he could hear from Titus and know about the situation at Corinth. See 2 Corinthians 2:12 and 2 Corinthians 7:6.

Not that we have lordship over your faith.In First Corinthians, Paul had reminded them that he and Apollos were ministersdeaconsthrough whom they had believed. See 1 Corinthians 3:5. They were responsible to the Lord, not Paul, for their belief. He challenges them in the closing words of this second letter to test out their ownselves to see if they were in the faithfaith, that is, in the Lord Jesus Christ. All that Paul could do was to work for their joy, by encouraging them to remain faithful to the Lord and instructing them in their privileges and responsibilities as Christians. He couldn-'t believe for them.

for in faith you stand.They had taken that stand when Paul preached the word of Christ to them. They had demonstrated that faith is obedience to Christ. There was no other foundation on which to build.

This in no way suggests that Paul was unaware of the fact that some were ready to listen to the appeal of the false teachers who were disturbing them, as the closing Chapter s of the letter clearly indicate. It does show his concern that they remember that their relation to Christ, the Lord, depended on faith expressed in obedience to Him.

Summary

Paul began his second epistle in a manner that was intended to insure a favorable reception on the part of his readers. In his usual, gracious manner he addressed them as the church of God. The brethren at Corinth were made aware of the fact that what he said to them was intended for all the saints in the whole of Achaia.
While this letter was to be critical of many things that were going on in Corinth, Paul began by telling them how God had comforted him in his sufferings for Christ. The merciful Father had done this so that he might be able to help others in their trials. He had a sure hope for them because he knew that as they were sharers of the sufferings so also they would be of the comfort.
He mentioned the thing he had suffered in Asia. It had been beyond his ability to endure; he utterly despaired of life. This was like a death sentence to him. He dared not trust in himself, but in God who raises the dead. God delivered him from such a death. He was confident that God would do so again if he should face the same trial again. The Corinthians had prayed for his deliverance which made this gift from God a matter of thanksgiving on the part of many people.
Paul had been conscientious in his conduct everywhere, and especially at Corinth. He wanted them to know that he intended to keep his promise to visit them again just as he had written in his first epistle. A delay had become necessary, but he would come again to Corinth.
They, for the most part, had understood that this promise had been made by their spiritual father. They were his beloved children. They could be proud that he was their father in the gospel, and he could be proud of his relation to them in the Day of our Lord Jesus.
Confident that they understood this relationship, Paul had planned to visit them first, then go to Macedonia and again return to them. They would have the privilege of helping him on his journey to Judea. Such a visit would prove his kindly feeling for them. They would have no reason to be jealous over his attention to other churches.
Was such a plan mere words spoken lightly with no intention of carrying out the plan? Nothing in his preaching could lead them to suppose he had been so fickle. The promises of God which they had heard from him were trustworthy. Moreover, God had established him in his relationship to them as the apostle through whom they had learned about Christ. He had equipped him to speak the wisdom from God. God had given him the identifying marks of an apostle. As an inspired apostle, he had in his mind and heart the message which the Holy Spirit had revealed to him on which he based his confidence in God and His promises. No word of his was spoken lightly.
Why then had he delayed his coming? He called upon God to testify for him that it was to spare them from sorrow. The delay would give them time to examine their position and make sure about their faith in the Lord.