SERVING WITH GRACE AND TRUTH

Passage: 2 Corinthians 1:12-2:4

Key verse: 1:12

NIV

Paul’s Change of Plans

12 Now this is our boast: Our conscience(A) testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, with integrity[a](B) and godly sincerity.(C) We have done so, relying not on worldly wisdom(D) but on God’s grace. 13 For we do not write you anything you cannot read or understand. And I hope that, 14 as you have understood us in part, you will come to understand fully that you can boast of us just as we will boast of you in the day of the Lord Jesus.(E)

15 Because I was confident of this, I wanted to visit you(F) first so that you might benefit twice.(G) 16 I wanted to visit you on my way(H) to Macedonia(I) and to come back to you from Macedonia, and then to have you send me on my way(J) to Judea.(K) 17 Was I fickle when I intended to do this? Or do I make my plans in a worldly manner(L) so that in the same breath I say both “Yes, yes” and “No, no”?

18 But as surely as God is faithful,(M) our message to you is not “Yes” and “No.” 19 For the Son of God,(N) Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us—by me and Silas[b](O) and Timothy(P)—was not “Yes” and “No,” but in him it has always(Q) been “Yes.” 20 For no matter how many promises(R) God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen”(S) is spoken by us to the glory of God.(T) 21 Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm(U) in Christ. He anointed(V) us, 22 set his seal(W) of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.(X)

23 I call God as my witness(Y)—and I stake my life on it—that it was in order to spare you(Z) that I did not return to Corinth. 24 Not that we lord it over(AA) your faith, but we work with you for your joy, because it is by faith you stand firm.(AB) 2 1 So I made up my mind that I would not make another painful visit to you.(AC) 2 For if I grieve you,(AD) who is left to make me glad but you whom I have grieved? 3 I wrote as I did,(AE) so that when I came I would not be distressed(AF) by those who should have made me rejoice. I had confidence(AG) in all of you, that you would all share my joy. 4 For I wrote you(AH) out of great distress and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to grieve you but to let you know the depth of my love for you.

Footnotes
  1. 2 Corinthians 1:12 Many manuscripts holiness
  2. 2 Corinthians 1:19 Greek Silvanus, a variant of Silas
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Paul's Change of Plans

12 For our boast is this, (A)the testimony of our conscience, that we behaved in the world with simplicity[a] and (B)godly sincerity, (C)not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward you. 13 For we are not writing to you anything other than what you read and understand and I hope you will fully understand— 14 just as you did (D)partially understand us—that (E)on the day of our Lord Jesus (F)you will boast of us as (G)we will boast of you.

15 Because I was sure of this, (H)I wanted to come to you first, so that you might have (I)a second (J)experience of grace. 16 I wanted to visit you (K)on my way to Macedonia, and to come back to you from Macedonia and have you send me on my way to Judea. 17 Was I vacillating when I wanted to do this? Do I make my plans (L)according to the flesh, ready to say “Yes, yes” and “No, no” at the same time? 18 As surely as (M)God is faithful, (N)our word to you has not been Yes and No. 19 For (O)the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we proclaimed among you, (P)Silvanus and Timothy and I, was not Yes and No, but (Q)in him it is always Yes. 20 For (R)all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our (S)Amen to God for his glory. 21 And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and (T)has anointed us, 22 and who has also (U)put his seal on us and (V)given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.[b]

23 But (W)I call God to witness against me—it was (X)to spare you that I refrained from coming again to Corinth. 24 Not that we (Y)lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy, for you stand firm (Z)in your faith.

2 For I made up my mind (AA)not to make another painful visit to you. 2 For (AB)if I cause you pain, who is there to make me glad but the one whom I have pained? 3 And I wrote as I did, so that when I came I might not suffer pain from those who should have made me rejoice, (AC)for I felt sure of all of you, that my joy would be the joy of you all. 4 For (AD)I wrote to you out of much affliction and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you.

Footnotes
  1. 2 Corinthians 1:12 Some manuscripts holiness
  2. 2 Corinthians 1:22 Or down payment
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

Paul’s accusers had impressed the Corinthian believers with their eloquence in public speaking. But Paul’s boast was his godly sincerity in his conduct and in their relationship which relied on God’s grace rather than worldly wisdom. He wrote them in simple language. They were beginning to understand. He hoped they would soon fully realize they could boast of one another before the Lord.

Paul also addressed the accusation that postponing his plans showed fickleness and lack of genuine concern. Paul explained that the message he, Silas and Timothy preached didn’t waver but was always “Yes” in Christ. Every promise of God is faithful. And God he is able to make all of them stand firm in Christ by his anointing, and has placed his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. Thank God that he is able to make us stand firm and serve him regardless of what some may think or say about us.

Paul testified before God that his change of plan was only to spare them another painful visit. Instead, he wrote to them a letter of correction with anguish and many tears so that his next visit would be one of joy, believing they would take it to heart. Paul expressed a tough but true love that they would ultimately recognize.

Prayer: Lord, help me to rely on your grace and truth to serve even when maligned.

One Word: Serve relying on God’s grace and truth