2 Corinthians 1:17–18

2 CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 1

Paul’s Vindication of His Conduct and Life. 2 Cor. 1, 12–24.

No fickleness can be charged to the apostle: V.17. When I, therefore, was thus minded, did I use lightness? or the things that I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, that with me there should be yea, yea, and nay, nay? V.18. But as God is true, our word toward you was not yea and nay.

This charge St. Paul rejects with solemn emphasis: When now I had this intention, did I make use of levity? Or did I make my proposition, my plan, according to the flesh, as the unregenerate people make plans and promises, that with me yes and no amount to about the same thing? Are my plans made like those of a man of the world to be changed at my own caprice, affirmative today, negative to-morrow?

The insinuation of his enemies was that Paul either did not reflect sufficiently upon his plan and the way in which he might carry it out, or he had changed it without valid reasons and therefore had little regard to the binding quality of promises.

But Paul contends that his adversaries are in the wrong when they impute such a fickle behavior to him. Inconstancy is indeed the characteristic of the carnal, selfish person, and he cannot be relied upon.

But in his own case this deduction is false, as Paul solemnly states: But as God is faithful, our word toward you is not yes and no. As surely as God is faithful and true, all the words and instructions which he made use of in the case of the Corinthians were reliable.

This wider protestation is purposely used by the apostle; for if he actually were unreliable in such small matters as promises, his personal affairs, then he might be untrustworthy in the greater matters of his word to them, in every form of teaching. On the other hand, as he solemnly asseverates, his every word to them was sincere, even to the matter of his promise to come to them before journeying to Macedonia.