2 Corinthians 1:21–22

2 CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 1

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

God Himself Paul’s witness: V.21. Now He which stablisheth us with you in Christ and hath anointed us is God, v.22. who hath also sealed us, and given thee earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

The content of the gospel-preaching, which is so unquestionably reliable, naturally suggests the Author of its glorious message: He that sets us firm with you into Christ and has anointed us is God. That is the ultimate ground of St. Paul’s steadfastness and of that of all Christians. Teachers and hearers alike are firmly fixed in Christ by the power of God; they are grounded and rooted in Him; they have been anointed by Him, have been given spiritual endowment. Compare 1 John 2, 27.

At the same time, God also sealed us, that is, all believers, and gave us the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. The terms used by St. Paul are in part legal terms to designate a definite guarantee. In Christ, through the anointing of the Spirit, God has paid us the earnest money of our salvation, and now He guarantees the delivery of that redemption, the consummation of our Christian hopes (Compare Moulton and Milligan. Vocabulary; Deissmann, Bible Studies, 230).

Note: A more definite promise and assurance of the certainty of salvation in the case of those that accept the redemption of Christ by faith can hardly be conceived of: God pays the earnest-money in the blood of His Son, He anoints us to know and believe His plan for the salvation of the world, He seals this knowledge in our hearts, He guarantees the full enjoyment of all our hopes.

This was the climax of Paul’s message, and by its proclamation he vindicated his claim to the possession of an unblemished moral character.