2 Corinthians 1:15 - Meaning and Application

The apostle defends himself here against the charge of being light and changeable, because he did not keep his plan to visit Corinth. His opponents there were eager to find fault with him, and they used this matter to attack his character and weaken his ministry. So Paul explains himself clearly.

He first says that his intention was sincere (2 Corinthians 1:15-17). He trusts that the Corinthians will believe him when he says he truly meant to come to them, and that his visit was for their benefit. He was not planning to get something from them, but to bring them a second blessing, meaning more help through his ministry. He also says he did not act with “lightness” (2 Corinthians 1:17). In other words, he was not driven by selfish, worldly motives, and he did not make a rash decision. He had planned to go by way of Macedonia, then return to them from Macedonia on his way to Judea (2 Corinthians 1:16). So if he changed that plan, there must have been an important reason. He was not one thing in speech and another in heart.

This is a good reminder that honest people should guard their reputation for sincerity and steadiness. They should not make plans without careful thought, and they should not change those plans unless there is a strong reason.

Paul also does not want the Corinthians to think that the gospel itself is uncertain or inconsistent (2 Corinthians 1:18-19). Even if someone thought he had been unsteady in his travel plans, that would not mean the gospel he preached was false or doubtful. God is true, and Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is true. Christ is not “yes and no,” but only “yes” (2 Corinthians 1:19). That means there is no falsehood or uncertainty in him. The promises God makes in Christ are not “yes and no,” but “yes and amen” (2 Corinthians 1:20). They are firm, sure, and dependable.

This is true because the promises come from the God of truth, who cannot lie. They are made in Christ Jesus, the “Amen,” the faithful witness who secured the covenant by his death and stands as its guarantee, or surety (Hebrews 7:22). They are also confirmed by the Holy Spirit, who strengthens believers in the gospel, sets them apart by his sanctifying grace, meaning grace that makes them holy, seals them for security, and gives them an earnest, a first payment or guarantee, in their hearts (2 Corinthians 1:21-22). The Spirit’s light is a pledge of everlasting life, and his comfort is a pledge of everlasting joy. God’s truth, Christ’s saving work, and the Spirit’s power all join together to make these promises certain, for God’s glory (2 Corinthians 1:20).

Paul then gives the real reason he did not come to Corinth when they expected him to come, he did it to spare them (2 Corinthians 1:23). They should therefore see his kindness and gentleness. He knew there were serious problems among them that deserved correction, but he wanted to deal with them patiently. He says this with a solemn appeal to God, which is proper in a serious defense of his ministry, though not for ordinary matters. He is careful to say that he does not claim authority over their faith (2 Corinthians 1:24). Christ alone is Lord of faith, and he is the one who begins and completes it (Hebrews 12:2). Paul and the other apostles were only servants through whom they came to believe (1 Corinthians 3:5). Their role was to help the Corinthians’ joy, especially the joy that comes from faith. Faith gives believers strength to stand, and it gives them comfort and safety in life.