The God Of All Comfort, Ron Ward
IN CHRIST IT IS ALWAYS “YES”
Passage: 2_Corinthians 1:12~2:4  
Key verse: 1:20
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
- 2 Corinthians 1:12 Many manuscripts holiness
- 2 Corinthians 1:19 Greek Silvanus, a variant of Silas
Cross references
- 2 Corinthians 1:12 : S Ac 23:1
- 2 Corinthians 1:12 : 1Th 2:10
- 2 Corinthians 1:12 : 2Co 2:17
- 2 Corinthians 1:12 : 1Co 1:17; 2:1, 4, 13
- 2 Corinthians 1:14 : S 1Co 1:8
- 2 Corinthians 1:15 : S 1Co 4:19
- 2 Corinthians 1:15 : Ro 1:11, 13; 15:29
- 2 Corinthians 1:16 : 1Co 16:5-7
- 2 Corinthians 1:16 : S Ac 16:9
- 2 Corinthians 1:16 : 1Co 16:11; 3Jn 6
- 2 Corinthians 1:16 : Ac 19:21
- 2 Corinthians 1:17 : 2Co 10:2, 3; 11:18
- 2 Corinthians 1:18 : S 1Co 1:9
- 2 Corinthians 1:19 : S Mt 4:3
- 2 Corinthians 1:19 : S Ac 15:22
- 2 Corinthians 1:19 : S Ac 16:1
- 2 Corinthians 1:19 : Heb 13:8
- 2 Corinthians 1:20 : Ro 15:8
- 2 Corinthians 1:20 : S 1Co 14:16
- 2 Corinthians 1:20 : Ro 15:9
- 2 Corinthians 1:21 : S 1Co 16:13
- 2 Corinthians 1:21 : 1Jn 2:20, 27
- 2 Corinthians 1:22 : Ge 38:18; Eze 9:4; Hag 2:23
- 2 Corinthians 1:22 : S 2Co 5:5
- 2 Corinthians 1:23 : S Ro 1:9
- 2 Corinthians 1:23 : 1Co 4:21; 2Co 2:1, 3; 13:2, 10
- 2 Corinthians 1:24 : 1Pe 5:3
- 2 Corinthians 1:24 : Ro 11:20; 1Co 15:1
- 2 Corinthians 2:1 : S 2Co 1:23
- 2 Corinthians 2:2 : 2Co 7:8
- 2 Corinthians 2:3 : ver 4, 9; 2Co 7:8, 12
- 2 Corinthians 2:3 : 2Co 12:21
- 2 Corinthians 2:3 : 2Co 7:16; 8:22; Gal 5:10; 2Th 3:4; Phm 21
- 2 Corinthians 2:4 : ver 3, 9; 2Co 7:8, 12
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Source:  BibleGateway
One of the reasons Paul did not go to Corinth before was because he had written them a letter of rebuke. They had allowed sin to take root in their fellowship. Paul did not want to cause them pain or grief or distress by visiting them. He bore the distress and tears himself, but he wanted to see their faith and share joy with them. Paul loved them deeply, and he depended on Christ’s love to restore them.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for Jesus, who rebukes our sin but restores us in love. Help me to depend only on him.
One Word: Depend on Christ’s love