2 Korintus 1:15-24

1:15 And with this confidence I intended to come to you first so that you would get a second opportunity to see us, ¹  1:16 and through your help to go on into Macedonia and then from Macedonia to come back ²  to you and be helped on our way into Judea by you. 1:17 Therefore when I was planning to do this, I did not do so without thinking about what I was doing, did I? ³  Or do I make my plans ⁴  according to mere human standards ⁵  so that I would be saying ⁶  both “Yes, yes” and “No, no” at the same time? 1:18 But as God is faithful, our message to you is not “Yes” and “No.” 1:19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, the one who was proclaimed among you by us – by me and Silvanus ⁷  and Timothy – was not “Yes” and “No,” but it has always been “Yes” in him. 1:20 For every one of God’s promises are “Yes” in him; therefore also through him the “Amen” is spoken, to the glory we give to God. 1:21 But it is God who establishes ⁸  us together with you in Christ and who anointed us, ⁹  1:22 who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a down payment. ¹⁰ 

Why Paul Postponed His Visit

1:23 Now I appeal to God as my witness, ¹¹  that to spare ¹²  you I did not come again to Corinth. ¹³  1:24 I do not mean that we rule over your faith, but we are workers with you for your joy, because by faith you stand firm. ¹⁴ 

¹ tn Grk “a second grace,” “a second favor” (used figuratively of a second visit by Paul).

² tn Grk “come again.”

³ tn The Greek construction anticipates a negative answer. This is indicated in the translation by the ‘tag’ question “did I?” at the end of the sentence.

⁴ tn Grk “the things that I plan, do I plan (them).”

⁵ tn Grk “according to the flesh.”

⁶ tn Grk “so that with me there should be.”

⁷ sn Silvanus is usually considered to be the same person as Silas (L&N 93.340).

⁸ tn Or “strengthens.”

⁹ tn Grk “But he who establishes us together with you in Christ and anointed us is God.”

¹⁰ tn Or “first installment,” “pledge,” “deposit.”

sn Down payment. The Greek word ἀρραβών (arrabwn) denotes the first payment or first installment of money or goods which serves as a guarantee or pledge for the completion of the transaction. In the NT the term is used only figuratively of the Holy Spirit as the down payment of the blessings promised by God (it occurs later in 2 Cor 5:5, and also in Eph 1:14). In the “already – not yet” scheme of the NT the possession of the Spirit now by believers (“already”) can be viewed as a guarantee that God will give them the balance of the promised blessings in the future (“not yet”).

¹¹ tn Grk “I call upon God as witness against my soul.” Normally this implies an appeal for help (L&N 33.176).

¹² tn Here φειδόμενος (feidomeno") has been translated as a telic participle.

¹³ sn Paul had promised to come again to visit (see 2 Cor 1:15, 24) but explains here why he had changed his plans.

map For location see JP1 C2; JP2 C2; JP3 C2; JP4 C2.

¹⁴ tn Or “because you stand firm in the faith.”