Rachel Workman: 12 We can say with confidence and a clear conscience that we have lived with a God-given holiness[c] and sincerity in all our dealings. I can't say this about myself. We have depended on God’s grace, not on our own human wisdom. Nor can I say this. I try way too hard to rely on myself. Although there is no human that can me what I need God can always provide. I forget that way too often. That is how we have conducted ourselves before the world, and especially toward you. 13 Our letters have been straightforward, and there is nothing written between the lines and nothing you can’t understand. I hope someday you will fully understand us, 14 even if you don’t understand us now. Then on the day when the Lord Jesus[d] returns, you will be proud of us in the same way we are proud of you. Paul stated that there is nothing written between the lines so let’s leave it that way. God's word says what it says, nothing more or nothing less.
15 Since I was so sure of your understanding and trust, I wanted to give you a double blessing by visiting you twice— 16 first on my way to Macedonia and again when I returned from Macedonia.[e] Then you could send me on my way to Judea.
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15 Since I was so sure of your understanding and trust, I wanted to give you a double blessing by visiting you twice— 16 first on my way to Macedonia and again when I returned from Macedonia.[e] Then you could send me on my way to Judea.
John Burnett: 12 Now this is our boast: Our
conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and
especially in our relations with you, with integrity[a]and
godly sincerity. We have done so, relying not on worldly wisdom 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. We can boast of the grace
that God has given us. Relying on worldly wisdom and boasting about it is
foolish. Why would you boast about dirty rags?
15 Because I was confident of this, I wanted to visit
you first so that you might benefit twice. 16 I
wanted to visit you on my way to Macedonia and to come back to you
from Macedonia, and then to have you send me on my way to Judea.
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Allen Michaels: 12 Now this is our
boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world,
and especially in our relations with you, with integrity and godly sincerity.
We have done so, relying not on worldly wisdom 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. Paul knew the importance
of holiness and sincerity in word and action, especially in a situation as in
Corinth, where constructive criticism was necessary. So Paul did not come with
impressive human knowledge (worldly wisdom). God wants us to be real and
transparent in all our relationships. If we aren’t, we may end up lowering
ourselves to spreading rumors, gossiping, and second-guessing.
When I first read this I see Paul's
boasting and view his self-commendation as a sign of personal arrogance.
However, three factors must be kept in mind. First, Paul does not engage in
boasting in order to make himself look good. He is pushed to do it by the
Corinthians, who placed great store in such things, and by his opponents, who
enjoyed flaunting their credentials. Paul stooped to their level in order to
safeguard the church from placing its trust in those who were only out to
exploit them. Second, the credentials Paul puts forward are “job” related. He
speaks from the standpoint of his office, not his person, and phrases what he
says in the plural "we," not the singular "I." It is as
servants of Christ and ministers of the gospel that he commends himself and his
coworkers. And, third, when Paul does boast, he boasts not in his achievements
and accomplishments but in the hardships, struggles and trials of a traveling
missionary.
15 Because I was confident of this, I wanted to visit
you first so that you might benefit twice. 16 I wanted to visit
you on my way to Macedonia and to come back to you from Macedonia, and then to
have you send me on my way to Judea. 17 Was I fickle when I
intended to do this? Or do I make my plans in a worldly manner so that in the
same breath I say both “Yes, yes” and “No, no”?
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Tomorrow's reading for 2 Corinthians 1:17-24
17 You may be asking why I changed my
plan. Do you think I make my plans carelessly? Do you think I am like people of
the world who say “Yes” when they really mean “No”? 18 As
surely as God is faithful, our word to you does not waver between “Yes” and
“No.” 19 For Jesus Christ, the Son of God, does not waver
between “Yes” and “No.” He is the one whom Silas,[f] Timothy, and I preached to
you, and as God’s ultimate “Yes,” he always does what he says. 20 For
all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!”
And through Christ, our “Amen” (which means “Yes”) ascends to God for his
glory.21 It is God who enables us, along with you, to stand firm for Christ. He has commissioned us, 22 and he has identified us as his own by placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts as the first installment that guarantees everything he has promised us.
23 Now I call upon God as my witness that I am telling the truth. The reason I didn’t return to Corinth was to spare you from a severe rebuke. 24 But that does not mean we want to dominate you by telling you how to put your faith into practice. We want to work together with you so you will be full of joy, for it is by your own faith that you stand firm.
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