2 Corinthians 1:12-19

Expanded Bible

The Change in Paul’s Plans

¹² This is ·what we are proud of [^Lour boast], ·and I can say it with a clear conscience [^Lthe testimony/witness of our conscience]: In everything we have done in the world, and especially with you, we have had an ·honest^[a] [or generous] and sincere heart from God. We did this by God’s grace, not by ·the kind of wisdom the world has [worldly/fleshly wisdom]. We write to you ·only what you can read and understand [or in a clear and straightforward manner]. And I hope that as you have understood ·some things [part of the situation; ^Lin part] about us, you may come to ·know everything [understand fully] about us [^Csome of Paul’s previous contacts and correspondence had produced misunderstanding or conflict; 2:1]. Then you can ·be proud [boast] of us, as we will ·be proud [boast] of you on the day ·our Lord Jesus Christ comes again [^Lof our Lord Jesus Christ; ^Cjudgment day].

¹⁵ I was so sure of all this that I made plans to visit you first so you could ·be blessed twice [^Lhave a second grace]. ¹⁶ I planned to visit you on my way to Macedonia [^Cthe northern part of present-day Greece; Acts 19:21; 20:1, 2] and again on my way back [^Cthe visit anticipated in 1 Cor. 16:5]. I wanted to ·get help from you for my trip [^Lbe sent by you] to Judea. ¹⁷ [^LSo; Therefore] Do you think that I made these plans ·without really meaning it [lightly; with vacillation]? Or maybe you think I make plans ·as the world does [or using only human standards/reason; ^Laccording to the flesh], so that I say yes, yes and at the same time no, no.

¹⁸ But ·since you can believe God [^LGod is trustworthy/faithful], you can believe that what we tell you is never both yes and no. ¹⁹ [^LFor] The Son of God, Jesus Christ, that Silas and Timothy and I preached to you, was not yes and no. [^LBut; Rather] In ·Christ [^Lhim] it has always been yes.