2 Corinthians 1:12-23

Christian Standard Bible

A Clear Conscience

¹² Indeed, this is our boast: The testimony^(A) of our conscience^(B) is that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you, with godly sincerity and purity, not by human wisdom^(C) but by God’s grace.^{(D) 13} For we are writing nothing to you other than what you can read and also understand. I hope you will understand completely— ¹⁴ just as you have partially understood us—that we are your reason for pride,^(E) just as you also are ours^(F) in the day of our^[a] Lord Jesus.^(G)

A Visit Postponed

¹⁵ Because of this confidence, I planned to come to you first,^(H) so that you could have a second benefit,^{[b] 16} and to visit you on my way to Macedonia,^(I) and then come to you again from Macedonia and be helped by you^(J) on my journey^(K) to Judea.^{(L) 17} Now when I planned this, was I of two minds? Or what I plan, do I plan in a purely human^[c](M) way so that I say “Yes, yes” and “No, no” at the same time? ¹⁸ As God is faithful,^(N) our message to you is not “Yes and no.” ¹⁹ For the Son of God,^(O) Jesus Christ, whom we proclaimed among you—Silvanus,^[d](P) Timothy, and I—did not become “Yes and no.” On the contrary, in him it is always “Yes.”^{(Q) 20} For every one of God’s promises^(R) is “Yes” in him. Therefore, through him we also say “Amen”^(S) to the glory of God.^{(T) 21} Now it is God who strengthens us together with you in Christ, and who has anointed^(U) us. ²² He has also put his seal on us and given us the Spirit in our hearts^(V) as a down payment.^(W)

²³ I call on God as a witness,^(X) on my life, that it was to spare you that I did not come to Corinth.^(Y)