What does Paul mean by "yes and no" in 2 Corinthians 1:17? Setting the Scene in Corinth Paul had announced two visits to Corinth—one on his way to Macedonia and another on his return (2 Corinthians 1:15-16). Circumstances forced him to change those plans, and some critics seized the opportunity to accuse him of being unreliable. Paul’s Travel Plans Explained • He intended a “double visit” to give the Corinthians a “double blessing” (v. 15). • Trouble in the church (1 Corinthians 5; 2 Corinthians 2:1) made another immediate visit inadvisable; instead he sent a tearful letter and postponed travel (2 Corinthians 2:3-4). • This prudent delay was twisted into a charge that Paul talks out of both sides of his mouth. What “Yes and No” Actually Means • In 1:17 Paul asks, “When I planned this, did I do it lightly? Or do I make my plans according to the flesh, so that I would say ‘Yes, yes’ and ‘No, no’ at the same time?”. • “Yes and no” is a figure of speech for vacillation—promising one thing while planning another, driven by self-interest (“according to the flesh”). • Paul denies such duplicity; his changed itinerary was born of love, not caprice (1:23). Paul’s Integrity Rooted in Christ • 1:18-20 shifts the spotlight from Paul to God: “But as surely as God is faithful, our message to you is not ‘Yes’ and ‘No.’ For the Son of God, Jesus Christ … has not been ‘Yes’ and ‘No,’ but in Him it has always been ‘Yes.’” • Because Christ embodies God’s unbreakable promises, those who belong to Him must reflect the same steadfastness. • Paul’s word is trustworthy precisely because he is under the Lordship of the One whose every promise is a certain “Yes.” Supporting Passages that Illuminate the Phrase • Matthew 5:37: “Let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’” • James 5:12 echoes the same call to unambiguous speech. • Numbers 23:19 underlines God’s own consistency: “Does He speak and not act? Does He promise and not fulfill?” Practical Takeaways for Today • Changing plans is sometimes necessary; dishonesty never is. • Integrity means aligning intentions, words, and actions with God’s unchanging truth. • Because all God’s promises are “Yes” in Christ, believers can speak and live with transparent reliability, confident that faithfulness honors the God who never vacillates. |
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