2 Corinthians 1:19-24

 

2 Cor 1:19 (KJB)

For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timotheus, was not yea and nay, but in him was yea.

 

Preached - Proclaimed

 

Here Paul is stating that the Corinthians had heard the true gospel being preached by him, Timothy, and Silvanus (Silas). They preached the Lord Jesus Christ according to Paul’s methods. (1 Cor 2:2 KJV) For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. He stated this in his first letter to the Corinthians. The Gospel that they preached among them was not of a vacillating nature as some types of gospels which are preached. Paul states that in Christ the Gospel was yea, and he means by this that the true Gospel is a consistent and non-changing Gospel. When men’s words are mixed with the true Gospel, that is when there is much capriciousness. Since Christ does not change, neither will His Gospel. (Heb 13:8 KJV) Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. (Mal 3:6 KJV) For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

 

2 Cor 1:20 (KJB)

For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.

 

All the promises that God gave His children are yea in Christ, that is, they will not change nor be abrogated, if God has spoken it, it will come to pass. Paul uses the term “amen” concerning the promises of God. Amen carries with it the meaning of “truly, surely, or so let it be.” We use amen to end up our prayers and we are basically saying “so let it be” concerning our praises and petitions. We use amen to show our trust in the Lord as we leave all our cares in His hands. Those promises that we have in Christ are to the glory of God because whatever He has promised, will come to pass in His timing and according to His will.

 

2 Cor 1:21 (KJB)

Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;

 

Stablisheth - Confirm, guarantee, or stabilize

 

Anointed - Means a massaging in or a rubbing on - in reference to the Holy Spirit

In this verse Paul identifies with the Corinthians in that he states that God has established him with the Corinthians making them united in Christ and made them faithful disciples. Not only did God establish the believer but He has indwelled the believer in the person of the Holy Spirit. In the old Testament when somebody was appointed to a spiritual office, they were anointed with oil as a symbol of the Holy Spirit. Today the believer is anointed by the Holy Spirit through indwelling them.

 

2 Cor 1:22 (KJB)

Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

 

Sealed - Set a seal upon, certify, or authenticate

Earnest - Pledge, deposit, first installment

 

Here we are told that God has sealed the true believer and that means God has set a mark upon us and that mark identifies us as belonging to God but the mark also carried with it the protection of the owner. The mark that the true believer gets is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and that identifies us that we belong to God. That indwelling is the pledge that we belong to the Lord.  (2 Cor 5:5 KJV) Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.  (Eph 1:13-14 KJV) In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, {14} Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

 

2 Cor 1:23 (KJB)

Moreover I call God for a record upon my soul, that to spare you I came not as yet unto Corinth.

 

Here Paul returns unto his reason why he could not come to the church at Corinth. He calls upon God who would definitely know the most inner thoughts of Paul and would know that he is not making up any excuses concerning his change of plans. Paul did not want to come to them in the spirit of admonishment as he told them in the first letter. (1 Cor 4:21 KJV) What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness? Paul was ready to come to them in that spirit since there was the faction who was questioning his life and motives.

 

2 Cor 1:24 (KJB)

Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.

 

Dominion - Lord over or rule over

Helpers - Fellow worker

 

Paul was stating here that he has no authority over their faith because that is God’s business concerning growing someone in the faith. He knew that holiness could not be legislated because that too was God’s realm in sanctifying a Christian. Paul was stating that they were fellow workers and that his heart’s desire was to come to Corinth and be helpers in their joy by imparting a second benefit to them. Joy is a fruit of the Spirit which is shared by all true believers. (Gal 5:22 KJV) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, The true believer stands by faith and not by any means of any type of tyranny, even that of a visiting preacher. In other words, the true believer can never be coerced into standing for the Lord. Faith is the only way a believer can stand against the schemes and attacks of the devil.

Back