1:15-25

With Glowing Hearts
Sealed With a Seal that Cannot Be Broken

Read 2 Corinthians 1:15-25

Paul’s change of plans (15-16):
15 And in this confidence I intended to come to you before, that you might have a second benefit— 16 to pass by way of you to Macedonia, to come again from Macedonia to you, and be helped by you on my way to Judea.

Paul is continuing to defend his decision not to visit Corinth, as he had promised. He writes in v. 16 that he had actually planned two visits: first on his way to Macedonia and then again on his way back to Judea. That’s what he means by ‘a second benefit’ or ‘second blessing’.

Paul had orignally intended to spend the winter with the Corinthians (1 Cor 16:5), which was something they were evidently looking forward to, but the riot in Ephesus forced Paul to change his plans. Paul’s enemies in Corinth used it against Paul and tried to turn the Corinthians against him.

Did Paul Waver (17):
17 Therefore, when I was planning this, did I do it lightly? Or the things I plan, do I plan according to the flesh, that with me there should be Yes, Yes, and No, No?

I think Paul is quoting his enemies in verse 17 when he asks, “Did I plan this lightly.” The Greek carries the idea of being unstable, indecisive or fickle. The implication is that Paul wavered because he preferred the Macedonians over the Corinthians.

They probably accused Paul of making his plans according to the flesh implying that he was taking care of his own desires. Maybe there was more money in it for; or he had something going on on the side that the Corinthians couldn’t compete with and that’s why he decided to go to Macedonia.

If the accusation was true, how then could Paul be a teacher of truth and an Apostle of Christ Jesus? His entire ministry was being undermined and his Apostleship was coming into question.

The accusations of Paul’s antagonists (and were going to learn more about them in the coming chapters) highlights something that I believe is a huge problem among Christians: assuming that we know what someone’s motives are when they do something. We assume that a kind act has an ulterior or self serving motive. And we do this to people who make the most selfless acts. When someone volunteers to serve in an area of the church; or when they withdraw their service; when they make a compliment or commend some publicly; when they preach or teach a certain text of scriptures; when they offer and excuse for having failed at something etc.

And you will recognize this in yourself when you catch yourself saying, “the real reason he’s doing this is because…” or, “the reason she’s saying that is…” or “he’s only reason he did that was….” If you catch yourself saying that, do yourself a favour in the eyes of God, stop! Only God can look on the heart and he sees everyone’s motives, including your own. And He knows that all of our hearts are always tainted with some amount of selfish motive. But that’s between us and God.

When you think you can discern someone’s hidden motive, aren’t you putting yourself in the place of God?

Paul went to Macedonia because people were trying to kill him in Ephesus. But his enemies started a rumor that he went there to satisfy his flesh because Paul was unstable.
Paul’s Message did not Waver (18-20):

18 But as God is faithful, our word to you was not Yes and No. 19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us—by me, Silvanus, and Timothy—was not Yes and No, but in Him was Yes. 20 For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.

Paul’s defense takes a surprising right turn into a theological discourse (and Paul will do this again several times in letter). Gordon Fee describes it this way,
…he launches into a singular theological vindication of his integrity in which his intent is to tie his ‘words’ (about itineraries, etc) to his ‘word’ (preaching the gospel), and thus to God’s own faithfulness… (Fee, Empowering Presence 288).

And God, according to whose will Paul is an Apostle (1:1) is faithful! What Paul is saying is, if Paul has wavered, then God has wavered- and we’ve got bigger problems than Paul’ travel plans if that’s the case. But since God never changes nor is there any turning in Him, neither did Paul.

This is an interesting aside observation: Paul’s defense of his gospel gives us an unintended glimpse at Paul the mentor. He writes, in verse 19 that the gospel was preached by himself, Silvanus and Timothy. Paul was not the kind of guys who jealously guarded his pulpit. He trained young men and gave them opportunities to preach. Timothy had only been with Paul for a couple years and was still a young man when Paul gave him preaching opportunities. We sometimes miss this side of Paul: a side that concerns himself in the training and empowering of young men to continue his work.

Sealed with The Holy Spirit (21-22):
21 Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, 22 who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.

Gordon Fee makes this striking comment about vv. 21-22,
...this is one of the most God-centered, God focused paragraphs in the Pauline corpus. …it is a clear reflection of Paul’s essential theology and is even more telling because is such an ‘off the cuff’ non-reflective moment. Paul’s integrity… ultimately rests on the character of God…. (Fee 289).

That’s why verse 21 and 22 are central to Paul’s self defense. Like any good rhetorician, Paul’s strongest argument comes last. According Paul, God does three things: He establishes us (confirms us), he anoints us and he seals us. We see the activity and involvement of all three persons of the trinity: God is the one who does the activity, Jesus is the one in whom we are established and confirmed and the Holy Spirit is the one by whom we are sealed as a down payment of greater things which are yet to come.

Paul is actually using a mixed metaphor here. The first and the third metaphor are from the world of commerce in the Greco-Roman world. It would have been easily recognized by the Corinthians as analogous to a purchase agreement.

The implication goes beyond Paul’s immediate purpose of defending his travel plans and establishes a level of hope and assurance that should bring tremendous joy to every believer.

In this case, God has confirmed his redemption, that is, he has established the truth that he has purchased us in Christ by making the deposit with His own seal as a guarantee. The seal was used in the Ancient Near East usually as an wax mold with a stamped impression signifying the owners has a agreed to the contents of the document. The seal was irrevocable.

Paul is talking about our salvation! It is established, proven, confirmed, sustained and attested to by the seal of the Holy Spirit upon our hearts. Paul uses this same metaphor in Eph 4 and there he explains exactly what we are sealed for: the day of redemption! This seal will get us through the ages and deliver us unto that day when we will be presented to Christ as a pure and spotless bride. It’s a done deal!

The other metaphor Paul uses is from religious practice, he draws on the Old Testament practice of anointing. The Greek word is literally Chrisas (where we get the word Christ). In other words in Christ, we have been christed!

Jesus described himself as being anointed in Luke 4 when he said,
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,
Because He has anointed Me
To preach the gospel to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”

To be anointed means to be recognized with authority, either as priest or king or prophet. In the OT, anointing is meant to confer good health and healing, it is also a legal endorsement conferring majesty, and used in the ordination of priests; it signifies ritual purification, prophetic empowering. The OT word id Meshiach.

What a great passage of scripture and encouragement for us to take home with us today! Our salvation is secure.

Paul’s Real Reason for Changing His Plan (23-24):
23 Moreover I call God as witness against my soul, that to spare you I came no more to Corinth. 24 Not that we have dominion over your faith, but are fellow workers for your joy; for by faith you stand.

Finally, just in case doctrine were not enough to convince the Corinthians of his real motives, Paul offers vv. 23-24 and sheds light on his pastoral tenderness towards the Corinthians. He didn’t want them to be hurt by his coming because Paul was having trouble with a certain member there and He did not want his visit to be a visit of tears.

This should be an example for us. What our true motives? Why do we do things a certain way? …even the most mundane things, like travel plans? Not for our own fleshly reasons, to bring comfort and joy to ourselves and satisfy our fleshy desires. We make decisions based on the unwavering unchangeable nature of God who has sealed us for an ultimate hope that is secured and will never be lost. And the other reason we make choices and decisions is with other peoples feelings in mind to spare them harm. We think of our own comfort last. That’s what Paul models to us in 2 Corinthians.