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"When I was planning this, did I do it lightly?"

Text: 2 Corinthians 1:17

CLEARING UP A MISUNDERSTANDING

Paul was clearly misunderstood. His detractors would have taken this opportunity to attack him. Paul had to defend himself.

“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?
But as God is faithful, our word to you was not Yes and No.”
2 Corinthians 1:17-18

1. Three thoughts to be clarified

a) Did Paul plan things lightly?

b) Did he plan things according to the flesh?

c) Did he actually mean what he said?

2. “As God is faithful”

a) This phrase is significant.

b) It helps us understand how Paul did things.

3. Paul’s understanding of God

a) It was not just knowledge.

b) Nor was it just comprehending God in theological terms.

c) It went beyond a formal relationship with God.

d) Paul’s knowledge of God did the following things for him:

i) It impacted him.

ii) It influenced him.

iii) It inspired him.

iv) Paul wanted to “imitate” what God was like.

4. God’s faithfulness

a) God was always faithful to His people.

b) His word was always faithful too.

c) God’s faithfulness is profound and outstanding.

5. “Our word to you was not Yes and No”

a) Paul sought to practise faithfulness as God was faithful.

b) He sought to keep his word faithfully.

c) His word to people (and of course the Corinthians) was not Yes and No!