But I call God to witness against me—(that) it was to spare you that I refrained from coming again to Corinth…we work with you for your joy, for you (to) stand firm in your faith.
2 Corinthians 1:12-24
Understanding Paul’s itinerary helps understand Paul’s argument here. In 1 Corinthians 16:1–9, Paul described his intent to pass through Macedonia before visiting the Corinthian church. Paul’s ultimate destination was Jerusalem, with funds collected by several churches, to alleviate the suffering of the church there. However, Paul changed his plan when he heard the of news of continued problems in Corinth. Paul travelled directly to Corinth from Ephesus to make his “painful visit” mentioned in 2 Corinthians 2:1. Now, we learn Paul was leaving Corinth to return to Ephesus after this painful visit, and instead of passing through Macedonia, he would come back to Corinth, then travel through Macedonia, and then visit Corinth one last time to gather the collection for the church in Judea. Dealing with the problem in Corinth took precedence over collecting funds for the Jerusalem church. Paul revised his plans further and these changes caused grief at Corinth, with some questioning Paul’s integrity. That is why Paul insists on his truthfulness and the nobleness of his intentions in our verses today. He was not a double-minded man, and his confidence in that is seen in his statement that as surely as God is faithful, so are his words. Though Paul truly did intend to come back to Corinth after the “painful visit,” things outside his control had forced him to change course. He did not lack integrity. These historical details are important as we study the next few sections of 2 Corinthians. Nevertheless, we can gain some practical application here. If we vacillate and change course often, others may become suspicious of us. We should not be quick to change plans unless it is unavoidable. This is particularly important for leaders who announce intentions and then follow through, making people easier to trust them. Sometimes things happen that are outside our control, and we are forced to change our plans. We should not be harsh with ourselves when this happens. At the same time, when we do make plans, we should be careful to make room for unforeseen circumstances and to take a full range of factors into account. That will help keep us from making too many course corrections and changes midstream, even as we trust the Lord and His providence.
Source: S C Ball November 22, 2023
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