2 Corinthians 1:12–22. Faithfulness
Jon Tyson
@jontyson
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How do you feel when someone says “yes” but they don’t follow through, or they say “no” but they mean “yes”?
Faithfulness matters. So, it hurts when someone’s words can’t be trusted.
If someone says, “Yeah, I’ll be there,” but they never really planned to come, it’s pretty frustrating. If someone says, “I’ll help you,” but then disappears, that hurts. Or if someone refuses to commit and just says “maybe”, it’s plain annoying.
Words matter. Our “yes” and “no” aren’t just throwaway sounds that come out of our mouths. They show something about our character.
When our words are honest and faithful, people can trust us. When our words are slippery, vague, fake, or flaky, people stop trusting us.
That’s part of what’s going on in this passage. Paul had told the Corinthians he planned to visit them. But his plans changed. Some people seem to have used this against him. They were basically saying, “See? Paul says ‘yes’, then ‘no’. You can’t trust him.” That’s a big deal.
So Paul needs to explain himself. But he also wants to do more than just clear his name. He wants the Corinthians to see what’s underneath all Christian faithfulness. Faithfulness still matters. Human plans change, and that doesn’t necessarily mean people are being unfaithful. But when people disappoint us, and when we disappoint others, we need something better than human faithfulness to stand on.
That brings us to the big question of this passage: Where do we turn when people let us down?
And Paul’s answer, the “big idea” of the passage, is: Human plans may fail, but God is always faithful to his promises in Christ.
Faithfulness Matters (1:12–14)
How have Paul and his friends behaved toward the Corinthians?
Paul’s first point is that faithfulness matters. He and his gospel partners have behaved faithfully. Before he talks about his changed plans, he talks about his character.
In verse 12, he says:
“Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, with integrity and godly sincerity.”
2 Corinthians 1:12
Paul’s basically saying, “We’ve not been fake with you. We’ve not been playing games. We’ve not been trying to trick you. We’ve acted sincerely before God.”
Paul’s relationship with the Corinthians was messy. Some of them were pretty suss. They probably thought his changed plans proved he couldn’t be trusted.
But Paul says his conscience is clear. He’s behaved toward them with integrity and sincerity.
That’s a big challenge for us. Are we people whose words can be trusted? Are we faithful in what we say? Are we honest when we make promises, reply to messages, commit to plans, or tell people what we’ll do?
Faithfulness isn’t only about big life-changing moments (though it is about that too). It’s often shown in ordinary words, ordinary plans, and ordinary follow-through. School stuff, church stuff, sport stuff, family stuff etc.
So, be faithful in what you say, so that your “yes” and “no” can be trusted. That’s a key application for our lives from these first few verses.
But, of course, sometimes, despite our best intentions, things don’t go to plan.
2. Human Plans Fail (1:12–14, 23)
Paul’s second point is that human plans fail. But before we talk about what went wrong with Paul’s plan, we need to see that it was actually a good and well-intentioned plan.
Why did Paul want to visit the Corinthians?
In verses 15–16, Paul says he planned to visit the Corinthians on his way to Macedonia, and then again on his way back, so they could send him back on his way to Judea. He wanted them to “benefit twice” from two visits. Paul’s plans were good.
Sometimes our plans change, but that doesn’t mean the original plan was fake or selfish. Paul’s plan was a good plan.
What went wrong with Paul’s plan? What does this teach us about human plans more generally?
Paul’s plan changed. He had planned to visit Corinth, but he didn’t come when they expected him to.
Some people seem to have used this against him. They were basically saying, “See? Paul says ‘yes’, then ‘no’. He can’t be trusted.” In verse 17, Paul asks whether his plans were “fickle” (that is, “flaky”), or in a worldly way, saying “Yes, yes” and “No, no” at the same time.
But later, Paul explains more of why the plan changed. He says:
“It was in order to spare you that I did not return to Corinth.”
2 Corinthians 1:23
So Paul didn’t change his plans because he didn’t care about them. He changed his plans because he did care about them. Coming too soon could’ve made things more painful. Paul delayed his visit to spare them.
That teaches us something really important. Human plans fail sometimes. We can make good plans for good reasons and still need to change them. We can genuinely want to do something and then not be able to do it.
Of course, that doesn’t excuse being unreliable. Paul has already said faithfulness matters. As we just saw, we should be faithful in what we say, so that our “yes” and “no” can be trusted.
But we shouldn’t assume every changed plan is a broken promise. Sometimes plans change because humans are limited. Sometimes plans change because life is complicated. Sometimes plans change because love requires wisdom.
So we need to understand that human plans fail sometimes. That’s a key application from these verses. But there’s good news.
3. God is Faithful and Can be Trusted (1:18–22)
God is different to us when it comes to plans.
How is God different to humans when it comes to plans?
God is different because God is faithful and can be trusted. Human plans can change. Human words can be misunderstood. Human intentions can fail. Even faithful Christians can disappoint people. But God isn’t like that.
Paul says in verse 18:
“But as surely as God is faithful, our message to you is not ‘Yes’ and ‘No.’”
2 Corinthians 1:18
God’s gospel message doesn’t say “yes” and then “no”. Then in verse 20 he says:
“For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ.”
2 Corinthians 1:20
That’s the heart of the passage. God doesn’t say “yes” and then mean “no”. God doesn’t make promises and then forget them. God doesn’t start a plan and then realise he can’t finish it. God always follows through.
Where do we see God’s planning skills most clearly?
In Jesus. His promises are always “Yes” in Christ.
God promised that one day a child would come who would crush the serpent’s head (Genesis 3:15). In Jesus, God says, “Yes.”
God promised Abraham that through his offspring all nations would be blessed (Genesis 12:3). In Jesus, God says, “Yes.”
God promised David that one of his descendants would reign on his throne forever (2 Samuel 7:12–16). In Jesus, God says, “Yes.”
God promised that a ruler would come from Bethlehem, whose origins are from ancient times (Micah 5:2). In Jesus, God says, “Yes.”
God promised that a virgin would conceive and give birth to a son called Immanuel, God with us (Isaiah 7:14). In Jesus, God says, “Yes.”
God promised a servant who would be pierced for our transgressions and crushed for our iniquities, bringing us peace through his wounds (Isaiah 53:5). In Jesus, God says, “Yes.”
God promised that death would not have the final word, because those who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake to everlasting life (Daniel 12:2–3). In Jesus, God says, “Yes.”
Jesus’ life, death and resurrection show us that God is perfectly faithful. His promises don’t fail when human plans fail. His faithfulness doesn’t wobble when our faithfulness wobbles.
And, when we see God’s promises fulfilled in Jesus, we say “Amen.” That brings glory to God. Basically, we’re saying, “God, you were right. You kept your word. You can be trusted. Everything you promised has come true.”
So, we need to remember that God is faithful and can be trusted. Amen.
God’s Faithfulness and Ours
How should God’s plans and priorities impact how we think about our own plans and priorities? How might this shape what we say “yes” and “no” to?
God’s faithfulness should shape us in two big ways.
First, God’s faithfulness is our model. Because God keeps his promises, we should want to become people who keep our word and promises too. Because God’s “Yes” in Christ is firm and trustworthy, our “yes” and “no” should become more honest and trustworthy as well.
So don’t say “yes” just because you want people to like you. Don’t say “yes” if you already know you won’t follow through. And don’t say “no” to things God wants you to say “yes” to. Follow God’s model of faithfulness.
But second, God’s faithfulness is also the solution for when we fail.
We won’t always get this right. Sometimes we’ll say “yes” and not follow through. Sometimes we’ll let people down. Sometimes our words won’t match our actions.
When that happens, we don’t need to pretend, drown in guilt, or give up. We turn back to God. His promises don’t depend on our perfect faithfulness. They’re “Yes” in Christ. Jesus died for our unfaithfulness, rose again to make us new, and gives us his Spirit as a seal and guarantee.
So when we fail, we can say sorry, ask for forgiveness, make it right where we can, and keep trusting the God who is faithful to us in Christ.
That’s why we need to remember that God is faithful and can be trusted. Human plans may fail, but God is always faithful to his promises in Christ.
