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15 Our Language Is Not “Yes” and “No.”[a] So certain am I of this that I had originally intended to come to you first of all and thereby reward you with a double benefit. 16 I planned to visit you on my way to Macedonia, and then to come to you again on my return from Macedonia and have you send me forth to Judea.

17 Since that was my original intention, was I being impulsive, or do you believe that my plans are based on human considerations, ready to say “Yes, Yes” and “No, No” at the same time?

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 1:15 Paul insists that his dialogue with the Corinthians is not one of “Yes” and “No” at the same time—just as Jesus, the Son of God, did not simultaneously say “Yes” and “No.” Indeed, God fulfilled his promises by sending his Son among us, and Christ also did what his Father wanted. Thus, Christ is a “Yes,” consenting to the Father’s plan. Similarly, we say “Yes” to Christ, first at our Baptism when we receive the first outpouring of the Spirit and then at every Eucharist when we say “Amen” (which means, “Yes, it is true”). When we sin, on the other hand, we say “No” to Christ.

15 Because I was confident of this, I wanted to visit you(A) first so that you might benefit twice.(B) 16 I wanted to visit you on my way(C) to Macedonia(D) and to come back to you from Macedonia, and then to have you send me on my way(E) to Judea.(F) 17 Was I fickle when I intended to do this? Or do I make my plans in a worldly manner(G) so that in the same breath I say both “Yes, yes” and “No, no”?

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