Bible Strands
2 Corinthians 1:18
But as surely as God is faithful, our message to you is not “Yes” and “No.”
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Paul writes to the Corinthian church while defending his recent travel itinerary against accusations of fickleness. He addresses their doubt about his reliability by anchoring his commitment to divine character rather than human consistency.
The words — The Greek term πιστός (pistos) translates literally to "faithful" or "trustworthy." It modifies the subject θεὸς (theos), establishing God's reliability as the standard for Paul's proclaimed λόγος (logos), or "message."
The thread — The appeal to divine faithfulness echoes 1 Corinthians 1:9, where God’s faithfulness calls believers into fellowship with Christ. This theme of unchanging divine truth contrasts with the human inconsistency described in 2 Corinthians 1:17 and aligns with the description of Christ in 2 Corinthians 1:19.
Why it lands — The text demands that readers evaluate the messenger’s reliability by the character of God rather than the messenger’s personal consistency. It requires accepting that a commitment grounded in divine faithfulness remains stable regardless of human circumstances.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
But as God is true, our word toward you was not yea and nay.
Cross-references
- 1 Corinthians 1:9 God, who has called you into fellowship with His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.
- Revelation 3:7 To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of the One who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What He opens no one can shut, and what He shuts no one can open.
- John 7:28 Then Jesus, still teaching in the temple courts, cried out, “You know Me, and you know where I am from. I have not come of My own accord, but He who sent Me is true. You do not know Him,
- Revelation 3:14 To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Originator of God’s creation.
- John 8:26 “I have much to say about you and much to judge. But the One who sent Me is truthful, and what I have heard from Him, I tell the world.”
- 2 Corinthians 1:23 I call God as my witness that it was in order to spare you that I did not return to Corinth.
- 2 Corinthians 2:17 For we are not like so many others, who peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as men sent from God.
- 2 Corinthians 11:31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is forever worthy of praise, knows that I am not lying.
- 1 John 5:20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true—in His Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.