Biblion Bible Commentary
Read the introduction to 2 Corinthians · About this commentary
In Him It Is Yes
2 Corinthians 1:19-22
19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us—by me, Silvanus, and Timothy—was not “Yes and no,” but in him is “Yes.” · WEB
The defense of a travel plan turns into a statement about God, on the grounds that a divided messenger would imply a divided message.
Instead of explaining himself, Paul changes the subject to Christ — and the move is the argument rather than an evasion of it.
For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us — by me, Silvanus, and Timothy — was not "Yes and no," but in him is "Yes." Three preachers are named, which matters: the same message came through three men, so its consistency is not a claim about one man's character.
Verse 20 states the principle at full width: however many are the promises of God, in him is the "Yes." Not that the promises are answered generously, but that the answer is a person. Every commitment God has made is described as converging on one place.
Then the response is handed back to the congregation in their own liturgical word: therefore also through him is the "Amen", to the glory of God through us. They said it at every gathering. Paul points out whose it is.
So the connection to the travel plans is now visible. A messenger who says yes and no at the same time misrepresents a God who does not, and the seriousness of the small charge is exactly that — not that changing an itinerary is sinful, but that a double-tongued apostle would be evidence against the message he carries.
Verses 21 and 22 then list what God has done, and all four verbs have God as the subject and the readers alongside Paul as the object. He establishes us with you in Christ, anointed us, sealed us, and gave us the down payment of the Spirit in our hearts.
The last is a commercial term: a deposit paid in advance that both guarantees the balance and is part of it. Not a token standing in for something different, but the first installment of the same thing.
And the pronouns have quietly done their work. Us with you — the man on trial and the people trying him are named as having received identically.
settled What this mark means