Was Paul's change in travel plans dishonest or fickle? No, he explains. During a brief, painful visit to the church in Corinth, he'd told them when he planned to return. By then, he'd assumed, the church would have resolved its disunity. When the time came for Paul's scheduled return trip, however, the crisis hadn't been fully resolved. Fearing that another visit just then might aggravate things, he decided to bypass Corinth and reschedule his visit.

1. What two criticisms about bypassing Corinth (v. 17) does Paul anticipate or respond to?



2. How does he characterize how "people of the world" make commitments?



3. Why does Paul say (v. 18) he makes sure his word is reliable?



4. What does Paul tell the Corinth church (v. 23) is the reason for putting off his visit?



5. How does adding the sincerity element (v. 12) set the bar higher than technical honesty alone?



6. How does Paul's assertion that "there is nothing written between the lines" in his letters (v.13) flesh out what straightforward communication involves?



7. Can you match Paul's confidence and clear conscience (v. 12) about your own talk?

Ask God to help you filter spin out of your conversation so that it becomes transparently truthful.

¹²We can say with confidence and a clear conscience that we have been honest and sincere in all our dealings. We have depended on God's grace, not on our own earthly wisdom. That is how we have acted toward everyone, and especially toward you. ¹³My letters have been straightforward, and there is nothing written between the lines and nothing you can't understand. I hope someday you will fully understand us, ¹⁴even if you don't fully understand us now. Then on the day when our Lord Jesus comes back again, you will be proud of us in the same way we are proud of you.

¹⁷You may be asking why I changed my plan. Hadn't I made up my mind yet? Or am I like people of the world who say yes when they really mean no? ¹⁸As surely as God is true, I am not that sort of person. My yes means yes ¹⁹because Jesus Christ, the Son of God, never wavers between yes and no. He is the one whom Timothy, Silas, and I preached to you, and he is the divine Yes--God's affirmation.

²³Now I call upon God as my witness that I am telling the truth. The reason I didn't return to Corinth was to spare you from a severe rebuke.

Prayer for the Week

I realize, Lord, that You desire honesty from the heart. But I kid myself and fudge the truth to impress others. Help me to change.

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