Was Paul Untrustworthy?
WAS PAUL UNTRUSTWORTHY?
2 CORINTHIANS 1:12-18
How wrong it is to attribute false motives to others.
The key phrase is in 1:17, which may be literally translated as: “When I therefore was thus intending (to change my plans), did I act with the fickleness (of which I am accused)?” The definite article here and before the “Yes” and “No” in the same verse “probably indicates that Paul is quoting what is being said about him at Corinth” (Tasker). The allegation of vacillation—blowing hot and cold at the same time—arose directly out of a change of Paul’s travel plans (1:15-16). In 1 Corinthians 16:5 he expressed the hope of visiting Corinth after he had passed through Macedonia. He hints now that this original idea will have to be modified, and a second visit, bringing a “double pleasure” (1:15) will not be possible in view of the atmosphere in the Corinthian church (see 2:1). This is the reason for the revised itinerary, which he explains in order to deny the criticism of indecision and a failure to keep his first promise brought by his opponents at Corinth. All this background is necessary to understand Paul’s indignant protest, “Do I make my plans like a worldly man?” (1:17).
The same background helps us to make sense of the earlier section (1:12-14), because Paul is leading up to a frank statement of his change of mind by declaring the motives which inspired all his dealings, his words and his letter-writing habits. Read these verses and see how carefully Paul goes down the list of activities which have presumably been misinterpreted at Corinth. Pick out the terms he uses to show that his motives and actions have always been beyond reproach.
Notes 1:12: “the testimony of our conscience.” What other references to “conscience” can you trace in Paul’s speeches in Acts (eg 24:16) and the letters (eg 1 Timothy 1:19; 4:2)? 1:13: a subtle play on the Greek words “You don’t have to read between the lines in my letters: you can understand them.” Our problem in reading Paul’s letters today is that we know far less than we would like to know about the immediate circumstances in which they were written.
Thought “As surely as God is faithful …” (1:18). The character of God as altogether faithful (1 Corinthians 19:13) was an unshakable rock on which Paul’s whole appeal and ministry rested (Romans 3:4). Is he not trustworthy for you today?