2 Corinthians 1:21-24

God's Verification of Paul's Sincerity

God had established Paul's sincerity by backing him with signs and miracles. Since God was a promise keeper, He would not support one who was dishonest. God had anointed Paul as an apostle and placed His seal on him to show His ownership. The Holy Spirit working through Paul was God's way of putting up enough money to guarantee payment of His part of the bargain. The Spirit was evidence that Paul was working in God's behalf (2 Corinthians 1:21-22).

Paul called God as a witness since God knows all things and is able to search man's heart. He wanted them to know that he did not come to Corinth when promised, to spare them added hardships. The apostle could not rule over their faith. Instead, he revealed the will of God to them in the hope that they would grow in faith. He wanted his trip to be with them to be a happy occasion, which it would be if they stood firm in God's truth. Paul refused to come to them while they needed discipline for their weakness in the faith. He had made them sorry by the discipline of the earlier letter and was hoping to be made happy by their changed lives. His love for the church and desire to see them grow in faith made it well worth the wait before coming. Only those he had caused to be sorry could make him happy. Their standing firm in the faith would bring rejoicing (2 Corinthians 1:23-24; 2 Corinthians 2:1-2).