Daily Scripture Reading 2Corinthians 1:19 - 2:14

One technique that people use to mislead others is to make a statement that is true but incomplete. The listener comes to a false conclusion because they only have partial knowledge, but the speaker, who intentionally left out pertinent facts, gets away with claiming they were not dishonest because they did not actually say anything that was not true.

At the end of the first chapter of 2Corinthians, Paul wrote that Jesus was not yes and no. The implication is that Christians should not be yes and no. Instead, we should be scrupulously honest, which means intentionally leaving out facts so as to mislead someone is not something we should do.

At the end of yesterday’s reading, Paul acknowledged that he had intended to visit Corinth on his way too Macedonia, and then again when he left Macedonia to go to Judea. That did not happen, but Paul assured the Corinthians he had not been vacillating and saying yes and no at the same time.

2Cor. 1:19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us—by me and Silvanus and Timothy—was not yes and no, but has become yes in Him.

2Cor. 1:20 For as many as are the promises of God, in Him they are yes. Therefore also through Him is our Amen to the glory of God through us.

Jesus did not say yes and no at the same time. He did not make empty promises. The implication is it would be wrong for Paul, and us, to be duplicitous and say yes and no at the same time.

People tend to be selfish and sinful; therefore, it is natural to for people to use deception to get what they want. One method of being deceitful without actually lying is to say something that is true, but leave out pertinent facts, the omission of which causes the listener to make an incorrect assumption. If the listener learns the truth later and accuses the speaker of misleading them, the speaker can claim they did not actually say what it is the listener assumed. Even though the speaker intentionally left out pertinent facts so as to deceive, it is hard to prove the speaker intentionally deceived because they did not say anything that was false.

Unfortunately, this kind of deception takes place within Christianity. Church leaders make statements that are true, but they leave out relevant details, the omission of which leads people to draw incorrect conclusions.

Paul’s message in verses 19 and 20 is that Christians should be scrupulously honest because Jesus was not yes and no. Christians should not engage in the practice of deceiving people by making statements and leaving out facts that lead people to make false assumptions.

2Cor. 1:21 Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God,

2Cor. 1:22 who also sealed us and gave the pledge of the Spirit in our hearts.

Note the word “sealed”. If you want to send a letter to someone and make sure only the recipient reads it, you would put the letter in an envelope, seal it shut, and then send it. If the recipient gets it and the seal is unbroken, the recipient would know that no one else read it or changed the contents.

Christians have been sealed by God, which means we belong to Him. No one but God can determine our status before God.

2Cor. 1:23 ¶ But I call God as witness to my soul, that to spare you I did not come again to Corinth.

Paul changed his mind about going to Corinth so as to spare them.

2Cor. 1:24 Not that we lord it over your faith, but are workers with you for your joy; for in your faith you are standing firm.

2Cor. 2:1 ¶ But I determined this for my own sake, that I would not come to you again in sorrow.

Because of the issues at Corinth, some of which are mentioned in 1Corinthians, Paul knew any visit there would be sorrowful, so he decided not to make the visit.

2Cor. 2:2 For if I cause you sorrow, who then makes me glad but the one whom I made sorrowful?

2Cor. 2:3 And this is the very thing I wrote you, so that when I came, I would not have sorrow from those who ought to make me rejoice; having confidence in you all that my joy would be the joy of you all.

2Cor. 2:4 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears; not so that you would be made sorrowful, but that you might know the love which I have abundantly for you.

This may be a reference to 1Corinthians, or it may be a reference to another letter which Paul wrote which no longer exists.

2Cor. 2:5 ¶ But if any has caused sorrow, he has caused sorrow not to me, but in some degree—in order not to say too much—to all of you.

Paul was a little vague on the details of what was going on. He was able to be vague because the recipients in Corinth knew what was happening and did not need the details.

2Cor. 2:6 Sufficient for such a one is this punishment which was inflicted by the majority,

2Cor. 2:7 so that on the contrary you should rather graciously forgive and comfort him, lest such a one be swallowed up by excessive sorrow.

This implies the offending person was punished, had repented, and now needed forgiveness.

2Cor. 2:8 Therefore I encourage you to reaffirm your love for him.

2Cor. 2:9 For to this end also I wrote, so that I might know your proven character, whether you are obedient in all things.

2Cor. 2:10 But one whom you graciously forgive anything, I graciously forgive also. For indeed what I have graciously forgiven, if I have graciously forgiven anything, I did it for your sakes in the presence of Christ,

2Cor. 2:11 so that no advantage would be taken of us by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his schemes.

2Cor. 2:12 ¶ Now when I came to Troas for the gospel of Christ and when a door was opened for me in the Lord,

2Cor. 2:13 I had no rest for my spirit, not finding Titus my brother. But saying farewell to them, I went on to Macedonia.

Paul wrote 1Corinthians while he was in Ephesus during his third missionary journey. After he left Ephesus, he went to Troas, and then on to Macedonia. In other words, instead of going from Ephesus to Corinth and then to Macedonia which had been his original intent, he went through Troas on his way to Macedonia.

2Cor. 2:14 ¶ But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ, and manifests through us the aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.

Since Jesus was not yes and no, we should not be yes and no. We should be scrupulously honest. It is always wrong to deceive, even when we deceive without actually saying something that is not true.

What are some occasions when you were tempted to leave out pertinent facts, knowing that the omission of those facts would lead people to draw incorrect conclusions?

What, if any, are some examples of your church leaders using that tactic to deceive the congregation?

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“Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com.”