Sparing the Church

15 And in this confidence sI intended to come to you before, that you might have ta second benefit—16 to pass by way of you to Macedonia, uto come again from Macedonia to you, and be helped by you on my way to Judea. 17 Therefore, when I was planning this, did I do it lightly? Or the things I plan, do I plan vaccording to the flesh, that with me there should be Yes, Yes, and No, No? 18 But as God is wfaithful, our 7word to you was not Yes and No. 19 For xthe Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us—by me, ySilvanus, and zTimothy—was not Yes and No, abut in Him was Yes. 20 bFor all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us. 21 Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and chas anointed us is God, 22 who dalso has sealed us and egiven us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.

23 Moreover fI call God as witness against my soul, gthat to spare you I came no more to Corinth. 24 Not hthat we 8have dominion over your faith, but are fellow workers for your joy; for iby faith you stand.

2 But I determined this within myself, athat I would not come again to you in sorrow.