Paul’s Change of Plans

12 Now this is our boast: Our consciencev testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, with integrityb w and godly sincerity.x We have done so, relying not on worldly wisdomy but on God’s grace. 13 For we do not write you anything you cannot read or understand. And I hope that, 14 as you have understood us in part, you will come to understand fully that you can boast of us just as we will boast of you in the day of the Lord Jesus.z

15 Because I was confident of this, I wanted to visit youa first so that you might benefit twice.b 16 I wanted to visit you on my wayc to Macedoniad and to come back to you from Macedonia, and then to have you send me on my waye to Judea.f 17 Was I fickle when I intended to do this? Or do I make my plans in a worldly mannerg so that in the same breath I say both “Yes, yes” and “No, no”?

18 But as surely as God is faithful,h our message to you is not “Yes” and “No.” 19 For the Son of God,i Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us—by me and Silasc j and Timothyk—was not “Yes” and “No,” but in him it has alwaysl been “Yes.” 20 For no matter how many promisesm God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen”n is spoken by us to the glory of God.o 21 Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firmp in Christ. He anointedq us,