Paul Defends His Changed Plans

1:12 For our reason for confidence23 is this: the testimony of our conscience, that with pure motives24 and sincerity which are from God25—not by human wisdom26 but by the grace of God—we conducted ourselves in the world, and all the more27 toward you. 1:13 For we do not write you anything other than what28 you can read and also understand. But I hope that you will understand completely29 1:14 just as also you have partly understood us, that we are your source of pride just as you also are ours30 in the day of the Lord Jesus.31 1:15 And with this confidence I intended to come to you first so that you would get a second opportunity to see us,32 1:16 and through your help to go on into Macedonia and then from Macedonia to come back33 to you and be helped on our way into Judea by you. 1:17 Therefore when I was planning to do this, I did not do so without thinking about what I was doing, did I?34 Or do I make my plans35 according to mere human standards36 so that I would be saying37 both “Yes, yes” and “No, no” at the same time? 1:18 But as God is faithful, our message to you is not “Yes” and “No.” 1:19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, the one who was proclaimed among you by us—by me and Silvanus38 and Timothy—was not “Yes” and “No,” but it has always been “Yes” in him. 1:20 For every one of God’s promises are “Yes” in him; therefore also through him the “Amen” is spoken, to the glory we give to God. 1:21 But it is God who establishes39 us together with you in Christ and who anointed us,40 1:22 who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a down payment.41