“When I therefore was thus minded, did I use lightness? or the things that I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, that with me there should be yea yea, and nay nay?”
My Notes
What Does 2 Corinthians 1:17 Mean?
"When I therefore was thus minded, did I use lightness? or the things that I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, that with me there should be yea yea, and nay nay?" Paul defends his CHANGED TRAVEL PLANS: the Corinthians accused him of being FICKLE — saying 'yes' and 'no' at the same time. Paul asks: did I make these plans LIGHTLY? Did I plan ACCORDING TO THE FLESH — by human whim, by carnal impulse, by the kind of decision-making that says yes and no simultaneously? The defense is: my changed plans came from the SPIRIT, not from the flesh.
The phrase "did I use lightness" (mēti ara tē elaphria echrēsamēn — surely I did not use lightness/fickleness?) denies FICKLENESS: the word elaphria means lightness, levity, lack of seriousness. Paul asks: did I treat my plans LIGHTLY? Was my yes-and-no behavior the product of not taking the decision seriously? The rhetorical question expects the answer: NO. The planning wasn't light. The change wasn't flippant.
The "yea yea, and nay nay" (hina ē par' emoi to nai nai kai to ou ou — that with me the yes should be yes and the no should be no) describes the ACCUSATION of double-speak: the Corinthians claim Paul says YES and NO at the same time — promising to come and then not coming. The charge is UNRELIABILITY: Paul's word can't be trusted. His yes isn't really yes. His no isn't really no. The accusation treats changed plans as CHARACTER FAILURE.
Reflection Questions
- 1.When your plans change, is it fickleness or obedience — and can people tell the difference?
- 2.What does 'lightness' (frivolous planning) versus serious-change-of-plans teach about the difference?
- 3.How does Paul connecting his reliability to GOD'S reliability (Christ is yes) model defense of changed plans?
- 4.What changed plan in your life was obedience, not fickleness — and did you explain the difference?
Devotional
Was I FICKLE? Did I plan by the FLESH — saying yes and no at the same time? Paul defends his changed travel plans against the accusation of unreliability. The charge: your yes isn't yes and your no isn't no. The defense: my plans changed by the SPIRIT, not by whim. The change wasn't fickleness. It was obedience.
The 'did I use lightness' denies FRIVOLOUS planning: the word 'lightness' (elaphria) means treating things without weight, without seriousness, without proper consideration. Paul asks: did I make my travel plans CARELESSLY? Did I say 'I'm coming' without meaning it? The rhetorical question says: NO. The plans were made SERIOUSLY. The change was also made seriously. Seriousness can change its mind. Fickleness can't.
The 'purpose according to the flesh' identifies what Paul DIDN'T do: the flesh-based planning would be HUMAN WHIM — planning by convenience, by personal desire, by carnal impulse. Paul's changed plans didn't come from the FLESH. They came from a DIFFERENT source — the Spirit's guidance, the divine redirection, the sovereign change that makes the yes become a later-yes rather than an immediate-yes.
The 'yea yea, and nay nay' describes the ACCUSATION: Paul says 'yes I'm coming' and then says 'no I'm not.' The Corinthians interpret this as DOUBLE-SPEECH — unreliable, untrustworthy, saying one thing and doing another. Paul's response (verse 18-20): my word isn't double because GOD'S word isn't double. Christ isn't yes-and-no. Christ is YES. And my plans serve Christ's YES, not my own whim.
When your plans change, is it FICKLENESS or OBEDIENCE — and can the people around you tell the difference?
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
When I was therefore thus minded, did I use lightness?.... When I had thus determined to come to you, and had signified…
When I therefore was thus minded - When I formed this purpose; when I willed this, and expressed this intention. Did I…
Did I use lightness? - When I formed this purpose, was it without due consideration? and did I abandon it through…
The apostle here vindicates himself from the imputation of levity and inconstancy, in that he did not hold his purpose…
did I use lightness?] Literally, the lightness, i.e. either the lightness with which St Paul had been reproached, or…
Cross References
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