“Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;”
My Notes
What Does 2 Corinthians 1:21 Mean?
Paul attributes three things to God: He establishes us (makes us firm, stable, unmovable) in Christ. He anoints us (chrīō — the same root as Christ/Messiah). And He seals us with the Spirit (verse 22). Establishment, anointing, and sealing — each action is God's, not ours.
"Stablisheth" (bebaioō) means to confirm, to make reliable, to guarantee. God is the one making your position in Christ secure. You didn't place yourself there. You can't maintain yourself there. God establishes you — and what God establishes, nothing un-establishes.
"Anointed" (chrīsas) connects every believer to the anointing of Christ. The same word used for Jesus (Christos — the Anointed One) is applied to you. You are anointed. Not in the same unique way as Jesus. But with the same Spirit, from the same God, for the same purpose: set apart for God's service.
Reflection Questions
- 1.Which of the three (established, anointed, sealed) do you most need to hear today — and why?
- 2.How does knowing God does all three change your sense of spiritual security?
- 3.What does being 'anointed' (same root as Christ) mean for your identity and purpose?
- 4.Where are you trying to establish, anoint, or seal yourself rather than receiving what God has already done?
Devotional
God establishes you. God anoints you. God seals you. Three divine actions. All aimed at you. None of them yours to initiate.
Established — made firm, stable, secure in Christ. Not because your grip is strong. Because God's grip is. He's the one doing the establishing. Your stability isn't self-generated. It's God-generated. You stand because He planted you.
Anointed — chrīō, the same word that gives us Christ. You share the anointing of the Anointed One. The Spirit that rested on Jesus rests on you. Not for the same unique mission. But with the same divine presence. You are anointed. Set apart. Marked by God for His purposes.
Sealed (verse 22) — stamped with God's ownership, guaranteed by His Spirit. The seal means: this one is mine. The earnest (down payment) of the Spirit means: there's more coming. What you have now is the deposit. The full inheritance is on the way.
Three actions. All God's. Your salvation isn't held together by your effort. It's held together by divine establishment, divine anointing, and divine sealing. You're standing on ground that God secured, wearing an anointing that God applied, carrying a seal that God stamped.
If your security feels shaky today, reread the verbs. Who establishes? God. Who anoints? God. Who seals? God. Every verb belongs to Him. Your job isn't to generate the security. It's to stand in what He's already done.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
Now he which stablisheth us with you,.... Two things are in this verse ascribed to God. First, the establishing of the…
Now he which stablisheth us - He who makes us firm (ὁ βέβαιῶν ἡμᾶς ho bebaiōn hēmas); that is, he who has…
Now he which stablisheth us with you - It is God that has brought both us and you to this sure state of salvation…
The apostle here vindicates himself from the imputation of levity and inconstancy, in that he did not hold his purpose…
Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ Rather, and He, &c., as explaining the words -by us." -Not as though we…
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture