2 Corinthians 1:17
in 2 Corinthians 1When I planned this, did I do it carelessly? Or do I make my plans by human standards, so as to say “Yes, yes” when I really mean “No, no”?
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
When I therefore was thus minded, did I show fickleness? or the things that I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, that with me there should be the yea yea and the nay nay?
KJV
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?
⋯
This verse in 2 Corinthians 1
Commentary
15 notes on this verseWhen I was therefore thus minded, did I use lightness?.... When I had thus determined to come to you, and had signified the same by writing, or messengers, did I use lightness in my resolutions and promises? did I act rashly, unadvisedly, and without consideration? did I promise certainly that I would come, without annexing any condition to it? did I not say, I would come to you shortly, if the Lord will? see 1Co 4:
This site's exposition
I planned to visit you first
on 2 Corinthians 1:15-17
Paul had planned to visit you first, on his way to Macedonia and again on the return. The plan changed, and Paul puts the charge in his own words before his critics can, asking whether he planned carelessly or by human standards.
This site's exposition
did I do it carelessly
The word rendered carelessly meant lightness, and Albert Barnes gives it the sense of fickleness. John Gill notes that Paul had spoken of coming only if the Lord willed, so a changed plan broke no promise. Paul asks the question his critics were asking.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
Paul dismisses the charge that he cannot be trusted by telling the Corinthians that he did not change his mind lightly. He had good reasons for not doing what he had originally planned. When a spiritually minded person does not do what he intends to, …
"When I therefore was thus minded, did I show fickleness?" Here in what follows, he directly does away with the charge arising out of his delay and absence. For what he says is of this nature. "I was minded to come unto you." "Wherefore then did I not come? Is it as light-minded and changeable?" for this is, "did I show fickleness?" By no means. But wherefore? "Because what things I purpose, I purpose not according to the flesh." What is, "not according to the flesh?" I purpose not "carnally." "That with me there should be the yea yea and the nay nay." But still even this is obscure. What is it then he says? The carnal man, that is, he that is rivetted to the present things and is continually occupied in them, and is without the sphere of the Spirit's influence, has power to go every where, and to wander whithersoever he will. But he that is the servant of the Spirit, and is led, and led about by Him, cannot everywhere be lord of his own purpose, having made it dependent upon the authority thence given; but it so fares with him as if a trusty servant, whose motions are always ruled by his lord's biddings and who has no power over himself nor is able to rest even a little, should make some promise to his fellow-servants, and then because his master would have it otherwise should fail to perform his promise. This then is what he means by, "I purpose not according to the flesh." I am not beyond the Spirit's governance, nor have liberty to go where I will. For I am subject to lordship and commands, the Comforter's, and by His decrees I am led, and led about. For this cause I was unable to come, for it was not the Spirit's will.
The Medieval Church2 voices
Then he puts the accusation for this change, for which the Corinthians accused him, in the form of a question, saying, Was I vacillating when I wanted to do this? For on account of this they charged him with two things: light-mindedness, because he changed …
Here he more clearly defends himself regarding the delay, saying that he wished to come to them, but why did he not come? Is it because I am fickle and inconstant, deciding now one way, now another? No. Or do I desire according to the …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
), that, as he aimed not at any secular advantage to himself (for his purpose was not according to the flesh, that is, with carnal views and aims), so it was not a rash and inconsiderate resolution that he had taken up, for he had laid his measures thus of passing by them to Macedonia, and coming again to them from Macedonia in his way to Judea (
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-punctuation
7 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening4 voices
5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. 6 And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.
quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — verbatim-scripture
), and he does this in confidence of their good opinion of him, and that they would believe him, when he assured them he was minded, or did really intend, to come to them, and that with the design, not that he might receive, but that they might receive a second benefit, that is, a further advantage by his ministry.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-punctuation+unbalanced-parens
Did I use levity - Did I lightly change my purpose? Do I purpose according to the flesh - Are my purposes grounded on carnal or worldly considerations? So that there should be with me yea and nay - Sometimes one, sometimes the other; that is, variableness and inconstancy.
Note, Good men should be careful to preserve the reputation of sincerity and constancy; they should not resolve but upon mature deliberation, and they will not change their resolves but for weighty reasons. He would not have the Corinthians to infer that his gospel was false or uncertain, nor that it was contradictory in itself, nor unto truth,
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
When I therefore was thus minded - When I formed this purpose; when I willed this, and expressed this intention. Did I use lightness? - The word ἐλαφρια elaphria (from ἐλαφρός elaphros) means properly lightness in weight. Here it is used in reference to the mind; and in a sense similar to our word levity, as denoting lightness of temper or conduct; inconstancy, changeableness, or fickleness.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
The repetition of the "yea" and "nay" hardly agrees with ALFORD'S view, "What I purpose do I purpose according to the changeable purposes of the fleshly (worldly) man, that there may be with me the yea yea, and the nay nay (that is, both affirmation and negation concerning the same thing)?" The repetition will thus stand for the single yea and nay, as in Mt 5:37;
Did I use lightness? - When I formed this purpose, was it without due consideration? and did I abandon it through fickleness of mind? That with me there should be yea, etc. - That I should act as carnal men, who change their purposes, and falsify their engagements, according as may seem best to their secular interest?
The words behind it
25 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| τοῦτο | touto | Thus | G3778 → | 1381 times |
| οὖν | oun | therefore | G3767 → | 497 times |
| βουλόμενος | boulomenos | deciding | G1014 → | |
| μήτι | meti | surely not ever | G3385 → | 18 times |
| ἄρα | ara | then | G686 → | 49 times |
| τῇ | tea | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἐλαφρίᾳ | elaphria | levity | G1644 → | |
| ἐχρησάμην, | echresamen | did I use? | G5530 → | 11 times |
| ἢ | e | Or | G2228 → | 342 times |
| ἃ | ha | what | G3739 → | 1405 times |
| βουλεύομαι | bouleuomai | I purpose | G1011 → | |
| κατὰ | kata | according to | G2596 → | 468 times |
| σάρκα | sarka | flesh | G4561 → | 146 times |
| βουλεύομαι, | bouleuomai | do I purpose, | G1011 → | |
| ἵνα | ina | so that | G2443 → | 668 times |
| ᾖ | e | there may be | G1510 → | 2333 times |
| παρ᾽ | par᾽ | with | G3844 → | 192 times |
| ἐμοὶ | emoi | me myself | G1473 → | 839 times |
| τὸ | to | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ναὶ | nai | Yes | G3483 → | 33 times |
| ναὶ | nai | yes | G3483 → | 33 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| τὸ | to | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| οὒ | ou | No | G3756 → | 1664 times |
| οὔ; | ou | no? | G3756 → | 1664 times |
τοῦτοThus
toutoG3778 →1381 times
οὖνtherefore
ounG3767 →497 times
βουλόμενοςdeciding
boulomenosG1014 →
μήτιsurely not ever
metiG3385 →18 times
ἄραthen
araG686 →49 times
τῇ<the>
teaG3588 →19766 times
ἐλαφρίᾳlevity
elaphriaG1644 →
ἐχρησάμην,did I use?
echresamenG5530 →11 times
ἢOr
eG2228 →342 times
ἃwhat
haG3739 →1405 times
βουλεύομαιI purpose
bouleuomaiG1011 →
κατὰaccording to
kataG2596 →468 times
σάρκαflesh
sarkaG4561 →146 times
βουλεύομαι,do I purpose,
bouleuomaiG1011 →
ἵναso that
inaG2443 →668 times
ᾖthere may be
eG1510 →2333 times
παρ᾽with
par᾽G3844 →192 times
ἐμοὶme myself
emoiG1473 →839 times
τὸ<the>
toG3588 →19766 times
ναὶYes
naiG3483 →33 times
ναὶyes
naiG3483 →33 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
τὸ<the>
toG3588 →19766 times
οὒNo
ouG3756 →1664 times
οὔ;no?
ouG3756 →1664 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Matthew 5:37Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ Anything more comes from the evil one.
it leads to
- James 5:12
Above all, my brothers, do not swear, not by heaven or earth or by any other oath. Simply let your “Yes” be yes, and your “No,” no, so that you will not fall under…
- 2 Corinthians 1:17–20
When I planned this, did I do it carelessly? Or do I make my plans by human standards, so as to say “Yes, yes” when I really mean “No, no”?
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Colossians 4:6
Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
- Colossians 3:9
Do not lie to one another, since you have taken off the old self with its practices,
- John 8:44
You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out his desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, refusing to uphold the truth, because there is no truth in him.…
- James 5:12
Through
James 5:12Above all, my brothers, do not swear, not by heaven or earth or by any other oath. Simply let your “Yes” be yes, and your “No,” no, so that you will not fall under…
it leads to
- Matthew 5:33–37
Again, you have heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill your vows to the Lord.’
- Matthew 23:16–22
Woe to you, blind guides! You say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’
- Matthew 5:33–37
Through
John 8:15You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one.
it leads to
- 1 Samuel 16:7
But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or height, for I have rejected him; the LORD does not see as man does. For man sees the outward appearance, but the…
- 1 Samuel 16:7
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies8
On this verse
About 2 Corinthians
This page draws on 11 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ambrosiaster, COMMENTARY ON PAUL'S EPISTLES; Frederic Godet, Commentary on the Epistles to the Corinthians; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily 3 on 2 Corinthians; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 2 Corinthians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 2 Corinthians.