The Meaning of 2 Corinthians 1:18 Explained

2 Corinthians 1:18

KJV: But as God is true, our word toward you was not yea and nay.

YLT: and God is faithful, that our word unto you became not Yes and No,

Darby: Now God is faithful, that our word to you is not yea and nay.

ASV: But as God is faithful, our word toward you is not yea and nay.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

But  [as] God  [is] true,  our  word  toward  you  was  not  yea  and  nay. 

What does 2 Corinthians 1:18 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Paul associated himself with God to reinforce his argument.
"The argument is one from "ethical congruity." God is faithful in the fact that the Gospel which is proclaimed by His messengers is not a Gospel of duplicity, full of misleading statements and of promises which are not fulfilled." [1]
"When God speaks His positive does not carry a hidden negative. And so it is also with His chosen Apostle: his word to the Corinthians is not a mixture of yea and nay at the same time, but a faithful yea-sincere, honest, unambiguous." [2]
"Apparent inconsistency or fickleness may be consistency on the highest level." [3]

Context Summary

2 Corinthians 1:12-22 - Sincere Like His Master
The Apostle laid great emphasis on the witness of his conscience. See Acts 23:1; Acts 24:16. As we pass out of this life, and stand in the revealing dawn of eternity, it will be a blessed thing if we are able to say this much of ourselves.
Paul had thought of visiting Corinth on his way to Macedonia, and again on his return journey; but this purpose had been defeated. He was eager, however, that his friends should understand that the change was not due to vacillation on his part, for this would be unworthy of one who stood for the great certainties of the gospel.
Christ is God's attestation to His promises. All these have received their seal in the words, sufferings and resurrection of our Lord. In Jesus God says Yea to the yearnings and prayers of human hearts, and Amen (verily) to all the ten thousand promises of Scripture. He who rests on Christ stands in the focal point of certainty and assurance. Not one good thing shall fail him of all that has been promised.
2 Corinthians 1:21 is full of comfort. God alone can give us a settled and established position. He anoints us for service; seals us with His Spirit for safety, likeness, and authentication; and in this way gives us the earnest and foretaste of heaven, as the grapes of Eschol were the pledge and foretaste of Canaan. [source]

Chapter Summary: 2 Corinthians 1

1  Paul salutes the Corinthians;
3  he encourages them against troubles,
5  by the comforts and deliverances which God had given him,
8  so particularly in his late danger in Asia
12  And calling both his own conscience and theirs,
15  he excuses his not coming to them, as proceeding not of lightness,
23  but of his care for them

Greek Commentary for 2 Corinthians 1:18

Is not yea and nay [ουκ εστιν ναι και ου]
He is not a Yes and No man, saying Yes and meaning or acting No. Paul calls God to witness on this point. [source]
As God is true [πιστὸς ὁ Θεὸς]
Not to be taken as a formula of swearing. He means that God will answer for him against the charge of fickleness by the power and blessing (benefit) which will attend his presence. Hence the meaning is: faithful is God (in this) that our speech, etc. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 2 Corinthians 1:18

Romans 3:3 Faith of God []
Better, as Rev., faithfulness; the good faith of God; His fidelity to His promises. For this sense see on Matthew 23:23. Compare Titus 2:10, and see on faithful, 1 John 1:9; see on Revelation 1:5; see on Revelation 3:14. Compare 1 Corinthians 1:9; 1 Corinthians 10:13; 2 Corinthians 1:18. [source]
1 Corinthians 15:31 I protest by that glorying in you [νη την υμετεραν καυχησιν]
No word for “I protest.” Paul takes solemn oath by the use of νη — nē (common in Attic) with the accusative. Only here in N.T., but in lxx (Genesis 42:15f.). For other solemn oaths by Paul see 2 Corinthians 1:18; 2 Corinthians 1:23; 2 Corinthians 11:10.; 2 Corinthians 11:31; Romans 9:1. For καυχησις — kauchēsis see note on 1 Thessalonians 2:19. The possessive pronoun (υμετεραν — humeteran) is objective as εμην — emēn in 1 Corinthians 11:24. [source]

What do the individual words in 2 Corinthians 1:18 mean?

Faithful however - God [is] that the word of us to you not was Yes and No
πιστὸς δὲ Θεὸς ὅτι λόγος ἡμῶν πρὸς ὑμᾶς οὐκ ἔστιν Ναί καὶ Οὔ

πιστὸς  Faithful 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: πιστός  
Sense: trusty, faithful.
δὲ  however 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: δέ  
Sense: but, moreover, and, etc.
  - 
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Θεὸς  God  [is] 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: θεός  
Sense: a god or goddess, a general name of deities or divinities.
ὅτι  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ὅτι  
Sense: that, because, since.
λόγος  word 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: λόγος  
Sense: of speech.
ἡμῶν  of  us 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 1st Person Plural
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.
Ναί  Yes 
Parse: Particle
Root: ναί  
Sense: yea, verily, truly, assuredly, even so.
Οὔ  No 
Parse: Adverb
Root: οὐ  
Sense: no, not; in direct questions expecting an affirmative answer.