2 Corinthians 1:15Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

What is this "confidence"? "It is," he says, "that I hope in you, that you will be my boasting and I yours, that I love you from the heart, and that I am conscious of nothing evil in myself."

"I am also confident that everything among you is spiritual, and that you will be witnesses for us in this." "I intended to come to you, and through you to pass into Macedonia."

But in the first epistle the Apostle gave a promise contrary to this: "I will come to you when I have passed through Macedonia, for I am passing through Macedonia" (1 Cor 16:5).

Why, then, does he say the opposite here? It is not the opposite. True, it contradicts what he wrote before, but it does not contradict his desire.

“And in this confidence I intended to come to you before.” In what confidence? That I am conscious of nothing evil in myself, that I am your boast, that I did not conduct myself in fleshly wisdom but in God’s grace, and finally, that you are my witnesses to all this. For this reason I intended to come to you, “that you might have a second grace,” that is, a double joy: one from the first epistle, and another from my presence.

This confidence of the Apostle Paul comes from the correction of the Corinthians’ life. Now he also points to the desirability of meeting the Corinthians, whereas earlier, in the First Epistle, he had indicated that they were not at all worthy of a meeting.

Some thought that the Apostle said this in contradiction to himself, since in the First Epistle he promised first to see the Macedonians and then to come to the Corinthians.

But those who supposed this did not notice that there he promised the Corinthians one thing, while here he revealed his own intention.

For he said, "I wished to come to you first, then to pass through you into Macedonia, and again from there to come to you, that you might have a second grace."

That means a double joy from receiving me among you twice. But even though I wished this, certain causes hindered it. Soon after this he states the reasons, offering many things in his own defense.

The chosen vessel, in the epistle to the Corinthians, promises his return with a definite resolution, saying, "I will come to you after I pass through Macedonia, for I am passing through Macedonia."

"And perhaps I shall stay with you, or even spend the winter, so that you may send me on my journey, wherever I go. For I do not wish to see you now only in passing, but I hope to stay with you for some time" (1 Cor 16:5-7).

He also mentions this matter in the second epistle: "In this confidence I intended to come to you first, that you might receive a second grace."

"And through you to pass into Macedonia, and from Macedonia to come again to you, and by you to be sent on my way to Judea" (2 Cor 1:15-16).

“That you might have a second grace.” This grace is not from a second coming, because later (2 Cor 12:14; 13:1) the Apostle says that he is preparing to come to them a third time. As St. John Chrysostom notes, this is a twofold grace: one through the epistle, and the other through his arrival among them.

Having declared the simplicity and godly sincerity of his deeds and writings in general, the Apostle suggests that the Corinthians should not see any frivolity or changeability in the fact that he is now coming to them by a different route than he had previously planned.

Still less should they allow, on this occasion, even the slightest supposition that Paul's preaching of Christ itself was "yes" and "no," that is, changeable, confused, and false.

Calling God as witness with an oath (2 Cor 2:23, showing the lawfulness of oaths in necessary cases), the holy Apostle Paul reveals the true reason for his delays.

He had not yet gone to them because he was sparing the Corinthians themselves, that is, so as not to come to them with strict measures.

Having first shown that the Apostle's change of the previously intended plan, mentioned in the first epistle, cannot be interpreted in a bad sense, he now points out the reasons and grounds according to which he thought to act.

Out of love for the Corinthians, and desiring to bring them not only the consolation of seeing him but also testimonies of the gospel word, various gifts and miracles, the Apostle wished and perhaps orally promised to be with them sooner than he wrote in the first epistle, chapter 16.

But since he was not entirely master of himself, but was subject to the authority and commands of the Spirit of God, he could not fulfill what was only the desire of his heart.

"With this confidence," that is, with the confidence he expressed above, that the Corinthians would understand him to the end as a man who speaks sincerely.

Yet here he does not mean what he himself hopes to receive from the Corinthians, but what the Corinthians would see in him to the end, as he hopes, namely speech that is always sincere.

"With this confidence" means in such a disposition: sincerely, truthfully, without deceit or craft. When I formerly wished to come to you, my desire was truly of this kind. And when I informed you of it, I spoke the actual truth.