2 Corinthians 1:17

¹⁵ And in this confidence I was minded to come unto you before, that ye might have a second benefit;

¹⁶ And to pass by you into Macedonia, and to come again out of Macedonia unto you, and of you to be brought on my way toward Judaea.

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?

¹⁸ But as God is true, our word toward you was not yea and nay.

¹⁹ For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timotheus, was not yea and nay, but in him was yea.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: 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”?
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?
WEB: When I therefore planned this, did I show fickleness? Or the things that I plan, do I plan according to the flesh, that with me there should be the “Yes, yes” and the “No, no?”
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?
DARBY: Having therefore this purpose, did I then use lightness? Or what I purpose, do I purpose according to flesh, that there should be with me yea yea, and nay nay?
BLB: Therefore, purposing this, then, did I use lightness? Or do I purpose what I purpose according to flesh, so that with me it may be “Yes, yes” and “No, no”?

ÅB: Da jeg nå altså ville dette, gikk jeg da kan hende lettsindig fram? eller hva jeg foresetter meg, foresetter jeg meg det på kjødelig vis, så at der hos meg skulle være både ja, ja og nei, nei?
OTB: Var jeg da ubesluttsom da jeg ville gjøre dette? Eller planlegger jeg det jeg planlegger etter kjødet, så det hos meg skulle være både "Ja, ja" og "Nei, nei"?
B1930: Da jeg nu altså vilde dette, gikk jeg da kan hende lettsindig frem? eller hvad jeg foresetter mig, foresetter jeg mig det på kjødelig vis, så at der hos mig skulde være både ja, ja og nei, nei?

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Matthew 5:37
But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.
Read in context
James 5:12
But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.
Read in context
2 Corinthians 10:2–3
But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.
Read in context
2 Corinthians 1:18–20
But as God is true, our word toward you was not yea and nay.
Read in context
John 8:15
Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man.
Read in context
Jeremiah 23:32
Behold, I am against them that prophesy false dreams, saith the LORD, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness; yet I sent them not, nor commanded them: therefore they shall not profit this people at all, saith the LORD.
Read in context
Judges 9:4
And they gave him threescore and ten pieces of silver out of the house of Baal-berith, wherewith Abimelech hired vain and light persons, which followed him.
Read in context
Zephaniah 3:4
Her prophets are light and treacherous persons: her priests have polluted the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law.
Read in context