Paul begins this section by boasting. Boasting has a negative connotation for us that seems to contradict the humility that Christians should have. But Paul is not boasting in prideful arrogance but in how he conducts himself in God’s strength. He is boasting in the Lord (Jer 9:23-24) with God as his witness about what God has done, not what he has done in his own strength. He wants the Corinthians to have confidence in his apostleship which has been undermined by false teachers who seem to have brought focus on the fact that he didn’t visit Corinth as he said he would. He explains that his behaviour has been simple and sincere, not double-minded or deceitful, and based on God’s grace rather than earthly wisdom. Paul explains that his letters are clear expressions of his intent, not written with hidden meaning or agenda. Paul has conducted himself with integrity and his readers can trust the plain meaning of his writing. He understood that up to this point they had only partially understood him but his hope is that they will now fully understand him and his intentions. He expects that on the day of our Lord Jesus (when Christ returns) he will be proud of them and they of him.

Paul had intended to visit them on his way to Macedonia (1 Cor 16:5-7) but his plans had changed. He denied making his plans according to the flesh, with self-interest. He did not deny the change in plans. He did not change his plans without concern for them. The change was unavoidable and he was unable to do what he had intended. Ultimately God is the one in control of his, and our, schedule. Paul pointed to God as the unchangeable and faithful One. When Paul was with them, he preached the unwavering truth about Jesus Christ as confirmed by Timothy and Silvanus. All the promises of God about the Messiah in the Old Testament were fulfilled in Jesus and proved God to be reliable. God fulfills His own promises for His own glory. Paul continued his digression into the reliability of God by pointing out that He has put his seal on us and given us His Spirit as a guarantee of our salvation. He can be trusted to save us because He promised to save us and He is trustworthy. Paul then continued to explain why he had not visited as intended. One of the reasons he postponed his visit was to spare them the pain of correction and to give them time to work things through on their own. As an apostle he had authority but he didn’t want to lord it over them, but rather work with them, as servant leaders, for their joy and to aid them in standing firm in their faith. He didn’t want to visit them and cause them pain. Paul realised that having written a letter of correction, they would work through the issues raised without the need for a disciplinary visit. If he had visited them as intended, they would have had sorrow instead of joy. He wanted to have joy in their presence. He didn’t rejoice in the need to correct them or write to cause them pain. He wrote so they might know how much he loved them. Paul was a man of integrity. His intentions were motivated by love and his actions backed up his intentions even though they had to change.

Are you a person of integrity? Can people trust that your intentions are always God-honouring and that your actions will back that up in so far as God allows? Or are you someone who speaks out of both sides of your mouth saying “yes” and “no” at the same time?