2 Corinthians 1:17, commentary and pictures

Paul's change of plans about visiting Corinth was not fickleness, for God redirected him so that his first letter could lead the church to repent and deal with its wrongdoing, since a visit at that time could have forced a crisis and required severe correction, while delay made it possible for him to come later with love and meekness. He denies that he purposed with lightness according to the flesh to say Yea and then Nay, for his preaching of Christ remained Yea and Amen, and once he had established a doctrine from God's word he did not retract it or consent to say Nay where he had said Yea. His teaching was straightforward and harmonious and his life reflected it, for he adapted customs and ceremonies when needed so people would not be turned from the truth over matters of little importance, while staying firm on essential truths including that salvation is found alone in Christ. His steadfastness was substantiated by a multitude of revelations and wonderful visions that cannot be described, which accompanied his preaching to make the Gentiles obedient by word and deed with a power that could not be withstood, establishing his words with an immovable weight of evidence.

To be yea and nay about the same thing is to make false statements with a false tongue and to deal falsely and deceptively with a conscience that is not good, choosing the attributes of Satan instead of the attributes of God. Such double speech is deception that brings conflict and trouble. God's people are to have as little to do as possible with such untruthful elements for the good of the church and leave them with God, for human brotherhood are not sin-bearers and Jesus alone can bear the sins of the transgressor. Only God can convert the conscience and renew the heart that is not true. The Lord God of Israel reads the heart and knows minds and judges according to His knowledge, bearing long with the false tongue without forcing men to forsake evil and letting men falsify if they will, so believers are to rest in Him and be still and walk by faith and not think the issue of the conflict is in their hands through such deceptions, for in His own time God will deal with the deceiver and will reward every man according to his work, and there will be a glorious victory.

The verse is applied to statements that contradict a person's actual position, as when attributing conflicting claims about drug medication would make her appear to say both yes and no. The verse warns every soul to show faith and works in clear, distinct lines and to gather every distinct ray of light amid moral darkness to substantiate the truth and bear aloft the banner for the last days, the third angel's message, by making straight paths for the feet so the weak are not turned out of the way, setting the churches in order and closing the door of unbelief against Satan's increased seducing power that would deceive even the very elect. The verse's whole first chapter is a lesson for all believers, especially that ministers who open the Word must stand in a high and holy position by self-denying appetite, eating only simple food the stomach can digest without beclouding the brain and keeping the body in the best condition of health so they can recommend the truth, be ready to go when called, avoid speaking hastily and viewing matters in a wrong light from poor health or indigestion, and judge righteously and voice the words of God under His Spirit's influence with clear discernment. Such ministers must remember that in every assembly Christ is present and angels are ascending and descending the heavenly ladder in a living connection between earth and heaven with God's glory shining on the congregation, so they must guard the door of the lips against anything that makes disturbance, because practical godliness advances the work more than word-preaching.