2 Corinthians 1:15

15 Since I was sure of this, I wanted to come to you first, so that you might have a double favor; ^[a]

2 Corinthians 1:15 Meaning and Commentary

2 Corinthians 1:15

And in this confidence I was minded
Being fully persuaded of your affection for me, as having been instrumental in the conversion of many of you, and of your esteem of me as a faithful and upright minister of the word, and of your being my rejoicing in the day of Christ, I was desirous, and had determined, and so promised,

to come to you before;
when I sent my first epistle to you, or before now, or before I went into Macedonia; and what I now say was the sincere intention of my mind; I thought really to have done what I had such an inclination to: and my view in it was,

that you might have a second benefit;
the meaning of which according to some is, first by his letter to them, and then by his presence with them; or as others, one benefit when he should pass by them to Macedonia, and a second, when he should return to them from thence, according to the following verse; or rather, as the first benefit which they received from him, and under his ministry, was their conversion, so this second benefit may design their edification, and establishment in the faith, their growth in grace, and improvement in spiritual knowledge.

2 Corinthians 1:15 In-Context

13 For we write you nothing other than what you can read and also understand; I hope you will understand until the end—

14 as you have already understood us in part—that on the day of the Lord Jesus we are your boast even as you are our boast.

15 Since I was sure of this, I wanted to come to you first, so that you might have a double favor;

16 I wanted to visit you on my way to Macedonia, and to come back to you from Macedonia and have you send me on to Judea.

17 Was I vacillating when I wanted to do this? Do I make my plans according to ordinary human standards, ready to say "Yes, yes" and "No, no" at the same time?

Footnotes

• [a]. Other ancient authorities read [pleasure]