Did Paul mean every word he said to the Corinthians?
Paul affirmed that he meant every word he spoke to the Corinthians. He denied using lightness or fickle language, insisting his word was not yea and nay. He spoke with full meaning from the depths of his heart, not frivolously. Though circumstances prevented a planned visit, his message remained firm, and God's promises in Christ are yea and amen.
Les explains that Paul's changed travel plans raised a charge of fickleness: did he use lightness, or purpose according to the flesh with yea, yea and nay, nay? Paul asks whether he came with fickle language, just saying something to tickle their ears and not really mean it. His answer is no way. Whatever the apostle said, he said it with full meaning, though other things intervened. In verse 18 Paul affirms that as God is true, their word toward the Corinthians was not yea and nay. The Son of God, Jesus Christ, preached among them by Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, was not yea and nay, not fickle or superfluous. All the promises of God in Him are yea and amen. Paul says whatever he said to them, he can put it in concrete; he meant every word of it from the depths of his heart, none spoken with frivolity. Les also connects verse 21 about God establishing, anointing, sealing, and giving the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts, and points to Ephesians 1 as a parallel.
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?