Verse 17
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 one there should be the yea yea and the nay nay?
Paul's argument is simply that: Surely I cannot be accused of fickleness merely upon the basis of changes in my plans! He further declared that he had made his plans in good faith, changing them only when there appeared good and sufficient reasons for doing so. Incidentally, there is a glimpse in this of the fact that even so Spirit-filled a person as the blessed apostle was compelled to make future plans, not upon the basis of direct inspiration, but upon the basis of sober, practical good judgment. Some of the charismatics of our own times should take note of this.
According to the flesh ... is a reference to plans made without sincerity, or for the purpose of deception. There is one sense in which all of a Christian's plans for the future are made "in the flesh," that is, without the benefit of inspiration.
Yea yea and nay nay ... This is an idiom for double talk, insincerity, and deception.
Be the first to react on this!
