18. But since you can believe God, then you can believe that what we tell you is never both “Yes” and “No.”
19. The Son of God, Jesus Christ, that Silas and Timothy and I preached to you, was not “Yes” and “No.” In Christ it has always been “Yes.”
20. The “Yes” to all of God’s promises is in Christ. And that is why we say “Amen” through Christ to the glory of God.
21. And God is the One who makes you and us strong in Christ. God made us his chosen people.
22. He put his mark on us to show that we are his. And he put his Spirit in our hearts to be a guarantee for all he has promised.
23. I tell you this, and I ask God to be my witness that this is true: The reason I did not come back to Corinth was that I did not want to punish or hurt you.
24. I do not mean that we are trying to control your faith. You are strong in faith. But we are workers with you for your own happiness.