Devine Scripture

2 Corinthians 1:20

What does 2 Corinthians 1:20 mean?

A plain-English look at 2 Corinthians 1:20 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What 2 Corinthians 1:20 means

Paul magnifies Christ as the fulfillment of all God’s promises. However many promises God has made, they find their resounding “yes” in him. Therefore, through Christ the church says “Amen,” affirming God’s faithfulness to his glory. The point is twofold: God is utterly reliable, and Christ is the decisive confirmation of that reliability. Our response is doxology—agreement that honors God. This strengthens confidence in apostolic ministry, which exists to serve that glory by pointing to Christ. If God’s promises are anchored in Jesus, then believers can trust words and works that align with him, even when plans change. The unshakable center remains: God keeps his word in his Son.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

For how many soever be the promises of God, in him is the yea: wherefore also through him is the Amen, unto the glory of God through us.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

For how many soever be the promises of God, in him is the yea: wherefore also through him is the Amen, unto the glory of God through us.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

For he is the Yes to all the undertakings of God: and by him all the words of God are made certain and put into effect, to the glory of God through us.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

for as many as <FI>are<Fi> promises of God, in him <FI>are<Fi> the Yes, and in him the Amen, for glory to God through us;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

For all the promises of God are in him, It is. Therefore also by him, amen to God, unto our glory.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

For whatever promises ofGod [there are], in him is the yea, and in him the amen, for glory toGod by us.

Context

Having tied his reliability to Christ’s, Paul widens the lens to all divine promises. This doxology crowns his argument: if Christ is the great Yes, then ministry done in union with him aims at God’s glory through the church’s Amen. The next verses will apply this stability to the Corinthians’ own experience—God has established, anointed, sealed them, and given the Spirit as a pledge. Thus, both message and people are secured by God, supporting Paul’s pastoral choices.

v.19For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timothy, was not yea and nay, but in him is yea.

v.20This passage

v.21Now he that establisheth us with you in Christ, and anointed us, is God;

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Romans 6:23

    For the wages of sin is death; but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

  • 2 Corinthians 4:15

    For all things are for your sakes, that the grace, being multiplied through the many, may cause the thanksgiving to abound unto the glory of God.

  • Ephesians 2:7

    that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus:

  • Luke 2:14

    Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men in whom he is well pleased.

  • 2 Corinthians 4:6

    Seeing it is God, that said, Light shall shine out of darkness, who shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

  • John 1:17

    For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

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