2 Corinthians 1:22
What does 2 Corinthians 1:22 mean?
A plain-English look at 2 Corinthians 1:22 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What 2 Corinthians 1:22 means
God has also sealed believers and given the Spirit as the earnest, or down payment, in their hearts. The seal marks ownership and protection; the earnest guarantees the full inheritance to come. The Holy Spirit’s indwelling presence is God’s pledge that he will finish what he began. This inner witness steadies Christians amid uncertainty about leaders or plans. Paul’s point is pastoral and theological: the same God who secures the gospel’s truth secures the people who believe it. Their assurance rests not in Paul’s itinerary but in God’s Spirit within them, assuring them they belong to him and that future grace is certain.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000who also sealed us, and gave us the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901who also sealed us, and gave us the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And it is he who has put his stamp on us, even the Spirit, as the sign in our hearts of the coming glory.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862who also sealed us, and gave the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Who also hath sealed us and given the pledge of the Spirit in our hearts.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890who also has sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
Context
Completing the picture of God’s securing work, Paul mentions sealing and the Spirit as earnest. This deepens the argument that both message and people are anchored by God. With this assurance in place, Paul will return directly to the matter of his postponed visit, invoking God as witness that his restraint was to spare them, not to dominate them. The flow moves from God’s unwavering faithfulness to the apostle’s loving, careful application of that faithfulness in his decisions toward the church.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Romans 8:9
But ye are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you. But if any man hath not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
- Romans 8:14
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.
- Revelation 9:4
And it was said unto them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree, but only such men as have not the seal of God on their foreheads.
- John 6:27
Work not for the food which perisheth, but for the food which abideth unto eternal life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him the Father, even God, hath sealed.
- Revelation 2:17
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches. To him that overcometh, to him will I give of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and upon the stone a new name written, which no one knoweth but he that receiveth it.
- Revelation 7:3
saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we shall have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.
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