¹⁸ But as surely as God is faithful,^(A) our message to you is not “Yes” and “No.” ¹⁹ For the Son of God,^(B) Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us—by me and Silas^[a](C) and Timothy^(D)—was not “Yes” and “No,” but in him it has always^(E) been “Yes.” ²⁰ For no matter how many promises^(F) God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen”^(G) is spoken by us to the glory of God.^{(H) 21} Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm^(I) in Christ. He anointed^(J) us, ²² set his seal^(K) of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.^(L)

²³ I call God as my witness^(M)—and I stake my life on it—that it was in order to spare you^(N) that I did not return to Corinth. ²⁴ Not that we lord it over^(O) your faith, but we work with you for your joy, because it is by faith you stand firm.^(P)