2 Corinthians 1 · Verse 20

2 Corinthians 1:20

For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.
2 Corinthians 1:20, King James Version

2 Corinthians 1:20 in other translations

BSBFor all the promises of God are “Yes” in Christ. And so through Him, our “Amen” is spoken to the glory of God.
WEBFor however many are the promises of God, in him is the “Yes.” Therefore also through him is the “Amen”, to the glory of God through us.
ASVFor 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.
YLTfor as many as are promises of God, in him are the Yes, and in him the Amen, for glory to God through us;
DARBYFor whatever promises of God there are, in him is the yea, and in him the amen, for glory to God by us.
BBEFor 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.
WebsterFor all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, to the glory of God by us.

What does 2 Corinthians 1:20 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
20. Rather, How many soever be the promises of God, in Him is the "yea" ("faithfulness in His word": contrasted with the "yea and nay," 2Co 1:19, that is, inconstancy as to one's word). and in him Amen--The oldest manuscripts read, "Wherefore through Him is the Amen"; that is, In Him is faithfulness ("yea") to His word, "wherefore through Him" is the immutable verification of it ("Amen"). As "yea" is His word, so "Amen" is His oath, which makes our assurance of the fulfilment doubly sure. Compare "two immutable things (namely, His word and His oath) in which it was impossible for God to lie" (He 6:18; Re 3:14). The whole range of Old Testament and New Testament promises are secure in their fulfilment for us in Christ. unto the glory of God by us--Greek, "for glory unto God by us" (compare 2Co 4:15), that is, by our ministerial labors; by us His promises, and His unchangeable faithfulness to them, are proclaimed. Conybeare takes the "Amen" to be the Amen at the close of thanksgiving: but then "by us" would have to mean what it cannot mean here, "by us and you."

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 20. For all the promises of God in him. All the promises God has made through him. This is another reason why Paul felt himself bound to maintain a character of the strictest veracity. The reason was, that God always evinced that; and that as none of promises failed, he felt himself sacredly bound to imitate him, to adhere to all his. The promises of God which are made through Christ, relate to the pardon of sin to the penitent; the sanctification of his people; support in temptation and trial; guidance in perplexity; peace in death, and eternal glory beyond the grave. All of these are made through a Redeemer, and none of these shall fail,

Are yea. Shall all be certainly fulfilled. There shall be no vacillation on the part of God; no fickleness; no abandoning of his gracious intention.

And in him Amen. In Rev 3:14, the Lord Jesus is called the Amen. The word means true, faithful, certain; and the expression here means that all the promises which are made to men through a Redeemer shall be certainly fulfilled. They are promises which are confirmed and established, and which shall by no means fail.

Unto the glory of God by us. Either by us ministers and apostles, or by us who are Christians. The latter, I think, is the meaning; and Paul means to say, that the fulfillment of all the promises which God has made to his people shall result in his glory and praise as a God of condescension and veracity. The fact that he has made such promises is an act that tends to his own glory--since it was of his mere grace that they were made; and the fulfillment of these promises in and through the church, shall also tend to produce elevated views of his fidelity and goodness.

(e) "in him" Rom 15:8,9, Heb 13:8

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 20 For all the promises of God - Had we been light, fickle, worldly-minded persons; persons who could only be bound by our engagements as far as comported with our secular interest; would God have confirmed our testimony among you? Did we not lay before you the promises of God? And did not God fulfill those promises by us - by our instrumentality, to your salvation and his own glory? God is true; therefore every promise of God is true; and consequently each must have its due fulfillment. God will not make use of trifling, worldly men, as the instruments by which he will fulfill his promises; but he has fulfilled them by us; therefore we are just and spiritual men, else God would not have used us. In him are yea, and in him amen - All the promises which God has made to mankind are yea - true in themselves, and amen - faithfully fulfilled to them who believe in Christ Jesus. The promises are all made in reference to Christ; for it is only on the Gospel system that we can have promises of grace; for it is only on that system that we can have mercy. Therefore, the promise comes originally by Christ, and is yea; and it has its fulfillment through Christ, and is amen; and this is to the glory of God, by the preaching of the apostles. From what the apostle says here, and the serious and solemn manner in which he vindicates himself, it appears that his enemies at Corinth had made a handle of his not coming to Corinth, according to his proposal, to defame his character, and to depreciate his ministry; but he makes use of it as a means of exalting the truth and mercy of God through Christ Jesus; and of showing that the promises of God not only come by him, but are fulfilled through him.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 2 Corinthians 1:15-24

The apostle clears himself from the charge of levity and inconstancy, in not coming to Corinth. Good men should be careful to keep the reputation of sincerity and constancy; they should not resolve, but on careful thought; and they will not change unless for weighty reasons. Nothing can render God's promises more certain: his giving them through Christ, assures us they are his promises; as the wonders God wrought in…

Read the full comment on 2 Corinthians 1:15-24 →

2 Corinthians 1:20 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ὅσαιhosaiAs many asG3745
γὰρgarforG1063
ἐπαγγελίαιepangeliaipromisesG1860
θεοῦ,theouof God [there are],G2316
ἐνeninG1722
αὐτῷautōHimG846
τὸto[is] theG3588
ναί·naiYes;G3483
διὸdioThereforeG1352
καὶkaialsoG2532
δι᾽di᾽thorughG1223
αὐτοῦautouHimG846
τὸtotheG3588
ἀμὴνamēnAmenG281
τῷtō<the>G3588
θεῷtheōto GodG2316
πρὸςpros[is] forG4314
δόξανdoxangloryG1391
δι᾽di᾽throughG1223
ἡμῶν.hēmōnus.G3165

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 2 Corinthians 1:20

  • 1 John 2:24-25

    Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father. And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.

  • Galatians 3:22

    But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

  • Revelation 7:12

    Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.

  • Hebrews 13:8

    Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

  • Ephesians 1:6

    To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

  • Ephesians 1:12-14

    That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

  • Romans 6:23

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

  • Romans 11:36

    For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

  • Revelation 3:14

    And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;

  • Ephesians 2:7

    That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

  • Isaiah 65:16

    That he who blesseth himself in the earth shall bless himself in the God of truth; and he that sweareth in the earth shall swear by the God of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hid from mine eyes.

  • Hebrews 7:6

    But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
all.
Ge 3:15; 22:18; 49:10; Ps 72:17; Isa 7:14; 9:6,7; Lu 1:68-74
Joh 1:17; 14:6; Ac 3:25,26; 13:32-39; Ro 6:23; 15:8,9; Ga 3:16-18,22
Heb 6:12-19; 7:6; 9:10-15; 11:13,39,40; 13:8; 1Jo 2:24,25; 5:11
Amen.
Isa 65:16; *Heb:
Joh 3:5; *Gr:
Re 3:14
unto.
4:6,15; Ps 102:16; Mt 6:13; Lu 2:14; Ro 11:36; 15:7; Eph 1:6,12-14
Eph 2:7; 3:8-10; Col 1:27; 2Th 1:10; 1Pe 1:12; Re 7:12

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 2 Corinthians 1:19

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

  • 2 Corinthians 1:20

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

  • 2 Corinthians 1:21

    Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;

Read all of 2 Corinthians 1

2 Corinthians 1:20 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Porque todas las promesas de Dios son en él Sí, y en él Amén, por nosotros á gloria de Dios.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		car autant il y a de promesses de Dieu, en lui est le oui et en lui l’amen, à la gloire de Dieu par nous.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Denn so viele der Verheißungen Gottes sind, in ihm ist das Ja und in ihm das Amen, Gott zur Herrlichkeit durch uns.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Quotquot enim promissiones Dei sunt, in illo Est: ideo et per ipsum Amen Deo ad gloriam nostram.