2 Corinthians 1:21

THE MESSAGE

Parallel Translations

Simplified Cowboy Version
It is God who makes all of us strong and gives us the will and want to ride hard for Jesus. He chose us for this task.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God,

Legacy Standard Bible
Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God,

Bible in Basic English
Now he who makes our faith strong together with you, in Christ, and has given us of his grace, is God;

Darby Translation
Now he that establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, [is] God,

Christian Standard Bible®
Now it is God who strengthens us, with you, in Christ and has anointed us.

World English Bible
Now he who establishes us with you in Christ, and anointed us, is God;

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
For he that establisheth us with you in Christ, and that hath anointed us is God:

Weymouth's New Testament
But He who is making us as well as you stedfast through union with the Anointed One, and has anointed us, is God,

King James Version (1611)
Now hee which stablisheth vs with you, in Christ, and hath anoynted vs, is God,

Literal Translation
But He confirming us and anointing us with you in Christ is God,

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
But it is God which stablysheth vs wt you in Christ, and hath anoynted us,

Mace New Testament (1729)
now it is God who keeps you fix'd in the doctrine of Christ; who has appointed me,

Amplified Bible
Now it is God who establishes and confirms us [in joint fellowship] with you in Christ, and who has anointed us [empowering us with the gifts of the Spirit];

American Standard Version
Now he that establisheth us with you in Christ, and anointed us, is God;

Revised Standard Version
But it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has commissioned us;

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
For it is God which stablissheth vs and you in Christ and hath annoynted vs

Update Bible Version
Now he that establishes us with you in Christ, and anointed us, is God;

Webster's Bible Translation
Now he who establisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, [is] God;

Young's Literal Translation
and He who is confirming you with us into Christ, and did anoint us, [is] God,

New Century Version
Remember, God is the One who makes you and us strong in Christ. God made us his chosen people.

New English Translation
But it is God who establishes us together with you in Christ and who anointed us,

Berean Standard Bible
Now it is God who establishes both us and you in Christ. He anointed us,

Contemporary English Version
And so God makes it possible for you and us to stand firmly together with Christ. God is also the one who chose us

Complete Jewish Bible
Moreover, it is God who sets both us and you in firm union with the Messiah; he has anointed us,

English Standard Version
And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us,

Geneva Bible (1587)
And it is God which stablisheth vs with you in Christ, and hath anoynted vs.

George Lamsa Translation
Now it is God who has confirmed us with you in Christ, and who has anointed us;

Hebrew Names Version
Now he who establishes us with you in Messiah, and anointed us, is God;

International Standard Version
Now the one who makes us - and you as well - secure in union with Christ and has anointed us is God,1 John 2:20,27;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
But Aloha himself confirmeth us with you in the Meshiha, who himself hath anointed us,

Murdock Translation
Now it is God who establisheth us, with you, in the Messiah, and hath anointed us,

New King James Version
Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God,

New Living Translation
It is God who enables us, along with you, to stand firm for Christ. He has commissioned us,

New Life Bible
God is the One Who makes our faith and your faith strong in Christ. He has set us apart for Himself.

English Revised Version
Now he that stablisheth us with you in Christ, and anointed us, is God;

New Revised Standard
But it is God who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us,

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Now, he that confirmeth us, together with you, for Christ, and hath anointed us, is God:

Douay-Rheims Bible
Now he that confirmeth us with you in Christ and that hath anointed us, is God:

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

Lexham English Bible
Now the one who establishes us together with you in Christ and who anoints us is God,

Bishop's Bible (1568)
And God it is whiche stablysheth vs with you in Christe, and hath annoynted vs.

Easy-to-Read Version
And God is the one who makes you and us strong in Christ. God is also the one who chose us for his work.

New American Standard Bible
Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God,

Good News Translation
It is God himself who makes us, together with you, sure of our life in union with Christ; it is God himself who has set us apart,

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Sotheli it is God that confermeth vs with you in Crist, and the which God anoyntide vs,

Contextual Overview

¹⁵Confident of your welcome, I had originally planned two great visits with you—coming by on my way to Macedonia province, and then again on my return trip. Then we could have had a bon-voyage party as you sent me off to Judea. That was the plan. ¹⁷Are you now going to accuse me of being flip with my promises because it didn't work out? Do you think I talk out of both sides of my mouth—a glib yes one moment, a glib no the next? Well, you're wrong. I try to be as true to my word as God is to his. Our word to you wasn't a careless yes canceled by an indifferent no. How could it be? When Silas and Timothy and I proclaimed the Son of God among you, did you pick up on any yes-and-no, on-again, off-again waffling? Wasn't it a clean, strong Yes? ²⁰Whatever God has promised gets stamped with the Yes of Jesus. In him, this is what we preach and pray, the great Amen, God's Yes and our Yes together, gloriously evident. God affirms us, making us a sure thing in Christ, putting his Yes within us. By his Spirit he has stamped us with his eternal pledge—a sure beginning of what he is destined to complete. ²³ Now, are you ready for the real reason I didn't visit you in Corinth? As God is my witness, the only reason I didn't come was to spare you pain. I was being considerate of you, not indifferent, not manipulative. ²⁴ We're not in charge of how you live out the faith, looking over your shoulders, suspiciously critical. We're partners, working alongside you, joyfully expectant. I know that you stand by your own faith, not by ours.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

stablisheth: 2 Corinthians 5:5, Psalms 37:23, Psalms 37:24, Psalms 87:5, Psalms 89:4, Isaiah 9:7, Isaiah 49:8, Isaiah 62:7, Romans 16:25, Colossians 2:7, 1 Thessalonians 3:13, 2 Thessalonians 2:8, 2 Thessalonians 2:17, 2 Thessalonians 3:3, 1 Peter 5:10

anointed: Psalms 45:7, Isaiah 59:21, Isaiah 61:1, John 3:34, Acts 10:38, Romans 8:9, 1 John 2:20, 1 John 2:27, Revelation 1:6, Revelation 3:18

Reciprocal: Exodus 28:41 - anoint them Exodus 30:26 - General Exodus 37:29 - he made Leviticus 7:35 - portion Leviticus 10:7 - the anointing Leviticus 14:18 - the remnant 1 Kings 1:34 - Zadok 2 Kings 11:12 - anointed him Psalms 23:5 - thou anointest Psalms 92:10 - I shall Song of Solomon 4:10 - the smell Ezekiel 16:9 - anointed Romans 1:11 - to the 1 Corinthians 1:8 - confirm Hebrews 13:9 - it is

Cross-References

Genesis 1:24
God spoke: "Earth, generate life! Every sort and kind: cattle and reptiles and wild animals—all kinds." And there it was: wild animals of every kind, Cattle of all kinds, every sort of reptile and bug. God saw that it was good.

Genesis 1:26
God spoke: "Let us make human beings in our image, make them reflecting our nature So they can be responsible for the fish in the sea, the birds in the air, the cattle, And, yes, Earth itself, and every animal that moves on the face of Earth." God created human beings; he created them godlike, Reflecting God's nature. He created them male and female. God blessed them: "Prosper! Reproduce! Fill Earth! Take charge! Be responsible for fish in the sea and birds in the air, for every living thing that moves on the face of Earth."

Genesis 1:31
God looked over everything he had made; it was so good, so very good! It was evening, it was morning— Day Six.

Job 26:5
"All the buried dead are in torment, and all who've been drowned in the deep, deep sea. Hell is ripped open before God, graveyards dug up and exposed. He spreads the skies over unformed space, hangs the earth out in empty space. He pours water into cumulus cloud-bags and the bags don't burst. He makes the moon wax and wane, putting it through its phases. He draws the horizon out over the ocean, sets a boundary between light and darkness. Thunder crashes and rumbles in the skies. Listen! It's God raising his voice! By his power he stills sea storms, by his wisdom he tames sea monsters. With one breath he clears the sky, with one finger he crushes the sea serpent. And this is only the beginning, a mere whisper of his rule. Whatever would we do if he really raised his voice!"

Jonah 1:17
Then God assigned a huge fish to swallow Jonah. Jonah was in the fish's belly three days and nights.

Jonah 2:10
Then God spoke to the fish, and it vomited up Jonah on the seashore.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Now he which stablisheth us with you,.... Two things are in this verse ascribed to God. First, the establishing of the saints in Christ; in which may be observed, that the people of God are in a firm, settled, established state and condition; they are encircled in the arms of everlasting love; they are secure of the favour of God; they are engraven on his hands, and set as a seal on his heart, from whence they can never be removed; they are taken into his family by adopting grace; and will never be turned out; they are in a state of justification, and shall never enter into condemnation; they are regenerated and sanctified by the Spirit of God, and shall never finally and totally fall from that grace they have received. This their establishment is "in" Christ, and in no other. They had no stability in Adam, nor have they any in themselves; their standing is alone in him; the unchangeable love and favour of God, which is their grand security, is in Christ; the covenant of grace, in which is all their salvation, is made and stands fast with him; their persons, with all their grace and glory, are put into his hands, and made his care and charge, and there they are safe. They are espoused unto him, made one with him, incorporated into him, and are built upon him the rock of ages, where they are so established, that hell and earth cannot shake them, so as to remove and unsettle them from this foundation: one and all of them, and all together, are established in him,

us with you; all the elect of God are alike, and together in Christ, and have the same place and standing in his love, power, and care; they make up one body, of which Christ is the head, and not one of them shall be lost, whether they be Jews or Gentiles, ministers or private believers; for so this phrase may be interpreted, "us" Jews "with you" Gentiles, or "us" ministers "with you" believers. This work of establishing the saints in Christ is wholly the Lord's act; he

is God that does it; which does not contradict the word and ordinances being means of establishment; nor does it hinder or discourage persons making use of means for their stability; for the apostle here is not speaking so much of the stability of hearts, frames, and exercise of grace, as of state; though a firm, steady, and stable assurance of interest in Christ, is what God gives by his Spirit. The apostle's view seems to be this, that whatever steadfastness and stability the saints have, whether ministers or people, they ought to ascribe it entirely to God, Father, Son, and Spirit. "Secondly", the anointing of them:

he hath anointed us; which is to be understood either of the unction of ministers, with the gifts of the Spirit for ministerial service; or rather of the anointing of private Christians with the grace of the Spirit, compared to oil or ointment, in allusion to the anointing oil under the law, by which the tabernacle, and its vessels, Aaron, and his sons, were anointed, who were typical of the saints and priests of God under the Gospel; or to the lamp oil in the candlestick, which was pure, and for light; or to oil in common, for its sweet smell, refreshing nature, and for its usefulness for ornament and healing. This also is the Lord's work, and not man's; this unction comes from the God of all grace, through Christ, by the Spirit.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Now he which stablisheth us - He who makes us firm (ὁ βέβαιῶν ἡμᾶς ho bebaiōn hēmas); that is, he who has confirmed us in the hopes of the gospel, and who gives us grace to be faithful, and firm in our promises. The object of this is to trace all to God, and to prevent the appearance of self-confidence, or of boasting. Paul had dwelt at length on his own fidelity and veracity. He had taken pains to prove that he was not inconstant and fickle-minded. Here he says, that this was not to be traced to himself, or to any native goodness, but was all to be traced to God. It was God who had given them all confident hope in Christ; and it was God who had given him grace to adhere to His promises, and to maintain a character for veracity. The first “us,” in this verse refers probably to Paul himself; the second includes also the Corinthians, as being also anointed and sealed.

And hath anointed us - Us who are Christians. It was customary to anoint kings, prophets, and priests on their entering on their office as a part of the ceremony of inauguration. The word “anoint” is applied to a priest, Exodus 28:41; Exodus 40:15; to a prophet, 1 Kings 19:16; Isaiah 61:1; to a king, 1Sa 10:1; 1 Samuel 15:1; 2Sa 2:4; 1 Kings 1:34. It is applied often to the Messiah as being set apart, or consecrated to his office as prophet, priest, and king - that is, as appointed by God to the highest office ever held in the world. It is applied also to Christians as being consecrated, or set apart to the service of God by the Holy Spirit - a use of the word which is derived from the sense of consecrating, or setting apart to the service of God. Thus, in 1 John 2:20, it is said, “But ye have an unction from the Holy One and know all things.” So in 1 John 2:27, “But the anointing which ye have received abideth in you,” etc. The anointing which was used in the consecration of prophets, priests, and kings, seems to have been designed to be emblematic of the influences of the Holy Spirit, who is often represented as poured upon those who are under his influence Proverbs 1:23; Isaiah 43:4; Joel 2:28-29; Zechariah 12:10; Acts 10:45, in the same way as water or oil is poured out. And as Christians are everywhere represented as being under the influence of the Holy Spirit, as being those on whom the Holy Spirit is poured, they are represented as “anointed.” They are in this manner solemnly set apart, and consecrated to the service of God.

Is God - God has done it. All is to be traced to him. It is not by any native goodness which we have, or any inclination which we have by nature to his service. This is one of the instances which abound so much in the writings of Paul, where he delights to trace all good influences to God.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 21. Now he which stablisheth us with you — It is God that has brought both us and you to this sure state of salvation through Christ; and he has anointed us, giving us the extraordinary influences of the Holy Ghost, that we might be able effectually to administer this Gospel to your salvation. Through this unction we know and preach the truth, and are preserved by it from dissimulation and falsity of every kind.