The Meaning of 2 Corinthians 1:20 Explained

2 Corinthians 1:20

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

YLT: for as many as are promises of God, in him are the Yes, and in him the Amen, for glory to God through us;

Darby: For whatever promises of God there are, in him is the yea, and in him the amen, for glory to God by us.

ASV: 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 Reverse Interlinear

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

What does 2 Corinthians 1:20 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The promises referred to here are evidently the ones that have found their fulfillment in Christ. God was completely trustworthy, not90 percent or95 percent reliable in fulfilling these promises. Therefore the promises of God ( 2 Corinthians 1:18) as well as the Son of God ( 2 Corinthians 1:18-200) demonstrate consistency.
In view of the faithfulness of God, the only proper response is "Amen!" ("Let it be so!"). The early Christians commonly spoke this word in unison in their meetings to affirm the truthfulness of what someone had said ( 1 Corinthians 14:16). They addressed God through (in the name of) Jesus Christ.
"How illogical, then, while by their "Amen" attesting the trustworthiness of God, to suspect the trustworthiness of the apostle who taught them to do so! Any charge of inconsistency must be leveled at them, not him." [1]
"In short, Paul has argued in 1710823179_28 that as God is faithful, Song of Solomon , too, is Paul"s "word." His personal "word" is subsumed within his kerygmatic "word." God"s faithfulness is to be seen (1) in the Son of God preached in Corinth as God"s unambiguous, unretracted, and now-eternal "Yes," and (2) in the fact of all the promises of God having been kept in the Son of God, as proclaimed by the apostles. Likewise "faithful" is the "word" of Paul, the minister of the God who speaks unambiguously (cf. 2 Corinthians 1:13) and who keeps his promises. Their very existence is predicated on it." [2]

Context Summary

2 Corinthians 1:12-22 - Sincere Like His Master
The Apostle laid great emphasis on the witness of his conscience. See Acts 23:1; Acts 24:16. As we pass out of this life, and stand in the revealing dawn of eternity, it will be a blessed thing if we are able to say this much of ourselves.
Paul had thought of visiting Corinth on his way to Macedonia, and again on his return journey; but this purpose had been defeated. He was eager, however, that his friends should understand that the change was not due to vacillation on his part, for this would be unworthy of one who stood for the great certainties of the gospel.
Christ is God's attestation to His promises. All these have received their seal in the words, sufferings and resurrection of our Lord. In Jesus God says Yea to the yearnings and prayers of human hearts, and Amen (verily) to all the ten thousand promises of Scripture. He who rests on Christ stands in the focal point of certainty and assurance. Not one good thing shall fail him of all that has been promised.
2 Corinthians 1:21 is full of comfort. God alone can give us a settled and established position. He anoints us for service; seals us with His Spirit for safety, likeness, and authentication; and in this way gives us the earnest and foretaste of heaven, as the grapes of Eschol were the pledge and foretaste of Canaan. [source]

Chapter Summary: 2 Corinthians 1

1  Paul salutes the Corinthians;
3  he encourages them against troubles,
5  by the comforts and deliverances which God had given him,
8  so particularly in his late danger in Asia
12  And calling both his own conscience and theirs,
15  he excuses his not coming to them, as proceeding not of lightness,
23  but of his care for them

Greek Commentary for 2 Corinthians 1:20

In him is the yea [εν αυτωι το Ναι]
Supply γεγονεν — gegonen from the preceding sentence, “In him was the Yea come true.” This applies to all God‘s promises. [source]
The Amen [το Αμην]
In public worship (1 Corinthians 14:16). [source]
All [ὅσαι]
Wrong. As many as. [source]
Are yea, etc. []
Making this the predicate of promises, which is wrong. The meaning is that how many soever are God's promises, in Christ is the incarnate answer, “yea!” to the question, “Will they be fulfilled?” Hence Rev., correctly: How many soever be the promises of God, in Him is the yea. [source]
And in Him Amen [καὶ ἐν αὐτῷ τὸ ἀμὴν]
The correct reading is: διὸ καὶ δἰ αὐτοῦ τὸ ἀμὴν Whereforealso through Him is the Amen. In giving this answer in His person and life, Christ puts the emphatic confirmation upon God's promises, even as in the congregation the people say Amen, verily. In Him is in His person: through Him, by His agency. [source]
By us [δἰ ἡμῶν]
Through our ministration. Christ, in and through whom are the yea and the amen, is so proclaimed by us as to beget assurance of God's promises, and so to glorify Him. [source]

What do the individual words in 2 Corinthians 1:20 mean?

As many as for promises of God [there are] in Him [is] the Yes Therefore also in Him the Amen - to God [is] for glory by us
ὅσαι γὰρ ἐπαγγελίαι Θεοῦ ἐν αὐτῷ τὸ Ναί διὸ καὶ δι’ αὐτοῦ τὸ Ἀμὴν τῷ Θεῷ πρὸς δόξαν δι’ ἡμῶν

ὅσαι  As  many  as 
Parse: Personal / Relative Pronoun, Nominative Feminine Plural
Root: ὅσος  
Sense: as great as, as far as, how much, how many, whoever.
ἐπαγγελίαι  promises 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Plural
Root: ἐπαγγελία  
Sense: announcement.
Θεοῦ  of  God  [there  are] 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: θεός  
Sense: a god or goddess, a general name of deities or divinities.
τὸ  [is]  the 
Parse: Article, Nominative Neuter Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Ναί  Yes 
Parse: Particle
Root: ναί  
Sense: yea, verily, truly, assuredly, even so.
καὶ  also 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: καί  
Sense: and, also, even, indeed, but.
Ἀμὴν  Amen 
Parse: Hebrew Word
Root: ἀμήν  
Sense: firm.
τῷ  - 
Parse: Article, Dative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Θεῷ  to  God 
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Singular
Root: θεός  
Sense: a god or goddess, a general name of deities or divinities.
πρὸς  [is]  for 
Parse: Preposition
Root: πρός  
Sense: to the advantage of.
δόξαν  glory 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: δόξα  
Sense: opinion, judgment, view.
ἡμῶν  us 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 1st Person Plural
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.