John Calvin Commentary 2 Corinthians 1:20

"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." — 2 Corinthians 1:20 (ASV)

For all the promises of God — Here again he shows how firm and unvarying the preaching of Christ ought to be, since he is the foundation of all the promises of God. For it would be worse than absurd to entertain the idea that he, in whom all the promises of God are established, is like one that wavers.

Now although the statement is general, as we shall see soon, it is, nevertheless, applied to the current situation, in order to confirm the certainty of Paul’s doctrine. For he is not treating simply of the gospel in general, but he honors his own gospel more especially with this distinction. “If the promises of God are sure and well-founded, my preaching also must of necessity be sure, since it contains nothing but Christ, in whom they are all established.”

However, since in these words he simply means that he preached a genuine gospel, not adulterated by any foreign additions, let us keep in view this general doctrine: that all the promises of God rest upon Christ alone as their support — a sentiment worthy of remembrance and one of the main articles of our faith. It depends, however, on another principle — that it is only in Christ that God the Father is gracious to us. Now the promises are testimonies of his fatherly kindness towards us. Therefore, it follows that they are fulfilled in him alone.

1. The promises, I say, are testimonies of Divine grace: for although God shows kindness even to the unworthy (Luke 6:35), yet when promises are given in addition to his acts of kindness, there is a special reason — that in them he declares himself to be a Father.
2. We are not qualified for enjoying the promises of God unless we have received the remission of our sins, which we obtain through Christ.
3. The promise by which God adopts us to himself as his sons holds the first place among them all.

Now the cause and root of adoption is Christ, because God is not a Father to any who are not members and brethren of his only-begotten Son. Everything, however, flows from this source: that, while we are without Christ, we are hated by God rather than favorably regarded, even while God promises us everything that he does promise, because he loves us. Hence, it is no wonder that Paul here teaches that all the promises of God are ratified and confirmed in Christ.

It is asked, however, whether they were feeble or powerless before Christ’s advent; for Paul seems to speak here of Christ as manifested in the flesh (1 Timothy 3:16). I answer that all the promises given to believers from the beginning of the world were founded upon Christ.

Hence Moses and the Prophets, whenever they discuss reconciliation with God, the hope of salvation, or any other favor, mention him and, at the same time, speak about his coming and his kingdom. I say again, that the promises under the Old Testament were fulfilled to the pious insofar as it was advantageous for their welfare; and yet it is no less true that they were in a way suspended until the advent of Christ, through whom they obtained their true fulfillment.

Indeed, believers themselves rested on the promises in such a way as to simultaneously refer their true fulfillment to the appearing of the Mediator, suspending their hope until that time. In short, if anyone considers what the fruit of Christ’s death and resurrection is, he will easily gather from this in what respect the promises of God have been sealed and ratified in him, which otherwise would have had no sure fulfillment.

Wherefore, also, through him let there be Amen. Here also the Greek manuscripts do not agree, for some of them have it in one continuous statement — As many promises of God as there are, are in him Yea, and in him Amen to the glory of God through us. The different reading, however, which I have followed, is easier and contains a fuller meaning.

For as he had said that, in Christ, God has confirmed the truth of all his promises, so now he teaches us that it is our duty to agree to this ratification. This we do when, resting upon Christ by a sure faith, we subscribe and set our seal that God is true, as we read in John 3:33, and do so for his glory, as this is the end to which everything should be referred (Ephesians 1:13, and Romans 3:4).

The other reading, I confess, is the more common one, but as it is somewhat lacking, I have not hesitated to prefer the one that contains the fuller meaning and, besides, is much better suited to the context. For Paul reminds the Corinthians of their duty — to utter their Amen in return, after having been instructed in the simple truth of God. If, however, anyone is reluctant to depart from the other reading, then, in any case, an exhortation to mutual agreement in doctrine and faith must be deduced from it.