He Explains That The Change of Plans He Made Was Not Due To Fickleness
‘And in this confidence I was minded to come first to you, that you might have a second benefit, and by you to pass into Macedonia, and again from Macedonia to come to you, and of you to be set forward on my journey to Judea.'
It was because of his confidence in his message, and in their readiness to receive it, that originally he had intended to come to them before going to Macedonia, so that they might have the benefit (charis - something resulting from God's grace) of a second visit. And then after going to Macedonia to return to them for a third visit, prior to going to Judea (among other things with the collection money for the poor in Judea - 1 Corinthians 16:1). Why then did he not do so?
In 2 Corinthians 1:23 he will tell them that it was in fact to spare them in the light of what he would have to say as a result of the way they had treated him. But first he feels that he must establish the question of fickleness theologically. He is shocked to think that they might see him, the bearer of the true Gospel, as fickle. Fickleness, he wants them to know, is in fact a stranger to him (as it should be to us) because of Whom he serves. For central to being a servant of God is to be reliable. Although he will then point out that, for those who serve God, their plans must always be thoughtfully carried through and be subject to His will.
‘Of you to be set forward.' The verb indicates that they were to arrange his journey to Judea, sending companions with him to carry ‘the collection' for the poor in Jerusalem (1 Corinthians 16:1), and making all provision for those who went with him. Acts 20:2-4 may suggest that this never happened, but Luke is not necessarily being exhaustive there about who accompanied Paul.