2 Corinthians 1:21,22 – Christ, God And The Spirit

2 Corinthians 1:21 Now he who establishes us with you in Christ, and anointed us, is God;
2 Corinthians 1:22 who also sealed us, and gave us the down payment of the Spirit in our hearts.

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The above is cited by John Ankerberg and John Weldon (The Facts on Jehovah’s Witnesses*, 1988 edition, page 14) as being one of the scriptures that would be impossible to understand if one rejects the trinity. Actually, we find nothing at all in the verse that is made impossible to understand by rejecting the trinity. The reality is that the verse is totally self-explanatory, simple to understand and it only becomes difficult to undertand if one imagines and assumes the trinity doctrine, and endeavors to insert that concept into the verses. Indeed, inserting and adding “triune God” dogma into the verses makes them appear to be self-contradictory. 

It is evident that the word “God” in 2 Corinthians 1:21 does not refer to three persons; it refers to one person, the God and Father of Jesus. This is simple to understand and should be the end of the matter, as far who is "God" in 1 Corinthians 1. It is in harmony with 2 Corinthians 1:3, which reads in the World English: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort.” (See also Ephesians 1:3; 1 Peter 1:3) It is in harmony with 1 Corinthians 8:6, where only the Father is identified as being the "one God" of whom are all. Furthermore, in 1 Corinthians 1:9, we find the expression “Son of God”. Does the word “God” there mean three persons, or one person? It should be evident that “God” is being presented, not as three persons, but rather as one person.

Even the trinitarian has to admit that the word “God” is being used of one person in 2 Corinthians 1:3,9,21. The trinitarian, however, calls upon the spirit of human imagination so to assume and add to the scripture that “God” in these verses is referring to only one of the alleged three persons of their alleged triune God, that God the Father. They then further have to call upon the spirit of human imagination so as to assume, add to, and read into the verses that “Christ” also means the only true God, and then further call upon the spirit of human imagination so as to further assume that “Christ” means a person of the alleged “triune God”.

We also find the word “Christ”. Do we find any reason to imagine and assume that Christ is a person of God? None whatsoever. Nor do we find that not accepting Christ as being a person of an alleged “triune God” make the verse not understandable.

“Christ” means anointed one; who anointed Jesus as Christ? The scriptures reveal to us that it was Yahweh. Prophetically, the anointed one is quoted as saying: “Yahweh has anointed me.” (Isaiah 61:1, World English) In Isaiah 61:1, it is evident that Yahweh is one person, and that one anointed by Yahweh is not Yahweh who anointed him. We further read that Peter told the Jews: “God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” (Acts 2:36, World English) Again, “God” in Acts 2:36, is speaking not of three persons, but one person, and it is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob who anointed Jesus, and made him both Lord and Christ (anointed one).

We find in 1 Corinthians 1:22, that the word “spirit” is used. Is “spirit” identified as a person of “God”? Absolutely not! The scripture is completely understandable without calling upon human imagination so as to assume that “spirit” is here referring to a person of God. Nothing in either verse makes the verses impossible to understand without adding the triune dogma to the verses.

Likewise, with the word “spirit” in 2 Corinthians 1:22: the trinitarian has to call upon his human imagination so as assume that “spirit” refers to a person of the only true God. Actually, we can understand the verse completely without having to use our human imagination to read such trinitatrian assumptions into the scripture. Paul shows that the receiving of God’s holy spirit in this age is, in effect, only a down payment. In 2 Corinthians 5:5, he states: “Now he who made us for this very thing is God, who also gave to us the down payment of the Spirit.” And in Ephesians 1:13,14, he wrote: “You were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, which is a down payment of our inheritance.” One can understand all of this without calling upon human imagination so as to add to the scripture that “the Holy Spirit of God” (Ephesians 4:30) is a person of “God” to whom the Holy Spirit belongs.

Ronald R. Day, Sr., Restoration Light Bible Study Services (RLBible; ResLight).

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*See our examination of Ankerberg and Weldon's book:

Responses to Ankerberg and Weldon's Alleged "Facts"

Please note that we are not associated with the Jehovah’s Witnesses, nor is it our purpose to defend that organization.

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