{Sealed us} (sphragisamenos h(886d)as). From sphragiz(935c) old
verb, common in LXX and papyri for setting a seal to prevent
opening ( Da 6:17 ), in place of signature ( 1Ki 21:18 ). Papyri
examples show a wide legal use to give validity to documents, to
guarantee genuineness of articles as sealing sacks and chests,
etc. (Deissmann, _Bible Studies_, p. 238; Moulton and Milligan's
_Vocabulary_). {The earnest of the Spirit} (	on arrab(936e)a tou
pneumatos). A word of Semitic origin (possibly Phoenician) and
spelled both arab(936e) and arrab(936e). It is common in the papyri
as earnest money in a purchase for a cow or for a wife (a dowry).
In N.T. only here;  5:5  Eph 1:14 . It is part payment on the
total obligation and we use the very expression today, "earnest
money." It is God, says Paul, who has done all this for us and
God is Paul's pledge that he is sincere. He will come to Corinth
in due time. This earnest of the Spirit in our hearts is the
witness of the Spirit that we are God's.