2 Corinthians 7:2 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Make room in your hearts for us. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have taken advantage of no one.

NIV: Make room for us in your hearts. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have exploited no one.

NASB: Make room for us in your hearts; we have wronged no one, we corrupted no one, we have taken advantage of no one.

CSB: Make room for us in your hearts. We have wronged no one, corrupted no one, taken advantage of no one.

NLT: Please open your hearts to us. We have not done wrong to anyone, nor led anyone astray, nor taken advantage of anyone.

KJV: Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man.

NKJV: Open your hearts to us. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have cheated no one.

This passage returns to Paul's plea, made in the previous chapter, that the Corinthians widen or open their hearts to him and his fellow workers again (2 Corinthians 6:13). He understands they have lost the affection they once had for him. This may have been because of his previous rebukes of their wrong belief or behavior. Or it may have been because of the false teachers among them who had been attacking Paul's character and accusing him of being a false apostle.

Paul insists one more time that he and his co-workers for the gospel are innocent of any wrongdoing. They have acted only with integrity. They haven't wronged, corrupted, or taken advantage of anyone. These declarations from Paul may show what kinds of accusations were being made against him. Perhaps some were saying he was secretly working only for his own personal gain. He has shown this is simply untrue and now declares it again.

Second Corinthians 7:2–16 begins with Paul urging the Corinthians to make room in their hearts for him and his co-workers for the gospel. He then describes the great affliction they were under until Titus returned from a visit to Corinth. Titus' report that the Corinthians had responded to a severe rebuke from Paul with sadness and repentance brought Paul great comfort and caused him to rejoice. Titus, too, expressed affection for the Corinthians after seeing their obedience and humility. Paul concludes by declaring his complete confidence in the Corinthians, though he will discuss other difficult issues in the following chapters.

Verse 1 concludes the previous chapter's declaration that believers, as God's holy people, must cleanse their lives of defilement. Next, Paul urges the Corinthians once more to make room in their hearts for him and his co-workers. He expresses his great comfort and joy over Titus' report that they received a letter of rebuke from him with sorrow and repentance, eager to make things right. He is glad to hear that Titus was impressed with their obedience and humble attitude. This hasn't resolved all the issues between Paul and the Corinthians, but he expresses his complete confidence in them.

Second Corinthians 7 begins with a single verse concluding Paul's teaching about what it means for Christians not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers. He then urges the Corinthians once more to make room in their hearts for him and his fellow ministers. He expresses enormous comfort at hearing that they have received a letter of rebuke from him with an eagerness to make things right with him. Titus, too, is impressed with their obedience and humility. Paul declares that he now has complete confidence in them. Following chapters will continue to address spiritual problems within that church.

Second Corinthians returns to similar themes as those Paul mentioned in his first letter to this church. Paul is glad to hear that the church in Corinth has heeded his advice. At the same time, it is necessary for Paul to counter criticisms about his personality and legitimacy. Most of this text involves that subject. The fifth chapter, in contrast, contains comforting words which Christians have quoted often in times of hardship. Paul also details his expectations that the church in Corinth will make good on their promise to contribute to the needs of suffering believers in Jerusalem.

Accessed 12/21/2024 12:24:15 PM