II Corinthians 7:2 · Bible study
2 Corinthians 7:2 Commentary: A Plea for Open Hearts and a Blameless Defense
Greek · 11 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Paul's triple denial of wrongdoing addresses accusations from false teachers and calls the Corinthians to receive him with open hearts.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Paul calls the Corinthians to receive him fully, defending himself against three specific charges (injustice, corrupting influence, and financial exploitation) to restore mutual affection.
- Key words: χωρήσατε (make room, from χωρέω), ἠδικήσαμεν (wronged, ἀδικέω), ἐφθείραμεν (corrupted, φθείρω), ἐπλεονεκτήσαμεν (defrauded/exploited, πλεονεκτέω).
- Main debate: Whether the three denials refer to actual charges from false teachers or are a general defense of Paul’s character; most commentators affirm the former.
- Theological theme: Apostolic integrity as a foundation for pastoral authority and reconciled community.
- Best use: Preached as part of a series on reconciliation, pastoral ethics, or 2 Corinthians; especially powerful following a passage on holiness (6:14, 7:1).
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
Make room for us in your hearts. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have exploited no one.
WEB World English Bible 2000
Open your hearts to us. We wronged no one. We corrupted no one. We took advantage of no one.
KJV King James Version 1769
Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
Open your hearts to us: we wronged no man, we corrupted no man, we took advantage of no man.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
receive us; no one did we wrong; no one did we waste; no one did we defraud;
Darby Darby Bible 1890
Receive us: we have injured no one, we have ruined no one, we have made gain of no one.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
Receive us. We have injured no man: we have corrupted no man: we have overreached no man.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Admitidnos|strong="G5562, G2248": á nadie hemos injuriado, á nadie hemos corrompido, á nadie hemos engañado.
Dai lugar a nós em vossos corações ; contra ninguém agimos mal, a ninguém corrompemos, a ninguém abusamos para nosso proveito.
Donnez-nous une place dans vos cœurs! Nous n’ avons fait tort à personne, nous n’ avons ruiné personne, nous n’ avons tiré du profit de personne.
Fasset uns: Wir haben niemand Leid getan, wir haben niemand verletzt, wir haben niemand übervorteilt.
Geeft ons plaats; wij hebben niemand verongelijkt, wij hebben niemand verdorven, wij hebben bij niemand ons voordeel gezocht.
Fateci posto nei vostri cuori! Noi non abbiam fatto torto ad alcuno, non abbiam nociuto ad alcuno, non abbiam sfruttato alcuno.
Przyjmijcież nas; nikogośmy nie ukrzywdzili, nikogośmy nie uszkodzili, nikogośmy przez łakomstwo nie podeszli.
Вместите нас. Мы никого не обидели, никому не повредили, ни от кого не искали корысти.
你們要心地寬大收納 我們。我們未曾 虧負誰，未曾 敗壞誰，未曾佔誰 的便宜。
Let your hearts be open to us: we have done no man wrong, no man has been damaged by us, we have made no profit out of any man,
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · II Corinthians 7:2
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree that in this verse Paul issues an earnest call for the Corinthians to receive him fully, grounded in a threefold denial of misconduct. Barnes, Calvin and Gill all note that the command χωρήσατε ("make room for us") refers back to 2 Corinthians 6:12, where Paul says their hearts are restricted not by him but by their own affections. The triple denial, "we wronged no one, we corrupted no one, we took advantage of no one", is consistently read as a response to accusations brought by false teachers in Corinth. Cambridge Bible observes that Paul had been charged with wielding authority unjustly, corrupting doctrine (2 Corinthians 2:17), and defrauding the church (2 Corinthians 12:17). Vincent's Word Studies notes that the third verb, ἐπλεονεκτήσαμεν, adds the idea of wrong for the sake of gain. Together, the three denials function as a defense of Paul's integrity and a reason for the Corinthians to set aside suspicion and embrace him with open hearts.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: Paul denies three specific forms of misconduct and commands the Corinthians to receive him with open hearts, using language that echoes Old Testament leaders and counters accusations from his opponents.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| The nature of the accusations | Paul is responding to some form of criticism that questioned his integrity and motives. | Some commentators (e.g., Cambridge Bible, Barnes) see direct charges from the false teachers; others (e.g., Calvin) view the denials as part of a general self-defense without specifying particular accusations. |
| Meaning of 'corrupted no man' (ἐφθείραμεν) | The word implies spoiling or ruining, either of character or doctrine. | Wesley and Gill interpret it as corrupting principles or doctrine; Plumptre (cited in Cambridge) suggests it may refer to moral corruption via sensual sin, a charge common in the early church against Christians. Most prefer the doctrinal reading based on Paul's usage in 2 Corinthians 11:3. |
| The force of the command 'Open your hearts' | It is an imperative, demanding action, not just a wish. | Clarke reads it as 'receive us into your affections,' while Calvin emphasizes receiving Paul's doctrine. The difference is one of emphasis: emotional reception vs. doctrinal acceptance, both are in view. |
| Relationship to 2 Corinthians 6:13 | This verse resumes the appeal from 6:13 after a digression on holiness. | Some see a direct parallel where 6:13 calls them to be enlarged; 7:2 repeats the call with added reasons. Others note a shift in tone, from exhortation to defense. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Paul writes 2 Corinthians from Macedonia, probably Philippi, after a period of intense conflict with the Corinthian church. The crisis involved a "painful letter" (2 Corinthians 2:4) and the presence of rival teachers, "false apostles" (2 Corinthians 11:13) who undermined his authority. These opponents charged Paul with fickleness (not fulfilling travel plans), overreaching his apostolic authority, and financial greed (refusing support while secretly taking money).
In 2 Corinthians 6:11-13, Paul had already pleaded for openness: "Our heart is enlarged… you are restricted in your own affections." Now, after a digression on holiness (6:14-7:1), he returns to that appeal. The triple denial echoes ancient models of blameless leadership. When Moses declared, "I have not taken one donkey from them" (Numbers 16:15), and Samuel asked the people to testify, "Whom have I defrauded?" (1 Samuel 12:3), they used similar language of self-vindication. Paul adopts that same rhetorical posture, placing himself in the tradition of Israel's faithful leaders.
By using aorist verbs (ἠδικήσαμεν, ἐφθείραμεν, ἐπλεονεκτήσαμεν) rather than perfects, Paul emphasizes specific completed actions, "we wronged, corrupted, defrauded no one", rather than a state of sinlessness. This invites the Corinthians to test his claim against their own experience. The historical setting makes the verse a pivot: after the reconciliation of 2 Corinthians 7, Paul reopens the personal relationship on the basis of his proven conduct.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for 2 Corinthians 7:2. The aorist tense verbs (ἠδικήσαμεν, ἐφθείραμεν, ἐπλεονεκτήσαμεν) are consistent across the major manuscripts, with only minor differences in the use of the particle “οὐδένα” (no one) which all witnesses retain. The Western text (D) supports the same reading.
Reception History
In the patristic period, this verse was cited as a model for apostolic conduct and a defense against accusations of self-interest. Chrysostom highlighted Paul’s boldness in appealing to his own blameless life as grounds for trust. Medieval commentators like Thomas Aquinas treated the triple denial as a pattern for spiritual leadership, avoiding harm, false teaching, and greed. During the Reformation, Calvin and the Geneva Bible emphasized the verse as proof that true ministers of Christ must be free from such offenses. In modern preaching, the verse is often used in ordination services and pastoral ethics discussions, reminding leaders that integrity must precede influence. The call to “open your hearts” has also been received as a text for Christian reconciliation: when trust is broken, clear confession and proven character can prepare the way for renewed affection.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The plea for open hearts. Paul commands χωρήσατε, make spatial room, not just emotional space. The Corinthians' hearts have been narrow (2 Corinthians 6:12); Paul asks for expansion, not because he needs approval, but so they can receive the grace he brings.
- The triple defense. He denies wrongdoing (ἀδικέω, injustice against persons), corruption (φθείρω, spoiling morals or doctrine), and exploitation (πλεονεκτέω, taking advantage for gain). Each verb matches a known charge: tyranny, false teaching, greed.
- The goal of reconciliation. The defense is not self-justification but relationship. Verse 3 shows Paul does not want to condemn them; he wants to live and die with them. The open heart leads to shared life.
Five-point outline
- Context of conflict. Paul writes after a painful letter, having faced rivals who slandered him. The church is recovering.
- The imperative. "Open your hearts to us", a direct command that calls for action, not just feeling.
- The denial. Three specific absolutes: no wrong, no corruption, no defrauding. Paul does not claim sinlessness; he claims a pattern of integrity in this relationship.
- The implied accusation. False teachers had charged Paul with these very sins. By denying them, he exposes the rivals' own practices (2 Corinthians 11:20: they "devour you, take advantage of you").
- The open door. The verse ends with an invitation. Paul’s cleared record makes room for the Corinthians to trust him again.
Illustration hooks
- A pastor returning to a church after a split needs honest defense before trust can be rebuilt. The triple denial is not arrogance; it is the prerequisite for restored relationship.
- Imagine a financial advisor who was accused of mismanaging funds. She opens her books and says, "I have not defrauded anyone." That clears the way for clients to re-engage.
- In any conflict, the hardest step is to move from suspicion to acceptance. Paul models a leader who first removes reasons for mistrust, then asks for the heart.
Questions your congregation is asking
- How can I trust Christian leaders after seeing so many scandals?
- When is it right to ask others to "open their hearts" to me, and when am I being defensive?
- What does it look like for a leader to defend their integrity without becoming self-righteous?
Leading a Discussion
This small group study focuses on 2 Corinthians 7:2, where Paul makes a direct appeal for the Corinthians to receive him, backing his request with a powerful denial of wrongdoing. In a culture where leaders were often corrupt, Paul’s claim stands out, and invites us to reflect on trust, integrity, and reconciliation in our own relationships.
Discussion questions
- Read the verse aloud. What emotions do you hear in Paul’s voice as he says, "Open your hearts to us"?
- The Greek word χωρήσατε means "make room." In what ways might the Corinthians' hearts have been "too small" for Paul? How does that apply to us today?
- Identify the three things Paul denies doing (wrong, corrupt, defraud). What specific accusations do they answer? (Consider cross-references like 2 Corinthians 11:20 and 12:17.)
- Look at the cross-references from the Old Testament: Numbers 16:15 (Moses) and 1 Samuel 12:3 (Samuel). Why does Paul echo these leaders? What does it tell us about how he sees his own ministry?
- When a leader in your life makes a similar claim to integrity, how do you test it? What evidence would you look for?
- Paul’s defense is not self-centered; he states it so that their hearts can open and the relationship can deepen. How can we distinguish between a healthy defense of one's character and a defensive attitude that blocks connection?
- Think of a relationship in your life where trust is strained. What would it take to "make room" for that person again? Is there a step you need to take today?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Numbers 16:15 | Moses was very angry, and said to Yahweh, “Don’t respect their offering. I have not taken one donkey from them, neither have I hurt one of them.” |
| I Samuel 12:3 | Here I am. Witness against me before Yahweh and before his anointed. Whose ox have I taken? Whose donkey have I taken? Whom have I defrauded? Whom have I oppressed? Of whose hand have I taken a bribe to make me blind my eyes? I will restore it to you.” |
| I Samuel 12:4 | They said, “You have not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither have you taken anything from anyone’s hand.” |
| Matthew 10:14 | Whoever doesn’t receive you or hear your words, as you go out of that house or that city, shake the dust off your feet. |
| Matthew 10:40 | “He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives him who sent me. |
| Luke 10:8 | Into whatever city you enter and they receive you, eat the things that are set before you. |
| Acts 20:33 | I coveted no one’s silver, gold, or clothing. |
| Romans 16:18 | For those who are such don’t serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the innocent. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
9 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke reads this not as a general claim of innocence but as a direct contrast to the false teachers among them. Paul had wronged, corrupted, and defrauded no one, while those false teachers had beguiled them from the truth, brought them into bondage, and devoured them.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes stresses that Paul's appeal for their affection is backed by a clear conscience: Paul could truthfully say he had never wronged, corrupted, or defrauded anyone in Corinth. Only a man certain of his blameless life could make such a solemn declaration, and that integrity is the ground of his request.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin reads Paul's plea "Make room for us" as an urgent call for the Corinthians to clear out corrupt affections and prejudiced thoughts so that his doctrine can find a home in their hearts. He then defends his own conduct, insisting he has given them no cause for alienation through any injury, false teaching, or financial cheating.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentator explains that Paul denies three specific charges brought against him by the Corinthians: wronging, corrupting, and defrauding no one. The unusual pairing of "corrupted" and "defrauded" might suggest accusations of moral misconduct, but Paul's use of these terms elsewhere does not support that restricted meaning.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Notes point out that Paul clears his name with three specific claims: he has wronged no one, corrupted no one, and defrauded no one. By making this strong denial, he calls on the Corinthians to welcome him without suspicion.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill sees Paul's plea "Receive us" as a defense of apostolic integrity backed by three specific claims: he and his fellow ministers have wronged no one, corrupted no one through false teaching or bad example, and defrauded no one for personal gain. This counters the false apostles who did precisely these things.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry emphasizes that holiness progresses in two directions: cleansing from every defilement of both body and mind, and actively growing in righteousness. Because God's promises secure our hope, we must pursue purity in every part of our nature, since God is glorified with both soul and body.
Vincent's Word Studies Evangelical 1887
Vincent draws attention to the Greek word behind "receive," which literally means to make room or open space. He notes that Paul is asking the Corinthians to enlarge their hearts toward him, just as his own heart has been enlarged toward them. On "defrauded," he observes that Paul uses a rare term that specifically implies wrong done for personal gain.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley parses Paul's defense into three clear categories: no physical harm, no corrupting of beliefs, and no cheating of property. He notes that the apostle also quietly implies the good he had done for them, but with such restraint that he avoids any hint of self-praise.