THE SECOND EPISTLE OF PAUL THE APOSTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS - Chapter 7 - Verse 2

Verse 2. Receive us. Tindal renders this, "understand us." The word here used (cwrhsate) means, properly, give space, place, or room; and it means here, evidently, make place or room for us in your affections; that is, admit or receive us as your friends. It is an earnest entreaty that they would do what he had exhorted them to do in 2 Co 6:13. See Barnes "2 Co 6:13".

From that he had digressed in the close of the last chapter. He here returns to the subject, and asks an interest in their affections and their love.

We have wronged no man. We have done injustice to no man. This is given as a reason why they should admit him to their full confidence and affection. It.is not improbable that he had been charged with injuring the incestuous person by the severe discipline which he having found it necessary to inflict on him. See Barnes "1 Co 5:5".

This charge would not improbably be brought against him by the false teachers in Corinth. But Paul here says, that whatever was the severity of the discipline, he was conscious of having done injury to no member of that church. It is possible, however, that he does not here refer to any such charge, but that he says in general that he had done no injury, and that there was no reason why they should not receive him to their entire confidence. It argues great consciousness of integrity when a man who has spent a considerable time, as Paul had, with others, is able to say that he had wronged no man in any way. Paul could not have made this solemn declaration unless he w as certain he had lived a very blameless life. Comp. Ac 20:33.

We have corrupted no man. This means that he had corrupted no man in his morals, either by his precept or by his example. The word (fyeirw) means, in general, to bring into a worse state or condition, and is very often applied to morals. The idea is, here, that Paul had not, by his precept or example, made any man the worse. He had not corrupted his principles or his habits, or led him into sin.

We have defrauded no man. We have taken no man's property, by cunning, by trick, or by deception. The word pleonektew means, literally, to have more than another; and then to take advantage, to seek unlawful gain, to circumvent, defraud, deceive. The idea is that Paul had taken advantage of no circumstances to extort money from them, to overreach them, or to cheat them. It is the conviction of a man who was conscious that he had lived honestly, and who could appeal to them all as full proof that his life among them had been blameless.

{a} "we have defrauded no man" 1 Sa 12:3,4; Ac 20:33; 2 Co 12:17