sentencing adversely (the act) · noun — accusative singular feminine
for
γὰρgar
G1063
properly · conjunction
before
προείρηκαproeirēka
G4280
used as alternate of G4277 (προέπω) · verb — perfect active indicative, 1st person singular
that
ὅτιhoti
G3754
demonstrative · conjunction
are
ἐστέesté
G2075
ye are
in
ἐνen
G1722
"in · preposition
our
ἡμῶνhēmōn
G2257
of (or from) us
hearts
καρδίαιςkardiais
G2588
the heart · noun — dative plural feminine
to
εἰςeis
G1519
to or into (indicating the point reached or entered) · preposition
die
συναποθανεῖνsunapothanein
G4880
to decease (literally) in company with · verb — second aorist active infinitive
and
καὶkai
G2532
and · conjunction
with
συζῆν.suzēn
G4800
to continue to live in common with · verb — present active infinitive
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (James Strong, 1890/1894), public domain; digitized by Open Scriptures (CC BY-SA). KJV word tagging: eBible.org (public domain). Original-language text, parsing and brief lexicon: STEPBible.org data from Tyndale House, Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).
Cross-references
2 Corinthians 6:11-12 O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged.
Philippians 1:8-9 For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ.
Ruth 1:16-17 And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodge…
2 Corinthians 12:15 And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.
1 Thessalonians 2:8 So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, beca…
1 Corinthians 4:14-15 I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you.
2 Corinthians 2:4-5 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the…
2 Corinthians 3:2 Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:
Cross-references from OpenBible.info (CC BY), in the lineage of the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (public domain).
Commentary
Matthew Henry on 2 Corinthians 7:1-4
These verses contain a double exhortation: -
I. To make a progress in holiness, or to perfect holiness in the fear of God, Co2 7:1. This exhortation is given with most tender affection to those who were dearly beloved, and enforced by strong arguments, even the consideration of those exceedingly great and precious promises which were mentioned in the former chapter, and which the Corinthians had an interest in and a title to. The promises of God are strong inducements to sanctification, in both the branches thereof; namely, 1. The dying unto sin, or mortifying our lusts and corruptions: we must cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit. Sin is filthiness, and there are defil…
In excusing myself, I do not accuse you, as though you suspected me of such things [MENOCHIUS], or as though you were guilty of such things; for I speak only of the false apostles [ESTIUS and Greek commentators]. Rather, "as though you were ungrateful and treacherous" [BEZA].
I have said before--in Co2 6:11-12; compare Phi 1:7.
die and live with you--the height of friendship. I am ready to die and live with you and for you (Phi 1:7, Phi 1:20, Phi 1:24; Phi 2:17-18). Compare as to Christ, Joh 10:11.
Adam Clarke on 2 Corinthians 7:3
I speak not this to condemn you - I do not speak to reproach but to correct you. I wish you to open your eyes and see how you are corrupted, spoiled, and impoverished by those whom ye have incautiously preferred to the true apostles of Jesus Christ.
I have said before, that ye are in our hearts - He has in effect and substance said this, Co2 1:6-8 (note); Co2 2:4 (note), Co2 2:12 (note); Co2 3:2 (note), and Co2 3:13 (note); where see the passages at length, and the notes.
To die and live with you - An expression which points out the strongest affection, as in cases where love blinds us to the faults of those whom we love, and causes us to prefer them to all others; like that in Horace: -
Qu…
Paul wants them to realize in what frame of mind he is speaking to them. He is certainly not rejecting people whom he wants to have as sharers with him, but he is exhorting them to make themselves worthy of this sharing.
"I say it not to condemn you." How is this evident? "For I have said before," he adds, "that ye are in our hearts to die and live with you." This is the greatest affection, when even though treated with contempt, he chooseth both to die and live with them. 'For neither are ye merely in our hearts,' he says, 'but in such sort as I said. For it is possible both to love and to shun dangers, but we do not thus.' And behold here also wisdom unspeakable. For he spake not of what had been done for them, that he might not seem to be again reproaching them, but he promiseth for the future. 'For should it chance,' saith he, 'that danger should invade, for your sakes I am ready to suffer every thing; and neither death nor life seemeth aught to me in itself, but in whichever ye be, that is to me more desirable, both death than life and life than death.' Howbeit, dying indeed is manifestly a proof of love; but living, who is there that would not choose, even of those who are not friends? Why then does the Apostle mention it as something great? Because it is even exceeding great. For numbers indeed sympathize with their friends when they are in misfortune, but when they are in honor rejoice not with, but envy, them. 'But not so we; but whether ye be in calamity, we are not afraid to share your ill fortune; or whether ye be prosperous, we are not wounded with envy.'
The Church Fathers: public-domain translations (Ante-Nicene and Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers), verse-indexed by SermonIndex (CC BY 4.0).
John Gill on 2 Corinthians 7:3
I speak not this to condemn you,.... Referring either to the exhortations before given, to have no sinful conversation with unbelievers, and to cleanse themselves from all impurity, external and internal; and to go on in a course of holiness, in the fear of God, to the end of life; or to the account just given of himself and fellow ministers; and his sense is this, the exhortations I have given must not be so understood, as though I charged and accused you with keeping company with unbelievers, or as though you were not concerned for purity of life and conversation; or when I remove the above mentioned things from myself and others, I mean not to lay them upon you, as if I thought that you h…
2 Corinthians 7:2-7
2. Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man.
2. Capaces estote nostri: nemini fecimus iniuriam, neminem corrupimus, neminem fraudavimus.
3. I speak not this to condemn you: for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die and live with you
3. Non [hoc] ad condemnationem vestri dico: siquidem iam ante dixi vobis, quod in coribus nostris sitis ad commoriendum et convivendum.
4. Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.
4. Multa mihi fiducia erga vos, multa mihi gloriatio de vobis: impletus sum consolatione supra mo…
Please open your hearts to us: Paul picks up his plea from 6:11-13 (see study note on 6:14–7:1). Paul had a deep concern for the churches (11:28), expressed by seeking a close bond of fellowship. When he was misunderstood, he explained his actions, as he does here. • We have not . . . taken advantage of anyone: That is, by taking their money.
