2 Corinthians 7 is the seventh chapter of the Second Epistle to the Corinthians in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. It was written by Paul the Apostle and Timothy (2 Corinthians 1:1) in Macedonia in 55–56 CE. Verse 1 is often linked with the preceding chapter and may be part of a later interpolation. Verses 2 onwards continue from Paul's appeal to the Corinthian church in 2 Corinthians 6:11-13 for his authority to be accepted.
Text The original text was written in Koine Greek. This chapter is divided into 16 verses.
Textual witnesses Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter are: Papyrus 46 (~AD 200) Codex Vaticanus (325–350) Codex Sinaiticus (330–360) Papyrus 117 (4th century; extant verses 6–8,9-11) Codex Alexandrinus (400–440) Codex Ephraemi Rescriptus (~450) Codex Freerianus (~450; extant verses 7–8,13–14) Codex Claromontanus (~550).
Verse 1 The New King James Version and the New International Version, and biblical commentators Johann BengelBengel's Gnomon on 2 Corinthians 7, accessed 4 September 2017 and Heinrich Meyer,Meyer's NT Commentary on 2 Corinthians 7, accessed 4 September 2017 treat verse 1 as the conclusion of verses 11–18 in the previous chapter: Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.: NKJV Some versions read "brethren" for "beloved", including the Ethiopic version.Gill, J. (1746–48), John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible, 2 Corinthians 7:1 Baptist theologian John Gill (1697-1771) states that in "these promises", God promises to walk in His temple, dwell in His churches, be their God, and they His people, be their Father, and they His "beloved" sons and daughters ().
Verse 2 Receive us: we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man.: 21st Century King James Version A number of translations say "Make room in your hearts for us", although "in your hearts" is not part of the original text.Crossway Bibles (2016), Footnote b at 2 Corinthians 7:2 in the English Standard Version, accessed on 19 June 2025 This, according to St. John Chrysostom and others, repeats previous exhortations,cf. 2 Corinthians 6:13: "In return (I speak as to children) widen your hearts also" (: ESV) "be enlarged or dilated in heart, that is, have a love, and true charity, and a zeal for us, and for the ministers of the gospel".Haydock, G. L., Haydock Catholic Bible Commentary on 2 Corinthians 7, accessed on 19 June 2025
Verses 5-16 The themes of "affliction" and "comfort" introduced in chapter 1 and again in verse 4 here, are further developed in this passage.
Verse 6 But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus.: English Standard Version Titus, arriving in Macedonia, brings news that the issues concerning "the offender" who, in , "had his father’s wife", have now been resolved.
See also Macedonia Titus Related Bible parts: John 14, John 15, John 17, Romans 8, Galatians 5
References
Sources
External links King James Bible - Wikisource English Translation with Parallel Latin Vulgate Online Bible at GospelHall.org (ESV, KJV, Darby, American Standard Version, Bible in Basic English) Multiple bible versions at Bible Gateway (NKJV, NIV, NRSV etc.)