2 Corinthians 7:2

Χωρήσατε ἡμᾶς. Open your hearts to us (R.V.); make room for us in your hearts as in Matthew 19:11-12. Neither there nor here does it mean ‘understand rightly’: comp. Mark 2:2; John 2:6; John 8:37; John 21:25. It refers back to πλατύνθητε καὶ ὑμεῖς (2 Corinthians 6:13). Now follow, with emotional abruptness, reasons why the Corinthians ought not to close their hearts against him.

οὐδένα ἠδικήσαμεν κ.τ.λ. The three aorists indicate that in no single instance had he done any one of them an injury. Comp. the similar disclaimer, Acts 20:23, and that of Samuel, τίνα κατεδυνάστευσα ὑμῶν ἢ τίνα ἐξεπίεσα; (1 Samuel 12:3). It is not probable that this refers to his letters. It refers to charges made against him respecting his conduct; some supposed abuse of his apostolic authority in matters of discipline, raising money for the poor, &c. Comp. 1 Thessalonians 2:3-4.

οὐδένα ἐφθείραμεν. We ruined no one. Some interpret this of corrupting their morals, or of teaching false doctrine (2 Corinthians 11:3), or of handing over to Satan. But the context points rather to ruining financially. We know too little about the facts to make sure conjectures. Comp. the list of things which he says that they do suffer at the hands of others (2 Corinthians 11:20): and perhaps here there is a side reference to the Judaizers’ treatment of the Corinthians: corripuerunt eos falsa docendo, circumvenerunt eos substantiam eorum exhauriendo (Atto Vercel.).

οὐδένα ἐπλεονεκτήσαμεν. We took advantage of no one. It is not certain that any of the three verbs refers to money matters; and therefore English words which imply fraud had better be avoided. Comp. 2 Corinthians 12:17-18 : we had the passive of this verb 2 Corinthians 2:11. Assuming that 10–13 was written before 1–9, this passage may refer to 2 Corinthians 12:17-18. Excepting 1 Thessalonians 4:6, the verb is peculiar to 2 Corinthians in the N.T.; it occurs only thrice in the LXX.