2 Corinthians 7:3
ESV
I do not say this to condemn you, for I said before that you are in our hearts, to die together and to live together.
NIV
I do not say this to condemn you; I have said before that you have such a place in our hearts that we would live or die with you.
NASB
I do not speak to condemn you, for I have said before that you are in our hearts, to die together and to live together.
CSB
I don’t say this to condemn you, since I have already said that you are in our hearts, to die together and to live together.
NLT
I’m not saying this to condemn you. I said before that you are in our hearts, and we live or die together with you.
KJV
I speak not this to condemn you: for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die and live with you.
NKJV
I do not say this to condemn; for I have said before that you are in our hearts, to die together and to live together.
What does 2 Corinthians 7:3 mean?
Paul has returned to defending and commending himself to the Corinthians. In the previous verse, he urged them to make room in their hearts for him again. He appears to be answering accusations against his character, declaring that he has not wronged, corrupted, or taken advantage of anyone. Most likely, these slanders came from false teachers, or those bitter over being called out for living in sin by Paul's earlier letters.The point of this response is not to make reverse accusations against anyone. Paul is not writing to condemn the Corinthians or demand an ultimatum to get back in his good graces. He repeats again that they are still in his heart. He still loves them and feels great affection for them. He still considers himself to belong with them. He is ready, in fact, to die with them and live with them. In other words, Paul is not rejecting the Corinthians for their partial rejection of him. He wants to be reunited with them in mutual affection.
