2 Corinthians 11:7

2 Corinthians 11:7 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely?
• New International Version (NIV)Was it a sin for me to lower myself in order to elevate you by preaching the gospel of God to you free of charge?
• New King James Version (NKJV)Did I commit sin in humbling myself that you might be exalted, because I preached the gospel of God to you free of charge?
• New Living Translation (NLT)Was I wrong when I humbled myself and honored you by preaching God’s Good News to you without expecting anything in return?

Context of 2 Corinthians 11:7

5Indeed, I consider that I am not in the least inferior to these super-apostles. 6Even if I am unskilled in speaking, I am not so in knowledge; indeed, in every way we have made this plain to you in all things. Or did I commit a sin in humbling myself so that you might be exalted, because I preached God's gospel to you free of charge? 8I robbed other churches by accepting support from them in order to serve you. 9And when I was with you and was in need, I did not burden anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied my need. So I refrained and will refrain from burdening you in any way.

2 Corinthians 11:7 word by word

ἢ ἁμαρτίαν ἐποίησα ἐμαυτὸν ταπεινῶν ἵνα ὑμεῖς ὑψωθῆτε, ὅτι δωρεὰν τὸ τοῦ θεοῦ εὐαγγέλιον εὐηγγελισάμην ὑμῖν;Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Haveἤē · orG2228
• I committedποιέωpoieō · to do/make: doG4160
• an offenceἁμαρτίαhamartia · sinG266
• in abasingταπεινόωtapeinoō · to humbleG5013
• myselfἐμαυτοῦemautou emautō emauton · myselfG1683
• thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• yeσύsu · youG4771
• might be exaltedὑψόωhupsoō · to lift upG5312
• becauseὅτιhoti · that/since: sinceG3754
• I have preachedεὐαγγελίζομαιeuaggelizō · to speak good newsG2097
• the gospelεὐαγγέλιονeuaggelion · gospelG2098
• of Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• freelyδωρεάνdōrean · freelyG1432

Cross-references for 2 Corinthians 11:7

• 2 Corinthians 10:1I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold toward you when I am away!—
• 2 Corinthians 12:13For in what were you less favored than the rest of the churches, except that I myself did not burden you? Forgive me this wrong!
• Acts 18:1After this Paul left Athens and went to Corinth.
• Acts 20:34You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me.
• 1 Corinthians 4:10We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute.
• 1 Corinthians 9:6Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living?
• 1 Thessalonians 2:9For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.
• 2 Thessalonians 3:8nor did we eat anyone's bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you.

Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 11:7

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 7Have I committed an offense in abasing myself - Have I transgressed in labouring with my hands that I might not be chargeable to you? and getting my deficiencies supplied by contributions from other Churches, while I was employed in labouring for your salvation? Does your false apostle insinuate that I have disgraced the apostolic office by thus descending to servile labor for my support? Well; I have done this that you might be exalted - that you might…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 7Have I committed an offence - Have I done wrong. Greek, “Have I committed a sin.” There is here a somewhat abrupt transition from the previous verse; and the connection is not very apparent. Perhaps the connection is this. “I admit my inferiority in regard to my manner of speaking. But this does not interfere with my full understanding of the doctrines which I preach, nor does it interfere with the numerous evidences which I have furnished that I am…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 5-15Verses 5-15 It is far better to be plain in speech, yet walking openly and consistently with the gospel, than to be admired by thousands, and be lifted up in pride, so as to disgrace the gospel by evil tempers and unholy lives. The apostle would not give room for any to accuse him of worldly designs in preaching the gospel, that others who opposed him at Corinth, might not in this respect gain advantage against him. Hypocrisy may be looked for, especially…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 7because I preached the gospel of God to you free of charge?: Paul preached God's good news without expecting anything in return. As a church planter (1 Corinthians 9:3–14), Paul chose to earn his living by making tents (Acts 18:3; 20:34) instead of relying on support from new churches (1 Thessalonians 2:9; 2 Thessalonians 3:8–9). His critics in Corinth used this against him. In Greek culture, religious teachers could claim financial support, so Paul's…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 77. Have I--literally, "Or have I?" Connected with 2Co 11:6, "Or will any of you make it an objection that I have preached to you gratuitously?" He leaves their good feeling to give the answer, that this, so far from being an objection, was a decided superiority in him above the false apostles (1Co 9:6-15). abasing myself--in my mode of living, waiving my right of maintenance, and earning it by manual labor; perhaps with slaves as his fellow laborers (Ac…Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Corinthians 11:7

• Minister, Christian
• Zeal, Religious

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Abase
• Above
• Corrupt
• Fear
• Jealous
• Peril
• Philippians, Epistle to
• Receive

Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 11

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings