2 Corinthians 7:2

7:2 Make room for us in your hearts; ¹  we have wronged no one, we have ruined no one, ²  we have exploited no one. ³ 

2 Corinthians 11:3

11:3 But I am afraid that ⁴  just as the serpent ⁵  deceived Eve by his treachery, ⁶  your minds may be led astray ⁷  from a sincere and pure ⁸  devotion to Christ.

[7:2]  ¹ tn The phrase “in your hearts” is not in the Greek text, but is implied.

[7:2]  ² tn “We have ruined no one” may refer to financial loss (“we have caused no one to suffer financial loss”) but it may also refer to the undermining of faith (“we have corrupted no one’s faith,”). Both options are mentioned in L&N 20.23.

[7:2]  ³ tn Or “we have taken advantage of no one.”

[11:3]  ⁴ tn Grk “I fear lest somehow.”

[11:3]  ⁵ tn Or “the snake.”

[11:3]  ⁶ tn Or “craftiness.”

[11:3]  ⁷ tn Or “corrupted,” “seduced.”

[11:3]  ⁸ tc Although most mss (א² H Ψ 0121 0243 1739 1881 Ï) lack “and pure” (καὶ τῆς ἁγνότητος, kai th" Jagnothto"; Grk “and purity”) several important and early witnesses (Ì⁴⁶ א* B D^[2] F G 33 81 104 pc ar r co) retain these words. Their presence in such mss across such a wide geographical distribution argues for their authenticity. The omission from the majority of mss can be explained by haplography, since the -τητος ending of ἁγνότητος is identical to the ending of ἁπλότητος (Japlothto", “sincerity”) three words back (ἁπλότητος καὶ τῆς ἁγνότητος); further, since the meanings of “sincerity” and “purity” are similar they might seem redundant. A copyist would scarcely notice the omission because Paul’s statement still makes sense without “and from purity.”