7:2 Paul returned to his appeal for the Corinthians' full affection (6:11-13) claiming no fault toward the Corinthians on three counts (v. 2). He had done no wrong to anyone, had not led anyone astray, nor had he deceived anyone for his own advantage.
7:3 Paul did not say what he did to pass the blame for bad conditions off on his readers. He was not implying that everyone in the Corinthian church blamed him as his critics did either. He explained that they had a secure place in his affections. Neither death nor the trials of life, including charges against him, would alter his love for this church. There was no reason they should feel restraint in their dealings with him. Regardless of their reaction he promised he would never exclude them from his love. This is a good example of unconditional love.
7:4 Nevertheless he was confident that the Corinthians would respond to his defense and exhortation properly. Even though conditions were far from ideal in the church, Paul was proud of his converts there. God had filled his heart with comfort (cf. 1:3-4). In spite of much affliction, some of which the Corinthians produced, Paul felt an overriding sense of joy. His explanation of the reason for these positive feelings follows.
"The idea of receiving joy in the midst of affliction strongly suggests that Paul wrote this part of the epistle while enduring suffering."212
This paragraph is transitional. It summarizess Paul's appeal for large-heartedness and consistency (6:11-7:4) and resumes his personal narrative that he left behind temporarily in 2:13.
