John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 3. I speak not this to condemn you , etc..] Referring either to the exhortations before given, to have no sinful conversation with unbelievers, and to cleanse themselves from all impurity, external and internal; and to go on in a course of holiness, in the fear of God, to the end of life; or to the account just given of himself and fellow ministers; and his sense is this, the exhortations I have given must not be so understood, as though I charged and accused you with keeping company with unbelievers, or as though you were not concerned for purity of life and conversation; or when I remove the above mentioned things from myself and others, I mean not to lay them upon you, as if I thought that you had wronged, corrupted, or defrauded any; when I clear myself and others, I do not design to accuse or condemn you; my view is only to the false apostles, who have done these things, when we have not, and therefore we have the best claim to your affections: for I have said before, you are in our hearts ; you are inscribed on our hearts, engraven there, ye are our epistle written in our hearts, ( Corinthians 3:2) ye are not straitened in us, ( 2 Corinthians 6:12) you have a place and room enough in our affections, which are strong towards you, insomuch that it is our desire and resolution to die and live with you ; or together: neither death nor life shall separate our love, or destroy our friendship; there is nothing we more desire than to live with you; and should there be any occasion for it, could freely die with you, and for you.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-4 - The promises of God are strong reasons for us to follow after holiness we must cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit. I we hope in God as our Father, we must seek to be holy as he is holy and perfect as our Father in heaven. His grace, by the influences of his Spirit, alone can purify, but holiness should be the object of ou constant prayers. If the ministers of the gospel are though contemptible, there is danger lest the gospel itself be despised also and though ministers must flatter none, yet they must be gentle toward all. Ministers may look for esteem and favour, when they can safel appeal to the people, that they have corrupted no man by fals doctrines or flattering speeches; that they have defrauded no man; no sought to promote their own interests so as to hurt any. It wa affection to them made the apostle speak so freely to them, and cause him to glory of them, in all places, and upon all occasions.
Greek Textus Receptus
ου 3756 PRT-N προς 4314 PREP κατακρισιν 2633 N-ASF λεγω 3004 5719 V-PAI-1S προειρηκα 4280 5758 V-RAI-1S γαρ 1063 CONJ οτι 3754 CONJ εν 1722 PREP ταις 3588 T-DPF καρδιαις 2588 N-DPF ημων 2257 P-1GP εστε 2075 5748 V-PXI-2P εις 1519 PREP το 3588 T-ASN συναποθανειν 4880 5629 V-2AAN και 2532 CONJ συζην 4800 5721 V-PAN
Robertson's NT Word Studies
7:3 {Not to condemn you} (pros katakrisin ou). "Not for condemnation." Late word from katakrinw, found in Vettius Valens, and here only in N.T. {To die together and live together} (eis to sunapoqanein kai sunzein). "For the dying together (second aorist ingressive active infinitive of sunapothnsk") and living together (present active infinitive)." One article (to) with both infinitives. You are in our hearts to share death and life.
