2 Corinthians 7:3

3 I say not to your condemning; for I said before, that ye be in our hearts, to die together and to live together [to die together, and live together].

2 Corinthians 7:3 Meaning and Commentary

2 Corinthians 7:3

I speak not this to condemn you
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", ( 2 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.

2 Corinthians 7:3 In-Context

1 Therefore, most dear-worthy brethren, we that have these promises, cleanse we us from all filth of the flesh and of the spirit, doing holiness in the dread of God. [+Therefore, most dear-worthy, we having these promises, cleanse we us from all filth of flesh and spirit, perfectly making hallowing in the dread of God.]

2 Take ye us; we have hurt no man, we have impaired no man [we have corrupted no man], we have beguiled no man.

3 I say not to your condemning; for I said before, that ye be in our hearts, to die together and to live together [to die together, and live together].

4 Much trust is to me with you, much glorying is to me for you. I am filled with comfort, I am plenteous [I abound, or am plenteous,] in joy in all our tribulation.

5 For when we were come to Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we suffered all tribulation; withoutforth fightings, and dreads [were] within [forsooth withoutforth, fightings, withinforth, dreads].