2 Corinthians 11 · Verse 7

2 Corinthians 11:7

Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely?
2 Corinthians 11:7, King James Version

2 Corinthians 11:7 in other translations

BSBWas it a sin for me to humble myself in order to exalt you, because I preached the gospel of God to you free of charge?
WEBOr did I commit a sin in humbling myself that you might be exalted, because I preached to you God’s Good News free of charge?
ASVOr did I commit a sin in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I preached to you the gospel of God for nought?
YLTThe sin did I do--myself humbling that ye might be exalted, because freely the good news of God I did proclaim to you?
DARBYHave I committed sin, abasing myself in order that ye might be exalted, because I gratuitously announced to you the glad tidings of God?
BBEOr did I do wrong in making myself low so that you might be lifted up, because I gave you the good news of God without reward?
WebsterHave I committed an offense in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God without reward?

What does 2 Corinthians 11:7 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
7. 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 18:3; Php 4:12). ye ... exalted--spiritually, by your admission to Gospel privileges. because--"in that." gospel of God--"of God" implies its divine glory to which they were admitted. freely--"without charge."

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 7. Have 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 connexion is not very apparent. Perhaps the connexion 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 called to the office of an apostle. What then is the ground of offence? In what have I erred? Wherein have I shown that I was not qualified to be an apostle? Is it in the fact that I have not chosen to press my claim to a support, but have preached the gospel without charge? "There can be no doubt that they urged this as an objection to him, and as a proof that he was conscious that he had no claim to the office of an apostle. 1Cor 9:3, 1Cor 9:4-18. Paul here answers this charge; and the sum of his reply is, that he had received a support, but that it had come from others, a support which they had furnished because the Corinthians had neglected to do it.

In abasing myself. By labouring with my own hands; by submitting to voluntary poverty, and by neglecting to urge my reasonable claims for a support.

That ye might be exalted. In spiritual blessings and comforts. I did it because I could thus better promote religion among you. I could thus avoid the charge of aiming at the acquisition of wealth; could shut the mouths of gainsayers, and could more easily secure access to you. Is it now to be seriously urged as a fault that I have sought your welfare, and that in doing it I have submitted to great self-denial and to many hardships? 1Cor 9:18, seq.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 7 Have 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 receive the pure doctrines of the Gospel, and be exalted to the highest pitch of intellectual light and blessedness. And will you complain that I preached the Gospel gratis to you? Surely not. The whole passage is truly ironical.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 2 Corinthians 11:5-15

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…

Read the full comment on 2 Corinthians 11:5-15 →

2 Corinthians 11:7 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ἢēOrG2228
ἁμαρτίανhamartiana sinG266
ἐποίησαepoiēsadid I commitG4160
ἐμαυτὸνemautonmyselfG1473
ταπεινῶνtapeinōnhumblingG5013
ἵναinaso thatG2443
ὑμεῖςhumeisyou yourselvesG4771
ὑψωθῆτε,hupsōthētemay be exalted,G5312
ὅτιhotibecauseG3754
δωρεὰνdōreanfreelyG1432
τὸtotheG3588
τοῦtou<the>G3588
θεοῦtheouof GodG2316
εὐαγγέλιονeuangeliongospelG2098
εὐηγγελισάμηνeuēngelisamēnI evangelisedG2097
ὑμῖν;huminto you?G4771

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 2 Corinthians 11:7

  • 2 Corinthians 12:13

    For what is it wherein ye were inferior to other churches, except it be that I myself was not burdensome to you? forgive me this wrong.

  • 1 Corinthians 4:10-12

    We are fools for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised. Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace; And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:

  • 2 Corinthians 10:1

    Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you:

  • 1 Thessalonians 2:9

    For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.

  • 1 Corinthians 9:6

    Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?

  • 1 Corinthians 9:14-18

    Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel. But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void. For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel! For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me. …

  • Acts 20:34

    Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.

  • 2 Thessalonians 3:8

    Neither did we eat any man’s bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you:

  • Acts 18:1-3

    After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth; And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them. And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers.

  • 1 Corinthians 9:12

    If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
in.
10:1; 12:13; Ac 18:1-3; 20:34; 1Co 4:10-12; 9:6,12,14-18; 1Th 2:9
2Th 3:8

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 2 Corinthians 11:6

    But though I be rude in speech, yet not in knowledge; but we have been throughly made manifest among you in all things.

  • 2 Corinthians 11:7

    Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely?

  • 2 Corinthians 11:8

    I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service.

Read all of 2 Corinthians 11

2 Corinthians 11:7 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		¿Pequé yo humillándome á mí mismo, para que vosotros fueseis ensalzados, porque os he predicado el evangelio de Dios de balde?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Ai-je commis une faute en m’abaissant moi-même, afin que vous soyez élevés, parce que je vous ai annoncé gratuitement l’évangile de Dieu?
German
Elberfelder 1871		Oder habe ich eine Sünde begangen, indem ich mich selbst erniedrigte, auf daß ihr erhöht würdet, weil ich euch das Evangelium Gottes umsonst verkündigt habe?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Aut numquid peccatum feci, meipsum humilians, ut vos exaltemini? quoniam gratis Evangelium Dei evangelizavi vobis?