'Corrupt' in 2 Corinthians 2:17 means to handle the Word of God like a huckster who dilutes or adulterates his merchandise, passing it off as genuine.
Les Feldick shows the Greek word behind 'corrupt' pictures a street hawker selling an adulterated product — like wine mixed with water. Paul contrasts this with his own ministry: he did not corrupt or cheapen the Word, but spoke with sincerity as from God in the sight of God. To corrupt the Word, then, is to alter, dilute, or cheapen the truth so it no longer is the real thing.
2 Corinthians 2:17 — This is the verse where Paul says, 'We are not as many, which corrupt the word of God,' and contrasts his own sincere ministry with those who corrupt.
In 2 Corinthians 2:17 Paul makes a sharp contrast: "For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ." The verse itself does not define the Greek word 'corrupt,' but Paul plainly sets those who corrupt the Word apart from himself. The same issue appears in Galatians 1:7–8, where Paul warns about those who "would pervert the gospel of Christ" by altering the true message, and he pronounces a curse on anyone — even an angel — who preaches a different gospel. Scripture consistently treats God's Word as something that must not be diluted, twisted, or cheapened.
Les explains that the English word 'corrupt' doesn't capture the full force of the Greek word Paul uses. When you trace it through the Septuagint, it means "one who was a huckster, or one who would hawk his wares." In Isaiah 1:22 the same word pictures someone selling an adulterated product — like wine mixed with water. So, for Les, 'corrupt' means diluting or adulterating the Word of God, presenting a cheapened version as though it were the genuine article. Paul says, "We are not as many who corrupt." Les stresses that Paul was not in ministry for personal gain, wealth, or fame; he wasn't watering down his message to tickle ears or make people feel good. Instead, he came with "the real thing." Les also connects this to perversion: perverting the gospel means twisting it off-center, either by adding to it or taking away from it. In Galatians, Paul is clear that anyone who does this is accursed.
Les shows that the Greek word Paul uses in 2 Corinthians 2:17 is translated in the Septuagint as a huckster or one who hawks his wares. He connects it to Isaiah 1:22, where the same Greek word describes someone selling an adulterated product. The English word 'corrupt' just makes us think of something that has begun to spoil, but the Greek pictures an intentional watering-down of the product. Les specifically uses the example of throwing water into good wine — it adulterates it and corrupts it.
Paul's statement in 2 Corinthians 2:17 is a contrast: "We are not as many, which corrupt the word of God." Les emphasizes that Paul was not like the street hawker selling cheap goods, and he was not watering down his message to make people feel good. He wasn't in it for personal gain, wealth, or fame. Instead, Paul says he speaks "as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God, in Christ." He was bringing the real, unadulterated gospel.
Les draws a direct connection to Galatians 1:7, where Paul warns about those who "would pervert the gospel of Christ." A perversion, Les says, is anything that twists the truth far enough off-center that it misleads people. It doesn't have to be something down in the gutter; it can be adding to or taking away from the true gospel. That is exactly what corruption does — it changes the message into something else.
The Greek Word for Corrupt in the Septuagint
Les explains the Greek word behind 'corrupt' means a huckster or one who hawks his wares, and in Isaiah 1:22 it refers to selling an adulterated product.
Paul Did Not Adulterate His Message
Les says Paul did not water down his message or give people a cheap, ear-tickling version; he came with the real thing.
Corrupt = Wine Mixed With Water
Les applies Isaiah's picture of water mixed with wine to 2 Corinthians 2:17, showing that to corrupt means to adulterate.
Perverting the Gospel
Les explains perversion twists the pure gospel out of shape by adding to or taking away from it.
What 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 Really Says About Who Goes to Heaven
But the main thing you have to understand as you read Corinthians is that the city of Corinth was steeped in paganism, in pagan idolatrous and the worship of the Greek gods and goddesses and what have you. So with that kind of a background and such gross immorality, now of course we think it's getting bad in America, but listen. We haven't quite reached yet the level of Corinth.
Galatians Warns Against Perversion
Les notes Paul's strong language in Galatians — anyone who preaches another gospel is accursed.
Perversion as Off-Center Truth
Les defines perversion as anything that twists truth off-center and misleads people.
The Hidden Wisdom of God — 1 Corinthians 2:6-9 Explained
And so here in first Corinthians now chapter 2, I'm going to back all the way up for a little bit to verse 6, because again I think this sort of hits the nail on the head. Now the word perfect in the King James really means mature, and so these Corinthian believers, even though they were carnal, yet they had enough of the basic fundamentals of Paul's gospel that could refer to them as mature.
2 Corinthians 2:17: For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.
This is the key verse in the question — Paul explicitly contrasts those who corrupt God's Word with his own ministry of sincerity.
Isaiah 1:22: Thy silver is become dross, thy wine mixed with water:
Les uses this Septuagint passage to show that the Greek word behind 'corrupt' pictures an adulterated product, like wine diluted with water.
Galatians 1:7: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
This verse shows Paul condemning those who pervert the gospel — the same idea as corrupting the Word.
Galatians 1:8: But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
Paul adds a severe warning against anyone who preaches an altered gospel, connecting to the seriousness of corruption.
No. Les explains the English word 'corrupt' makes us think of something that has begun to spoil, but the Greek word Paul uses pictures a huckster hawking an adulterated product. It's an intentional corruption, like wine mixed with water to make it cheaper.
Les says the Greek word behind 'corrupt' is used in the Septuagint translation of Isaiah 1:22, where it describes someone selling or hawking an adulterated product. The picture is of a seller passing off watered-down wine as genuine.
Paul is contrasting himself with false teachers who adulterate, dilute, or cheapen the Word of God. Les says Paul was not in ministry for personal gain; he didn't water down his message to please people. He spoke with sincerity as from God and brought the real thing.
Watch the Teaching: Why Paul Said "We Are Not Ignorant of Satan's Devices" — 2 Corinthians 2:11