Two men were arrested on Wednesday night for threatening the life of Methodist bishop Paul Verryn.

"The two came into the office and told me everything they'd been told," said Verryn.

One of the men had warned Verryn that they would be coming to the church. The SA Police Service was called and were on the scene to arrest the men.

"[The police] have been incredible. They were here immediately," Said Verryn.

Before they were arrested, one of the men told Verryn he was now safe.

"One said 'you don't have to worry about your life. I won't take it'," said Verryn.

Verryn has attracted both acclaim and criticism for using his church to provide accommodation to thousands of Zimbabwean migrants. People in government have accused him of creating a service crisis in downtown Johannesburg.

Local businesses have complained and even filed lawsuits against him. They say the presence of such large numbers of people have resulted in business losses.

Verryn said the men who had been arrested on Wednesday had been making death threats and claimed to have been hired by the shop owners. One of them also claimed to have been a hired killer for taxi companies.

The first threat was on Monday at 11.33pm.

"He said he was being hired by the shop owners in the mall and they've been given a car and a gun," said Verryn.

This was followed on Tuesday by information that the shopowners had given them the first payment of R30 000.

Though there is no love lost between Verryn and the shopowners, he does not believe it is true that they have hired a contract for his life.

"I think it would be too stupid for words," said Verryn.

He believes that the men were either acting independently or as "seen as a thing where people want to get all opposition to xenophobia out of the way.

If they are acting independently they are probably doing so to extort money from the Bishop.

"I think it is a blackmail attempt because they had said, 'what are you prepared to do [to save your own life]'," said Verryn.