2 Corinthians 6:11 kjv
O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged.
2 Corinthians 6:11 nkjv
O Corinthians! We have spoken openly to you, our heart is wide open.
2 Corinthians 6:11 niv
We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you.
2 Corinthians 6:11 esv
We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians; our heart is wide open.
2 Corinthians 6:11 nlt
Oh, dear Corinthian friends! We have spoken honestly with you, and our hearts are open to you.
2 Corinthians 6 11 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Cor 6:13 | "Now as a reward—I speak as to my children—open your hearts also." | Paul's appeal for reciprocity. |
| Gal 4:12 | "I plead with you, brethren, become as I am, for I also have become as you are." | Paul's desire for close fellowship. |
| Phil 1:7 | "It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, because I have you in my heart..." | Paul's deep affection for the Philippians. |
| Col 1:24 | "Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for His body, which is the church," | Paul's suffering for the church. |
| 1 Thes 2:8 | "As apostles of Christ we could have been a burden, but we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children." | Paul's tender care. |
| Rom 1:14 | "I am under obligation both to Greeks and to non-Greeks, both to the wise and to the foolish." | Paul's commitment to the Gospel's reach. |
| Rom 15:15 | "However, I have written to you quite boldly on some points as a reminder, because of the grace God gave me..." | Paul's boldness in teaching. |
| 1 Cor 2:1-5 | "And so, brothers and sisters, when I came to you, I did not come proclaiming the mystery of God with elaborate speech and wisdom. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I was with you in weakness with great fear and trembling, and my message and my proclamation were not with plausible words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on the wisdom of men but on the power of God." | Paul's approach to ministry: Spirit-powered, not eloquent. |
| Acts 20:31 | "So be watchful! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears." | Paul's persistent, tearful ministry. |
| Gal 5:1-2 | "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you." | Emphasis on Christian freedom. |
| Eph 3:2 | "Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you..." | God's grace for believers. |
| Eph 3:12 | "In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence." | Confidence in approaching God. |
| 1 John 4:8 | "Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love." | The essence of love in God. |
| 1 John 4:16 | "And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love; whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him." | Living in God's love. |
| Heb 4:16 | "Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." | Approaching God's throne. |
| Phil 4:7 | "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." | God's peace guarding hearts. |
| 2 Cor 5:20 | "We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God." | Paul as Christ's ambassador. |
| 1 Cor 13:4-7 | "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." | The nature of love in the church. |
| Acts 18:9-10 | "One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent, for I am with you, and no one will lay a hand on you to harm you, because I have many people in this city.”" | God's encouragement to Paul. |
| Phil 2:1-2 | "If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if you have any comfort from his love, if you have any participation in the Spirit, if you have any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind." | Unity and like-mindedness in Christ. |
| 2 Cor 12:15 | "But if I loved you perfectly even more, will I be loved less? Yet let it be so; I did not burden you, but being sly, I took you with craft." | Paul's counter-accusations of being subtle. |
2 Corinthians 6 verses
2 Corinthians 6 11 Meaning
This verse expresses the apostle Paul's sincere openness and heartfelt affection towards the Corinthian believers. He is calling for a reciprocal relationship where their hearts are also opened to him and to the Gospel.
2 Corinthians 6 11 Context
Second Corinthians chapter 6 finds Paul defending his apostolic ministry against detractors in Corinth who questioned his legitimacy. He contrasts the integrity and suffering of true apostleship with the deceitful practices of false teachers. In chapter 7, he expresses his joy and relief at the positive response to his stern letter. Verse 11 is situated within the broader context of Paul's passionate plea to the Corinthians to reciprocate his earnest love and commitment, particularly after the turmoil and division they had experienced. He is opening his heart to them and calling for them to open their hearts to him, thereby restoring their fellowship.
2 Corinthians 6 11 Word Analysis
- "Hemos spoken" (ελαλήσαμεν - elalēsamen)
- This is the aorist indicative active first-person plural of the verb λαλέω (laleō), meaning "to speak" or "to talk."
- It refers to past speech, specifically Paul's communications to them.
- It implies a deliberate and perhaps extensive act of speaking.
- "our mouth" (τῷ στόματι ἡμῶν - tō stomati hēmōn)
- "Stoma" (στόμα) means mouth, the physical organ of speech.
- Paul is referring to his direct communication and expression to them.
- It emphasizes the genuine and personal nature of his words.
- "our heart" (τῇ καρδίᾳ ἡμῶν - tē kardiā hēmōn)
- "Kardia" (καρδία) means heart, representing the seat of emotions, affections, will, and innermost being.
- This signifies that his speaking was not merely superficial but came from his deepest feelings and sincerity.
- The juxtaposition of mouth and heart highlights the authenticity of his communication.
- "our heart" (τῇ καρδίᾳ ὑμῶν - tē kardiā hymōn)
- This is the dative singular of "kardia" (καρδία), referring to the Corinthians' hearts.
- Paul is appealing for their inward openness, affections, and willingness to receive him and his message.
- "you" (ὑμῖν - hymin)
- The dative plural pronoun, referring to the plural audience in Corinth.
- "our heart" (ὑμῖν ἀνοίχθη - hymin anoichthē)
- "Anoichthē" (ἀνοιχθῇ) is the aorist passive subjunctive third-person singular of ἀνοίγω (anoigō), meaning "to open."
- The passive voice indicates that their hearts are to be opened, suggesting an action that might involve God's help or a response to Paul's appeal.
- The subjunctive mood often expresses purpose or desire.
Word-by-word Group Analysis:
- "Our mouth our heart, our heart you": This structure emphasizes a parallel between Paul's complete outward and inward expression and his desire for the same from them.
- "Open your hearts also": This is a clear imperative call for reciprocity and expanded fellowship. Paul is asking them to enlarge their affections and receptiveness towards him, mirroring his own openness.
2 Corinthians 6 11 Bonus Section
This verse underscores the vital role of open hearts in genuine Christian fellowship. True ministry is characterized by mutual vulnerability and affection, not just theological accuracy or external achievements. Paul's appeal highlights the relational aspect of the Gospel, where transformed lives lead to transformed relationships within the body of Christ. His vulnerability, even in the face of their difficulties, demonstrates a pastoral heart deeply invested in their spiritual well-being. The "also" implies that Paul's openness is an invitation for them to respond in kind, completing the circle of love.
2 Corinthians 6 11 Commentary
Paul declares his deep, unreserved openness to the Corinthian church, communicating with genuine sincerity from his heart. He then pleads with them to similarly open their hearts to him. This call is not for superficial agreement but for a reciprocal spiritual and emotional connection. Paul desires a mature, Christ-centered intimacy in their relationship, free from division and suspicion. He had previously expressed himself fully (2 Cor 7:4), and now he invites them to an equally full sharing of affection and spiritual understanding. It's a plea for restored fellowship based on shared love for Christ.