2 Corinthians 6:12 kjv
Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels.
2 Corinthians 6:12 nkjv
You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections.
2 Corinthians 6:12 niv
We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us.
2 Corinthians 6:12 esv
You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your own affections.
2 Corinthians 6:12 nlt
There is no lack of love on our part, but you have withheld your love from us.
2 Corinthians 6 12 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Cor 6:11-13 | "Our mouth is open unto you, O Corinthians, our heart is enlarged. Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels. Now for a recompence in the same, I speak as unto my children, be ye also opened." | Direct parallel |
| 1 Cor 4:14-15 | "I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you. For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel." | Spiritual fatherhood |
| Gal 4:19 | "My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you," | Parental anguish for growth |
| Phil 1:8 | "For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ." | Deep affection |
| Col 1:28-29 | "Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily." | Labouring for maturity |
| 1 Thess 2:7-8 | "But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children: So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us." | Gentle, sacrificial love |
| Rom 9:2-3 | "That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:" | Deep sorrow for his people |
| Acts 20:31 | "Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears." | Tearful instruction |
| John 3:16 | "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." | Divine love |
| 1 Peter 5:2-3 | "Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being examples to the flock." | Pastoral care |
| Eph 5:25 | "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;" | Christ's love for the church |
| Titus 1:4 | "To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour." | Father-son spiritual link |
| Jude 1:3 | "Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to exhort you, and to testify that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints." | Exhortation for faith |
| Prov 3:9-10 | "Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine." | Spiritual prosperity |
| Jer 31:33 | "But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the LORD; I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people." | God's inward work |
| Ezek 36:26-27 | "A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them." | New spirit, obedience |
| Heb 10:16 | "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;" | Laws written on hearts |
| Ps 119:11 | "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee." | Hiding God's word |
| John 13:34-35 | "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." | Love as a mark of disciples |
| Matt 5:48 | "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." | Aiming for perfection |
2 Corinthians 6 verses
2 Corinthians 6 12 Meaning
Paul expresses his deep longing and paternal affection for the Corinthian believers. He feels a heartfelt ache and yearning to see them restored to fellowship and spiritual maturity. This is not merely a casual desire but a profound emotional investment stemming from his genuine love as a spiritual father.
2 Corinthians 6 12 Context
In 2 Corinthians 6, Paul is addressing issues within the Corinthian church, likely related to divisions and the influence of false apostles. He contrasts his own sincere and sacrificial ministry with that of his opponents, who he implies are causing harm and leading the Corinthians astray. In this section, he directly addresses the Corinthians with a plea for reconciliation and renewed relationship. He emphasizes his genuine affection and the expansive nature of his love for them, lamenting that their spiritual capacity seems constrained, perhaps due to their susceptibility to other influences or their own immaturity. He uses paternal language to highlight the depth of his care and the responsibility he feels for their spiritual well-being, urging them to open themselves to his ministry and to God's truth.
2 Corinthians 6 12 Word Analysis
Paul: The Apostle, author of the letter.
spake: Spoke directly, articulately.
unto you: Directed towards the Corinthian believers.
Corinthians: The recipients of the letter, a church facing internal struggles.
our mouth: Refers to Paul and his companions, symbolizing their openness and communication.
is open: Communicative, unhindered, speaking freely.
unto you: Directed towards the Corinthians.
our heart: Refers to their inner affections, emotions, and love.
is enlarged: Opened wide, made spacious, filled with capacity for love and ministry. This contrasts with the "straitened" state mentioned in the next verse.
Ye: Directly addresses the Corinthian believers.
are not: Negation.
straitened: Limited, confined, constricted in affection or spiritual capacity.
in us: Within Paul and his companions; their love and openness were not the cause of limitation.
but ye: Shifts focus to the Corinthians.
are straitened: You yourselves are constricted or limited.
in your own: Indicates the limitation originates from within them.
bowels: A Semitic idiom (related to "womb" or "entrails") signifying the seat of deep emotion, tender mercy, and compassion. This is the emotional core of Paul’s plea.
Now: Transition indicating a subsequent statement or request.
for a recompense: As a return, in exchange, as a result.
in the same: In this manner, similarly, in like fashion.
I speak: I am communicating.
as unto: In the manner of, like addressing.
my children: A term of endearment and spiritual paternity, highlighting his role in their spiritual birth and development.
be ye: An imperative, a command or strong exhortation.
also: Likewise, in addition.
opened: Open your hearts and lives, become receptive and unhindered, mirroring his own openness and expanded heart.
Our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged: This phrase encapsulates Paul's posture of complete openness and unreserved love towards the Corinthians. His communication (mouth) was frank and free, and his affection (heart) was expansive, without reservation or hindrance.
Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels: This crucial statement differentiates the source of any relational distance. It's not that Paul and his colleagues are withholding love or clear communication; rather, the constraint exists within the Corinthians themselves. The word "bowels" here is key, pointing to their inner affections, their capacity for love and responsiveness. This suggests they are not allowing their own love to flow freely, or their hearts have become constricted, possibly due to false teachings or internal divisions.
Now for a recompense in the same, I speak as unto my children, be ye also opened: This is Paul's plea and exhortation. Because of his genuine, enlarged love for them as his spiritual children, he asks them to reciprocate this openness. The "recompense" isn't about earning his favor, but about a reciprocal relationship of love and openness, mirroring the father-child dynamic he asserts. He wants them to enlarge their hearts in the same way his have been enlarged for them.
2 Corinthians 6 12 Bonus Section
The "bowels" (Greek: σπλάγχνα - splanchna) as the seat of emotion was a common concept in ancient thought. Paul frequently uses such language to convey the intensity of his genuine affection, particularly the tender, merciful love of God and the church. This deeply personal and emotional appeal contrasts sharply with the more impersonal, philosophical, or manipulative appeals that characterized some of the false teachers in Corinth. Paul's fatherly heart for the Corinthians demonstrates a holistic approach to ministry, encompassing not just doctrinal instruction but also emotional care and personal relationship. The command "be ye also opened" is a reciprocal imperative; just as Paul’s heart was enlarged, so too should theirs be.
2 Corinthians 6 12 Commentary
Paul's emotional expression here reveals the profound depth of his pastoral love. He feels a palpable longing for the Corinthians, a longing so intense it's described as an ache in his "bowels" – the deepest part of his being, akin to a mother's love or a father's yearning. This is not mere sentimentality but a robust affection rooted in his spiritual fatherhood. He is pained because he perceives a restriction in their spiritual capacity to receive his love and ministry. He’s saying, "My heart for you is vast, I've been completely open in my communication, yet I sense a block within you. I long for you to un-constrict your own hearts and be as open and receptive to me and to God’s truth as I am to you. As your spiritual father, I implore you, open up!" This is a call for mutual love and unhindered fellowship, essential for their spiritual growth and well-being, a theme he reprises from his letter in 6:11-13, emphasizing the need for the Corinthians to respond to God's grace by widening their own hearts.