2 Corinthians 6 12

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 verses

2 Corinthians 6 12 Meaning

This verse is Paul's poignant assertion that any perceived limitation or lack of openness in their relationship does not originate from him or his ministry, but rather from the Corinthians' own internal disposition. He declares that he has not put any constraints upon them; instead, their restricted spiritual and emotional capacity lies within their own "affections," indicating a lack of heartfelt love, trust, or responsiveness on their part. It's a call to self-reflection regarding their internal barriers to fully embracing Paul and the divine grace he offers.

2 Corinthians 6 12 Context

This verse stands at the core of Paul's deeply personal appeal to the Corinthian church. In the preceding verses (2 Cor 6:1-10), Paul meticulously lays out the authenticity of his apostleship and ministry, marked by immense suffering, resilience, purity, knowledge, love, and the power of the Holy Spirit. He is making himself utterly transparent and vulnerable to them. Verse 11 sets the stage directly: "Our mouth is open to you, Corinthians; our heart is wide open." He is demonstrating his complete love and boundless spiritual embrace for them. Verse 12 then serves as a striking contrast: Paul is not the source of their problems; any sense of distance or limitation between them is a problem of their own making, located within their own internal emotional and spiritual landscape. This appeal for their affection and receptiveness directly precedes Paul's strong exhortation against being "yoked together with unbelievers" (2 Cor 6:14ff), suggesting that their restricted "affections" might be influenced by compromises with the pagan culture around them or internal divisions fostered by external ideologies.

2 Corinthians 6 12 Word analysis

• You (Οὐ... ὑμῖν... ὑμῶν): Plural pronouns consistently refer to the Corinthian believers, indicating Paul's direct address to the collective church.
• Are not restricted (Οὐ στενοχωρεῖσθε):
  • Οὐ (Ou): The Greek negative, emphatically stating "not."
  • στενοχωρεῖσθε (stenochōreisthe): From στενοχωρέω (stenochōreō), meaning "to be in a narrow space, to be hard-pressed, cramped, distressed, restricted." It's in the passive voice, implying "you are being restricted." The root combines στενός (stenos) "narrow" and χώρος (chōros) "space/place." Paul denies that his ministry creates such a feeling of narrowness or distress for them. This term evokes the opposite of abundance or spaciousness.
• By us (ἐν ἡμῖν): Literally "in us" or "among us." This refers to their relationship with Paul and his fellow ministers. Paul maintains that his presence and interaction with them do not constitute a "narrow space" or restriction. Rather, his posture is one of spiritual spaciousness (as mentioned in verse 11).
• But (ἀλλὰ): A strong adversative conjunction, signifying a sharp contrast. It points away from Paul as the source of the problem and toward the Corinthians themselves.
• You are restricted (στενοχωρεῖσθε): The same verb as before, reiterated to emphasize that the state of being "restricted" or "cramped" is indeed their reality. The repetition drives home the point.
• In your own affections (ἐν τοῖς σπλάγχνοις ὑμῶν):
  • ἐν (en): "in," indicating the locus of the restriction.
  • τοῖς σπλάγχνοις (tois splanchnois): From σπλάγχνον (splagchnon), literally "inward parts, intestines, bowels." In ancient Greek and Semitic thought, the "bowels" (often translated as "affections," "heart," or "compassion") were considered the seat of deep, visceral emotions, particularly feelings of love, pity, and tender compassion. It goes beyond mere intellect or surface-level emotions to represent the deepest core of a person's feelings and disposition.
  • ὑμῶν (hymōn): "your own," indicating that these are their own internal "bowels" or affections that are causing the restriction, emphasizing self-responsibility.

• Word-Group Analysis:
• "You are not restricted by us": Paul assures them that his apostolic presence and spiritual engagement are not burdensome or limiting. His ministry aims to bring freedom and expansiveness, echoing the wide-open heart he proclaimed in the previous verse. He challenges any perception that he is stifling them spiritually or personally.
• "But you are restricted in your own affections": The core of the issue is explicitly laid at their feet. The restriction is self-imposed or internally generated. It points to a lack of genuine affection, empathy, and willingness to open up their innermost being to Paul and, by extension, to the full embrace of God's grace and fellowship. This internal narrowness contrasts sharply with the breadth of Paul's own love and openness, highlighting a barrier to reconciliation and full spiritual communion that resides within the Corinthians' own hearts.

2 Corinthians 6 12 Bonus section

The rhetorical force of 2 Cor 6:11-13 hinges on the direct contrast between Paul's "wide open" heart (ἐπλατύνθη, meaning 'enlarged' or 'made wide') and the Corinthians' στενοχωρεῖσθε ('restricted' or 'narrowed') affections. Paul essentially argues, "My heart is as broad as possible for you; if you feel constricted, the constriction is in your own internal space, not mine." This isn't an accusation of malice, but a loving call for introspection regarding their emotional and spiritual barriers. The deep cultural significance of splagchna (bowels/affections) cannot be overstated; it indicates that the issue is not superficial but cuts to the very core of their being, their capacity for authentic human and spiritual connection. The self-imposed nature of this restriction is key, as it indicates a choice to hold back love or trust, limiting their experience of freedom in Christ and true fellowship.

2 Corinthians 6 12 Commentary

Paul, having poured out his heart and demonstrated the integrity and sacrifice of his ministry, uses 2 Corinthians 6:12 to pinpoint the real obstacle in his relationship with the Corinthian believers. He emphatically denies that any emotional or spiritual "narrowness" they might experience comes from him. His ministry, despite its hardships, is one of expansive love and liberation, reflecting the limitless grace of God. Instead, he charges that their own affections—their deep, innermost feelings and capacity for love, trust, and compassion—are restricted. This implies a lack of reciprocation, a guarding of their hearts, perhaps due to mistrust, carnal attachments, or worldly influences. This self-imposed constriction prevents them from fully receiving Paul's love and the spiritual benefits of their shared faith. The verse serves as both an appeal and a loving confrontation, urging them to examine their internal state as the true source of any distance or discomfort.