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2 Corinthians 6:13

in 2 Corinthians 6

As a fair exchange, I ask you as my children: Open wide your hearts also.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

Now for a recompense in like kind (I speak as unto my children), be ye also enlarged.

KJV

Now for a recompence in the same, (I speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged.

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This verse in 2 Corinthians 6

Commentary

12 notes on this verse
Now for a recompence in the same,.... That your love to me may answer mine to you; that as you have my heart, I may have yours, and the same room in your heart, as you have in mine. The Vulgate Latin version reads, "having the same recompence"; and the Arabic version renders it, "grant to me the same recompence"; and the Syriac version, "recompense to me my usuries that are with you"; that is, repay me with affection, let love be returned for love.

This site's exposition

We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians

on 2 Corinthians 6:11-13

The defense breaks into direct address, We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, Paul naming the church itself. Any coldness lies on their side, so Paul pleads as a father, I ask you as my children: Open wide your hearts also.

This site's exposition

Open wide your hearts also

Albert Barnes hears this as the only payment Paul asks, love returned with no silver or gold. Chrysostom adds that one who loves second can never quite match one who loved first, yet Paul will keep no strict account. He speaks as a father.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers2 voices

A commentator

Theodoret of Cyrus

COMMENTARY ON THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS 321 · Written before 458.

proposed

Paul blunts the force of his accusations by calling the Corinthians his children.

A commentator

John Chrysostom

Homily 13 on 2 Corinthians · Written before 407.

proposed

"Now for a recompense in like kind (I speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged." And yet it is not an equal return, first to be loved, afterwards to love. For even if one were to contribute that which is equal in amount, he is inferior in that he comes to it second. 'But nevertheless I am not going to reckon strictly,' saith he, 'and if ye after having received the first advances from me do but show forth the same amount, I am well-pleased and contented.' Then to show that to do this was even a debt, and that what he said was void of flattery, he saith, "I speak as unto my children." What meaneth, "as unto my children?" 'I ask no great thing, if being your father I wish to be loved by you.' And see wisdom and moderation of mind. He mentions not here his dangers on their behalf, and his labors, and his deaths, although he had many to tell of: (so free from pride is he!) but his love: and on this account he claims to be loved; 'because,' saith he, 'I was your father, because I exceedingly burn for you,' [for] it is often especially offensive to the person beloved when a man sets forth his benefits to him; for he seems to reproach. Wherefore Paul doth not this; but, 'like children, love your father,' saith he, which rather proceeds from instinct; and is the due of every father.

The Medieval Church2 voices

A commentator

Thomas Aquinas

Commentary on 2 Corinthians · Written before 1274.

proposed

Then he urges them to enlarge their hearts, saying, In return [having the same recompense], widen your hearts also. As if to say: if you had been deceived and straightened by a false apostle, then do not continue in that state, but try to have …

A commentator

Theophylact of Ohrid

Commentary on 2 Corinthians · Written before 1107.

proposed

Show the same mutuality and equality of friendship on your part as well, and open your hearts just as I have opened mine. He shows that this is how it ought to be, for he says: "I speak as to children." I ask nothing great …

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

In these verses we have an account of the apostle's general errand and exhortation to all to whom he preached in every place where he came, with the several arguments and methods he used. The errand or exhortation itself, namely, to comply with the gospel offers of reconciliation--that, being favoured with the gospel, they would not receive this grace of God in vain,
4 more voices on this verse

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

Though the apostle was happy in a great fluency of expressions, yet he seemed to want words to express the warm affections he had for these Corinthians.

The Nineteenth Century3 voices

Now for a recompence in the same - “By way of recompence, open your hearts in the same manner toward me as I have done toward you. It is all the reward or compensation which I ask of you; all the return which I desire. I do not ask silver or gold, or any earthly possessions. I ask only a return of love, and a devotedness to the cause which I love, and which I endeavor to promote.” I speak as unto my children - I speak as a parent addressing his children.

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

Translate, "As a recompense in the same kind . . . be enlarged also yourselves" [ELLICOTT]. "In the same way" as my heart is enlarged towards you (2Co 6:11), and "as a recompense" for it (Ga 4:12).

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

proposed

Now for a recompense in the same - That you may, in some sort, repay me for my affection towards you, I speak to you as unto my children, whom I have a right to command, be ye also enlarged - love me as I love you.

The words behind it

10 Greek words

Every Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

18 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

1 John 3:18Little children, let us love not in word and speech, but in action and truth.5 works3 John 1:4I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.5 works1 John 2:1My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate before the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.4 works1 John 3:7Little children, let no one deceive you: The one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as Christ is righteous.4 works1 Corinthians 4:14–15I am not writing this to shame you, but to warn you as my beloved children.4 works1 Thessalonians 2:11For you know that we treated each of you as a father treats his own children—3 works
The other 12 cross-references, with their words ▾
2 Kings 13:14–19When Elisha had fallen sick with the illness from which he would die, Jehoash king of Israel came down to him and wept over him, saying, “My father, my father, the chariots and horsemen of Israel!”2 worksMark 6:4–6Then Jesus said to them, “Only in his hometown, among his relatives, and in his own household is a prophet without honor.”2 works1 John 2:12–14I am writing to you, little children, because your sins have been forgiven through His name.2 works1 John 5:14–15And this is the confidence that we have before Him: If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.2 worksGalatians 4:12I beg you, brothers, become like me, for I became like you. You have done me no wrong.2 worksHebrews 12:5–6And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not take lightly the discipline of the Lord, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you.2 worksMatthew 17:19–20Afterward the disciples came to Jesus privately and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”2 worksMatthew 9:28–29After Jesus had entered the house, the blind men came to Him. “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” He asked. “Yes, Lord,” they answered.2 worksPsalms 81:10I am the LORD your God, who brought you up out of Egypt. Open wide your mouth, and I will fill it.2 worksMark 11:24Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.2 worksJames 1:6–7But he must ask in faith, without doubting, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.1 worksGalatians 4:19My children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you,1 works

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    1 John 2:1

    My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate before the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.

    it leads to

    • 1 Timothy 2:5

      For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,

    • Romans 8:34

      Who is there to condemn us? For Christ Jesus, who died, and more than that was raised to life, is at the right hand of God—and He is interceding for us.

    • John 14:6

      Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

    • 1 John 1:8–10

      If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

    • Hebrews 7:24–26

      But because Jesus lives forever, He has a permanent priesthood.

  • Through

    1 John 3:18

    Little children, let us love not in word and speech, but in action and truth.

    it leads to

    • James 2:15–16

      Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.

    • Romans 12:9

      Love must be sincere. Detest what is evil; cling to what is good.

    • 1 Peter 1:22

      Since you have purified your souls by obedience to the truth so that you have a genuine love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from a pure heart.

Where this verse is studied

About 2 Corinthians

The Apostle Paul in Prison, Rembrandt, 1627. Public domain.
The Apostle Paul in Prison, Rembrandt, 1627. Public domain.
2 Corinthians: the study guide →Read 2 Corinthians 6 →
This page draws on 11 works. Open the list of works

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Second Epistle to the Corinthians; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Frederic Godet, Commentary on the Epistles to the Corinthians; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily 13 on 2 Corinthians; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theodoret of Cyrus, COMMENTARY ON THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS 321; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 2 Corinthians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 2 Corinthians.

Read on in 2 Corinthians 6 →