our mouth , &c. A Hebraism for speaking with liberty. Compare Judges 11:35 , Psalms 78:2 ; Psalms 109:2 .Proverbs 8:6 ; Proverbs 31:26 . Ezekiel 24:27 ; Ezekiel 29:21 .Matthew 5:2 .Acts 8:35 . unto. Greek. pros. App-104 . enlarged . Greek. platuno. Only here, 2 Corinthians 6:13 , and Matthew 23:5 . read more
Our mouth is opened unto you, O Corinthians, our heart is enlarged. Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own affections. Now for a recompense in like kind (I speak as unto my own children), be ye also enlarged.Our mouth is opened unto you ... means "I have spoken fully and frankly to you."Our heart is enlarged ... means "We have great affection for you."Ye are not straitened in us ... means "My affection for you is not diminished."Ye are straitened in your affections ...... read more
2 Corinthians 6:11. O ye Corinthians,— Another argument made use of by St. Paul, to justify and excuse his plainness of speech to the Corinthians, is the great affection that he has for them; into an expression whereof he here breaks out in a very pathetic manner. This, with an exhortation to separate themselves from idolaters and unbelievers, is what he insists upon from this place to ch. 2 Corinthians 7:16. "O ye Corinthians! my mouth is open to you; my heart is enlarged to you: my affection,... read more
11. mouth . . . open unto you—I use no concealment, such as some at Corinth have insinuated ( :-). I use all freedom and openness of speech to you as to beloved friends. Hence he introduces here, "O Corinthians" (compare Philippians 4:15). The enlargement of his heart towards them (Philippians 4:15- :) produced his openness of mouth, that is, his unreserved expression of his inmost feelings. As an unloving man is narrow in heart, so the apostle's heart is enlarged by love, so as to take in his... read more
The appeal stated 6:11-13On the basis of his preceding openness with the Corinthians, Paul exhorted them, on the ground of fair play, to respond toward him as he had behaved toward them. His open speech (cf. 2 Corinthians 3:12; 2 Corinthians 4:2) reflected his open heart. They had shown reserve, not because Paul had put them under bondage but because they doubted his integrity. He urged them to become unrestrained in their affection toward him as he had demonstrated that he was unrestrained in... read more
C. Appeal for restoration of the Corinthians’ confidence in Paul 6:11-7:16The apostle now turned to a direct appeal for the Corinthians to reconcile with him in their hearts."The call for reconciliation with Paul, therefore, stands in parallel with the call for reconciliation with God [2 Corinthians 5:20]. While it would be too much to say that these two forms of reconciliation are equally important, for Paul they are directly linked with one another." [Note: Beverly R. Gaventa, "Apostle and... read more
6:11 expanded. (a-11) I do not say 'enlarged,' because it would lead one to suppose that his heart had been narrow. He had been driven in, as it were, by their evil, and now opened out and expanded. read more
I, 2. Paraphrase. ’Now it is as coöperators with God in this work that we exhort you not to make the grace of God fruitless in your life by continuing in sin. (2) For God has told us in Scripture of a time of grace and of a day of salvation; and this is that blessed time of grace and that day of salvation.’1. Workers together with him] For the idea cp. 1 Corinthians 3:9. In vain] i.e. by an unholy life.2. He (i.e. God) saith] The v. is a parenthesis. The reference is to Isaiah 49:8, God’s words... read more
(11) O ye Corinthians.—There was manifestly a pause here as the letter was dictated. The rush of thoughts had reached its highest point. He rests, and feels almost as if some apology were needed for so vehement an outpouring of emotion. And now he writes as if personally pleading with them. Nowhere else in the whole range of his Epistles do we find any parallel to this form of speech—this “O ye Corinthians.” He has to tell them that he speaks out of the fulness of his heart, that if his mouth... read more
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Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 2 Corinthians 6:1-13
The power of love (5:11-6:13)Because Paul knows that he is accountable to Christ, he knows what it means to fear the Lord, and this makes him more diligent in his service. God knows that his motives are pure and he trusts that the Corinthians know also (11).In making these statements, Paul is not trying to write a recommendation for himself. He is trying to give his supporters reason to be bold in defending him against those who criticize him (12). They may have seen him display his feelings in... read more