2 Corinthians 6:13 asks the Corinthian believers to respond to Paul with the same openness he has shown them, treating him as a loving parent would treat his children. Paul is not demanding payment or loyalty for himself here; he is asking for a warm, reciprocal affection that matches the care he has already given. The verse comes from the apostle Paul, writing in the middle of a long, emotional letter to the church he founded in Corinth.
Now in return, I speak as to my children, you also open your hearts.
2 Corinthians 6:13 (WEB)
What 2 Corinthians 6:13 Means
The phrase “in return” points back to the previous verses, where Paul describes the openness of his own heart toward the Corinthians. He has been generous with them, speaking frankly and welcoming them into his affection, and now he asks them to do the same in return. The word “return” makes this a request for fairness and mutual warmth rather than a one-sided appeal.
The phrase “as to my children” shows the tone Paul is using. He is speaking tenderly, the way a father or mother speaks to a child they love and want to keep close. This is not the language of a stern authority issuing orders but of a caring parent hoping for a responsive heart.
The verse does not promise that every relationship will become easy or that the Corinthians will always agree with Paul. It describes an attitude of openness, a willingness to receive love and to let it move you. The rest of the passage shows that Paul is also concerned about the believers being pulled into patterns that would harm their faith, so this openness is meant to be healthy and rooted in trust in God.
The Context of 2 Corinthians 6:13
Second Corinthians is traditionally attributed to Paul and was written to a congregation he had founded and later struggled with. The letter reveals a deep personal bond mixed with hurt, as some in the church had questioned Paul’s authority and motives. Chapters 6 and 7 form a warm appeal within this larger letter, where Paul pleads for reconciliation and for the Corinthians to draw near to him and to God.
Just before verse 13, Paul lists the hardships he and his companions have endured while remaining faithful, describing themselves as sorrowful yet rejoicing and as having nothing yet possessing all things. Verse 12 notes that the Corinthians are restricted not by Paul but by their own affections. Verse 14 then turns to a warning against being unequally yoked with unbelievers. Reading verse 13 within this sequence shows that Paul’s call for an open heart is not a call to indiscriminate openness to every influence, but a call to a heart that is warmly receptive to the gospel and to those who speak truthfully in God’s name.
Key Phrases in 2 Corinthians 6:13
Philippians 1:8
For God is my witness, how I long after all of you in the tender mercies of Christ Jesus.
(WEB)
Paul expresses deep affection for the believers in Philippi, saying he longs for them with the tender love of Christ. Like 2 Corinthians 6:13, this verse shows Paul’s heart for the churches and his hope that their relationship will be marked by genuine, Christ-centered love.
1 Thessalonians 2:7
But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother cherishes her own children.
(WEB)
Here Paul describes himself as a gentle nurse caring for her own children, another image of parental tenderness. Reading it alongside 2 Corinthians 6:13 helps show how Paul consistently wove together affection and care in his relationships with the churches.
A Short Prayer From 2 Corinthians 6:13
Lord, you have opened your heart to me in Christ, and I thank you for that generous love. Please soften whatever has grown guarded inside me, whether from hurt, pride or fear. Help me to receive the care of those you have placed around me and to answer it with honesty and warmth. Teach me to trust you enough to live with an open heart. Amen.
