2 Corinthians 6:11-18 - Separate From All Uncleanness
Paul's love failed to be appreciated by his converts because the channel of receptiveness, that is, of their faith and love, was so straitened. How often is this the case between Christ and us! Let us dredge the channel. Be ye enlarged! Open your mouth wide and He will fill it.
The best method of doing this is to be only, always, and all for Him. We must not offer Him a share of our heart and devotion. There must be no division between Him and others. Whenever iniquity, darkness, Belial, and unbelievers seek to share our nature with the Holy Spirit, and we permit the partnership, He withdraws. No idols must be permitted in any hidden shrine of the heart. The whole nature-spirit (that is, the Holy of Holies) soul (that is, the seat of our individuality), and body-must be the temple of the Eternal, who rules it from the Shekinah, which is enthroned on the Ark of the Covenant. God still walks the world in those who love Him and are wholly yielded to His indwelling. The loneliest spirit finds Him to be father, mother, brother, sister, all. What an incentive to cleanliness not only of flesh but of spirit! Hebrews 10:22. The Apostle concludes by expressing his intense thankfulness that his converts had not misunderstood the urgency of his former letter. [source]
Chapter Summary: 2 Corinthians 6
1That he has approved himself a faithful minister of Christ by his exhortations, 3and by integrity of life, 4and by patiently enduring all kinds of affliction and disgrace for the gospel 10Of which he speaks the more boldly amongst them because his heart is open to them, 13and he expects the like affection from them again; 14exhorting them to flee the society and pollutions of idolaters, 17as being themselves temples of the living God
Greek Commentary for 2 Corinthians 6:12
Ye are not straitened in us [ου στενοχωρειστε εν ημιν] The same figure as in 2 Corinthians 6:11. See note on 2 Corinthians 4:8 for στενοχωρεω stenochōreō There is no restraint in me (my heart). My adversaries may have caused some of you to tighten up your affections (σπλαγχνα splagchna for affection as in James 5:11; 1 Peter 3:8). [source]
Not straitened in us [] It is not that our hearts are too narrow to take you in. Straitened in antithesis with enlarged. [source]
In your own bowels [τοῖς οπλάγχνοις ὑμῶν] See on 1 Peter 3:8; see on James 5:11. Rev., affections. It is your love that is contracted. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 2 Corinthians 6:12
2 Corinthians 7:2Receive [χωρήσατε] From χῶρος placeor space. Primarily, to leave a space, make room for. See on containing, John 2:6; see on John 8:37. The meaning here is make room for us. Rev., open your hearts to us, which is felicitous in view of the reference to 2 Corinthians 6:12. It is equivalent to saying enlarge your hearts to take us in, as our heart is enlarged (2 Corinthians 6:11). [source]
2 Corinthians 4:8Distressed [στενοχωρούμενοι] Only here and 2 Corinthians 6:12. From στενός narrowand χῶρος aspace. Hence cramped. The A.V. gives no suggestion of the figurative paradox. We are pressed closely, yet not cramped. Rev., pressed on every side, yet not straitened. [source]
2 Corinthians 7:2Open your hearts to us [χωρησατε ημας] Old verb (from χωρος chōros place), to leave a space, to make a space for, and transitive here as in Matthew 19:11. He wishes no further στενοχωρια stenochōria tightness of heart, in them (2 Corinthians 6:12). “Make room for us in your hearts.” He makes this plea to all, even the stubborn minority. [source]
What do the individual words in 2 Corinthians 6:12 mean?
Notyou are restrainedbyushoweverintheaffectionsof you
Greek Commentary for 2 Corinthians 6:12
The same figure as in 2 Corinthians 6:11. See note on 2 Corinthians 4:8 for στενοχωρεω stenochōreō There is no restraint in me (my heart). My adversaries may have caused some of you to tighten up your affections (σπλαγχνα splagchna for affection as in James 5:11; 1 Peter 3:8). [source]
It is not that our hearts are too narrow to take you in. Straitened in antithesis with enlarged. [source]
See on 1 Peter 3:8; see on James 5:11. Rev., affections. It is your love that is contracted. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 2 Corinthians 6:12
From χῶρος placeor space. Primarily, to leave a space, make room for. See on containing, John 2:6; see on John 8:37. The meaning here is make room for us. Rev., open your hearts to us, which is felicitous in view of the reference to 2 Corinthians 6:12. It is equivalent to saying enlarge your hearts to take us in, as our heart is enlarged (2 Corinthians 6:11). [source]
Only here and 2 Corinthians 6:12. From στενός narrowand χῶρος aspace. Hence cramped. The A.V. gives no suggestion of the figurative paradox. We are pressed closely, yet not cramped. Rev., pressed on every side, yet not straitened. [source]
Old verb (from χωρος chōros place), to leave a space, to make a space for, and transitive here as in Matthew 19:11. He wishes no further στενοχωρια stenochōria tightness of heart, in them (2 Corinthians 6:12). “Make room for us in your hearts.” He makes this plea to all, even the stubborn minority. [source]