2 Corinthians 6:13 asks the Corinthian believers to respond to Paul’s love with love of their own, to open their hearts to him the way a parent hopes a child will open up to them. The verse closes a passionate appeal in which Paul describes his own generosity toward the church and then asks for the same warmth in return. It is written by the apostle Paul, traditionally identified as the author of this letter, and addressed to the church he founded in Corinth, a busy port city in Greece.
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 verse begins with “in return,” which tells you Paul is answering something. Just before, he has described how wide his heart has grown toward them and how fully he has poured himself out for their good. Now he asks for a matching response. The word “children” shows the tone: Paul speaks with the protective affection of a spiritual father, not the cool formality of a distant teacher.
The phrase “open your hearts” is an invitation rather than a command to feel a certain way on demand. Paul is asking the Corinthians to stop holding him at arm’s length, to receive his correction and encouragement without suspicion. The verse promises nothing automatic. It describes a relationship that grows when both sides lean toward each other, and it leaves the response in the hands of the readers.
The Context of 2 Corinthians 6:13
Second Corinthians is one of Paul’s most personal letters. The congregation in Corinth had been troubled by rival teachers who questioned his authority, and some members seemed to have grown cold toward him. Paul writes to defend his ministry and to win back their trust, sharing his hardships and his affection in equal measure. Verses 10 and 11 show him describing sorrow alongside joy and poverty alongside spiritual wealth, then saying plainly that his mouth and heart are open to them.
The verses that follow in 6:14-16 shift to a warning about partnering with unbelievers and a reminder that the church is God’s temple. Because of that, 6:13 works as a hinge. Paul first asks for their hearts, then clarifies that an open heart toward him should also mean a clear heart toward God, pure of compromise. Read this way, the plea for affection and the call to holiness belong to the same concern: a community that is close to its leader and close to God.
Key Phrases in 2 Corinthians 6:13
1 John 4:19
We love him, because he first loved us.
(WEB)
This verse says that love begins with God’s love for us, which then makes it possible for us to love others. It deepens the idea behind Paul’s plea by showing that an open heart toward people is a response to God’s prior openness toward us. Read together, the two passages suggest that our willingness to love is rooted in being loved first.
Ephesians 4:32
And be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you.
(WEB)
Paul’s exhortation here calls for kindness and forgiveness among believers, the very habits that keep hearts open to one another. It applies the principle of 2 Corinthians 6:13 to everyday relationships, where open hearts are tested by offense and must be rebuilt through grace.
A Short Prayer From 2 Corinthians 6:13
Lord, you have opened your heart to me again and again, even when I did not deserve it. Make my heart soft where it has grown guarded, and give me the courage to trust the people you have placed in my life. Where I have held back out of fear or hurt, gently loosen my grip. Teach me to receive love as well as give it, and let my openness to others reflect the open welcome I have found in you. Amen.
