2 Corinthians 6:13 is Paul asking the Corinthian believers to respond to his affection with affection of their own. In plain terms, he is saying that he has been open and generous with them, and he now asks them to be open and generous in return. The verse was written by the apostle Paul, traditionally regarded as its author, and it was addressed to the church in Corinth, a community he had founded and cared for deeply.
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” signals that Paul is responding to something. In the verses just before, he has described how wide his heart is toward them, and how they have been holding back their own warmth. He is not asking for a payment or a favor. He is asking for reciprocity in relationship, the way a loving parent hopes a child will answer kindness with trust and closeness.
The image of “children” carries tenderness and authority at once. Paul speaks as a spiritual father, and that role shapes how he wants to be heard: as someone who wants the best for them. The phrase “open your hearts” is an invitation to let down defenses, to take him at his word, and to let his concern actually reach them. The verse promises no outcome. It describes what Paul hopes will happen between himself and the church.
The Context of 2 Corinthians 6:13
Second Corinthians is one of Paul’s most personal letters. He writes to a church that had strained relations with him, partly because of disputes over his leadership and partly because rival teachers had undermined his reputation. Much of the letter defends his ministry while also pleading with the Corinthians to reconcile with him. The tone is raw, honest, and full of longing.
The verses immediately before describe Paul’s open heart, and the verses that follow shift into a warning against being “unequally yoked” with unbelievers. That shift matters. Paul is not telling them to close off all their relationships. He is saying that their deepest loyalties should be to Christ, and that a heart divided between God and idols cannot be fully open to him or to the people who serve him. Read this way, the call to open their hearts to Paul is part of a larger call to open their hearts fully to God.
Key Phrases in 2 Corinthians 6:13
1 John 3:18
My little children, let’s not love in word only, or with the tongue only, but in deed and truth.
(WEB)
John calls believers to love in deed and in truth, not only in word. Like Paul’s appeal, this verse links affection with action and reminds readers that an open heart shows itself in real, practical care for others.
Romans 12:10
In love of the brothers be tenderly affectionate to one another; in honor preferring one another…
(WEB)
Paul urges believers to be devoted to one another in brotherly love and to honor others above themselves. The verse fills out what open hearts look like in community, showing warmth that is mutual and humble.
A Short Prayer From 2 Corinthians 6:13
Lord, you have opened your heart to me far more than I deserve. Help me to receive your love and the love of the people you have placed around me. Where I have grown guarded or distant, soften me and make me willing to be known. Teach me to answer kindness with honesty and warmth, and to let your truth reach the places I would rather keep closed. Amen.
