2 Corinthians 6:12

Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels. Any constraint ye feel is not from want of largeness of heart on my part toward you, but from want of it on your part toward me. NOT STRAITENED IN US - i:e., for want of room in our hearts to take you in. BOWELS - i:e., affections (cf. )....

12._Ye are not straitened in us _That is, “It is owing to your own fault that you are not able to share in this feeling of cheerfulness, which I entertain towards you. My _mouth is opened, _so that I deal familiarly with you, my very heart would willingly pour itself forth, (605) but you shut up your bowels.” He means to say, that it is owing to their corrupt judgment, that the things that he utters are not relished by them....

11-18 It is wrong for believers to join with the wicked and profane. The word unbeliever applies to all destitute of true faith. True pastors will caution their beloved children in the gospel, not to be unequally yoked. The fatal effects of neglecting Scripture precepts as to marriages clearly appear. Instead of a help meet, the union brings a snare. Those whose cross it is to be unequally united, without their wilful fault, may expect consolation under it; but when believers enter into such unions, against the express warnings of God's word, they must expect must distress. The caution also extends to common conversation. We should not join in friendship and acquaintance with wicked men and unbelievers. Though we cannot wholly avoid seeing and hearing, and being with such, yet we should never choose them for friends. We must not defile ourselves by converse with those who defile themsel...

Verse 2 Corinthians 6:12. _YE ARE NOT STRAITENED IN US_] That is, Ye have not a _narrow_ place in our affections: the metaphor here is taken from the case of a person pent up in a small or narrow place, where there is scarcely room to breathe. _YE ARE STRAITENED IN YOUR OWN BOWELS._] I have not the same place in your affections which you have in mine. The _bowels_ are used in Scripture to denote the most _tender affections_. Matthew 9:36, Matthew 9:36....

YE ARE NOT STRAITENED IN US - That is, you do not possess a narrow or contracted place in our affections. We love you fully, ardently, and are ready to do all that can be done for your welfare. There is no lack of room in our affections toward you. It is not narrow, confined, pent up. It is ample and free. BUT YE ARE STRAITENED IN YOUR OWN BOWELS - That is, in the affections of your hearts. The word used here (σπλάγχνα splangchna) commonly means in the Bible the tender affections. The Greek word properly denotes the upper viscera; the heart, the lungs, the liver. It is applied by Greek writers to denote those parts of victims which were eaten during or after the sacrifice - Robinson (Lexicon). Hence, it is applied to the heart, as the seat of the emotions and passions; and especially the gentler emotions, the tender affections, compassion, pity, lo

EXPOSITION The methods and conditions of an apostolic ministry (2 Corinthians 6:1). Appeal to the Corinthians to reciprocate his affection and separate themselves from evil (2 Corinthians 6:11). 2 CORINTHIANS 6:1 WE THEN, AS FELLOW WORKERS. Continuing the entreaty of 2 Corinthians 5:20, he adds, "But as [his] fellow workers we also exhort you." The "also" shows that he does not rest content with merely _entreating _them (δεόμεθα), but adds to the entreaty an exhortation emphasized by a self-sacrificing ministry. "Fellow worke

YE ARE NOT STRAITENED IN US,.... The meaning of which is, either you are not brought into straits and difficulties by us; we do not afflict and distress you, or fill you with anguish and trouble; BUT YE ARE STRAITENED IN YOUR OWN BOWELS; you are distressed by some among yourselves, who ought not to be with you, with whom you should have no fellowship and communion: or thus, you have room enough in our hearts, our hearts are so enlarged with love to you, that they are large enough to hold you all; an expression, setting forth the exceeding great love, and strong affection the apostle bore to the Corinthians; when, on the other hand, they had but very little love to him comparatively; he had a heart to hold them all without being straitened for room; and among all them they could scarce find room enough in their hearts and affections for him....

2 Corinthians 6:1. _We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain._ God's servants are called to take many different positions. They are ambassadors under one aspect; they are workers under another. As ambassadors, they are ambassadors for Christ, as workers, they are workers together with God. Oh, how much it costs to win a soul! I mean, not only how much it cost the Saviour, so that he broke his very heart over it, and poured out his life's blood, but also how much it must cost the messenger of peace! He must know how to beseech and implore; and when even this fails, he must still go on toiling, labouring, as a worker together with God. 2 Corinthians 6:2. (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, a

7. THE EXAMPLE OF THE APOSTLE PAUL; HIS TESTINGS AND TRIALS. CHAPTER 6:1-13 He beseeches the Corinthians as coworkers, in view of the ministry of reconciliation, not to receive this grace of God in vain. This is not a contradiction of the doctrine of the security of a true believer. The apostle evidently was uneasy about some of these Corinthian Christians and feared that some had not received the grace of God in their hearts. Their conduct led him to this questioning. If the grace of God comes to man it may be received in vain and lead not to the blessed results in quickening power and real salvation for which it is given. “The security of His children is unquestionable, not so much through their perseverance, as men say, but by His power through faith; but the Corinthians needed and received faithful entreaty, for their ways were not such as became the gospel. They were compromising H...

2 Corinthians 6:11 to 2 Corinthians 7:16. THE RESTORED RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PAUL AND THE CORINTHIANS MUST BE SEALED BY PROOF OF THEIR LOYALTY. 2 Corinthians 6:11. The openness of his speech is an indication of the largeness of his heart towards them. It is not true that they are shut up in a corner by him; any constraint that they feel is really due to the narrowness of their own affection. He therefore appeals to them to meet and reward his overflowing confidence and affection by a corresponding widening of their hearts towards him....