2 Corinthians 6:13Now in return, I speak as to my children, you also be open wide.
The setting
Paul shifts to tender parental language. No longer apostle to church, but father to children. He's asking for what every parent wants: their child's heart...
The emotion here: fatherly tenderness mixed with desperate hope for reconciliation
The original word
platunō (πλατύνω) — same word as verse 11, to widen or enlarge, like a father asking his child to open their arms for a hug
Why it matters
Roman fathers had absolute authority, but Paul appeals as a loving father, not an authoritarian patriarch
Read with care
What most readers miss in 2 Corinthians 6:13
This is a reciprocal request — 'I've opened my heart (v.11), now you open yours.' Love requires both people to be vulnerable.
Common misconceptionPeople think this is about ministry leadership, but it's about the universal parent-child dynamic of wanting your child's heart, not just their obedience.
The thread continues
Verses that echo 2 Corinthians 6:13
Bible Genome reading
2 Corinthians 6:13 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
2 Corinthians 6:13 comes from the book of 2 Corinthians, written during the early_church period. These words are attributed to Paul. The dominant emotion in this verse is seeking, with a comfort power of 40% and a tone that is tender. It belongs to the dialogue genre of biblical literature. Key themes include parental love, openness. Notable phrases: speak as to my children; be open wide. This verse contains a command.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same seeking
“Pray without ceasing.”
— 1 Thessalonians 5:17
“But let justice roll on like rivers, and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
— Amos 5:24
“Be it far from you to do things like that, to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be like the wicked. May that …”
— Genesis 18:25
“Call to me, and I will answer you, and will show you great things, and difficult, which you don't know.”
— Jeremiah 33:3
“Forgive us our sins, for we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. Bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evi…”
— Luke 11:4
Your reflection
What does 2 Corinthians 6:13 mean to you, today?
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