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Sunday, July 20th, 2025
the Week of Proper 11 / Ordinary 16
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Read the Bible

Lexham English Bible

2 Corinthians 6:13

Now the same way in exchange (I am speaking as to children), you open wide your hearts also.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Love;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Family;   Reconciliation;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Corinth;   Holman Bible Dictionary - 2 Corinthians;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Reward;   Reward (2);  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Enlarge;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
I speak as to my children; as a proper response, open your heart to us.
King James Version (1611)
Nowe for a recompense in the same, (I speake as vnto my children) be ye also inlarged.
King James Version
Now for a recompence in the same, (I speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged.
English Standard Version
In return (I speak as to children) widen your hearts also.
New American Standard Bible
Now in the same way in exchange—I am speaking as to children—open wide your hearts to us, you as well.
New Century Version
I speak to you as if you were my children. Do to us as we have done—open your hearts to us.
Amplified Bible
Now in the same way as a fair exchange [for our love toward you]—I am speaking as [I would] to children—open wide [your hearts] to us also.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Now in a like exchange—I speak as to children—open wide to us also.
Legacy Standard Bible
Now in a like exchange—I speak as to children—open wide to us also.
Berean Standard Bible
As a fair exchange, I ask you as my children: Open wide your hearts also.
Contemporary English Version
I speak to you as I would speak to my own children. Please make room in your hearts for us.
Complete Jewish Bible
So, just to be "fair" (I am using the language of children), open wide your hearts too.
Darby Translation
but for an answering recompense, (I speak as to children,) let *your* heart also expand itself.
Easy-to-Read Version
I speak to you as if you were my children. Do the same as we have done—open your hearts also.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Nowe for the same recompence, I speake as to my children, Be you also inlarged.
George Lamsa Translation
I speak as to my children, render me my reward which is with you, increase your love toward me.
Good News Translation
I speak now as though you were my children: show us the same feelings that we have for you. Open your hearts wide!
Literal Translation
But for the same reward, I speak as to children, you also be made larger.
American Standard Version
Now for a recompense in like kind (I speak as unto my children), be ye also enlarged.
Bible in Basic English
Now to give me back payment of the same sort (I am talking as to my children), let your hearts be wide open to me.
Hebrew Names Version
Now in return, I speak as to my children, you also be enlarged.
International Standard Version
Do us a favor - I ask you as my children - and open wide your hearts.1 Corinthians 4:14;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
But as unto (my) children, I say to you, Render to me my gains which are with you, and expand your love towards me.
Murdock Translation
13 I speak as to [fn] children, Pay me the debt which ye owe, and expand your love towards me.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
I promise you lyke rewarde as vnto children: Set your selues at large,
English Revised Version
Now for a recompense in like kind (I speak as unto [my] children), be ye also enlarged.
World English Bible
Now in return, I speak as to my children, you also be enlarged.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Now for a recompence of the same, (I speak as to my children) be ye also inlarged.
Weymouth's New Testament
And in just requital--I speak as to my children--let your hearts expand also.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And Y seie as to sones, ye that han the same reward, be ye alargid.
Update Bible Version
Now for a recompense in like kind (I speak as to [my] children), be also enlarged.
Webster's Bible Translation
Now for a recompense in the same (I speak as to [my] children,) be ye also enlarged.
New English Translation
Now as a fair exchange—I speak as to my children—open wide your hearts to us also.
New King James Version
Now in return for the same (I speak as to children), you also be open.
New Living Translation
I am asking you to respond as if you were my own children. Open your hearts to us!
New Life Bible
I am speaking to you now as if you were my own children. Open your hearts wide to us! That will pay us back for what we have done for you.
New Revised Standard
In return—I speak as to children—open wide your hearts also.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Howbeit, by way of the like recompense - as, unto children, I speak, be enlarged, even, ye.
Douay-Rheims Bible
But having the same recompense (I speak as to my children): be you also enlarged.
Revised Standard Version
In return--I speak as to children--widen your hearts also.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
I promyse you lyke rewarde with me as to my childre.
Young's Literal Translation
and [as] a recompense of the same kind, (as to children I say [it],) be ye enlarged -- also ye!
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
I speake to you, as to childre, that haue like rewarde with vs.
Mace New Testament (1729)
I address myself to you as a parent, be not you wanting in the returns of filial respect to me.
Simplified Cowboy Version
I feel like a father who has given everything to his kids, but they show no gratitude or love. Pop your dallies on whatever is holding you back and open your hearts to us.

Contextual Overview

11 We have spoken freely and openly to you, Corinthians; our heart is open wide. 12 You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your affections. 13 Now the same way in exchange (I am speaking as to children), you open wide your hearts also. 14 Do not become unevenly yoked with unbelievers, for what participation is there between righteousness and lawlessness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness? 15 And what agreement does Christ have with Beliar? Or what share does a believer have with an unbeliever? 16 And what agreement does the temple of God have with idols? For we are the temple of the living God, just as God said, "I will live in them and will walk about among them, and I will be their God and they will be my people." 17 Therefore "come out from their midst and be separate," says the Lord, "and do not touch what is unclean, and I will welcome you, 18 and I will be a father to you, and you will be sons and daughters to me," says the all-powerful Lord.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

I speak: 1 Corinthians 4:14, 1 Corinthians 4:15, Galatians 4:19, 1 Thessalonians 2:11, Hebrews 12:5, Hebrews 12:6, 1 John 2:1, 1 John 2:12-14, 1 John 3:7, 1 John 3:18, 3 John 1:4

be: 2 Kings 13:14-19, Psalms 81:10, Matthew 9:28, Matthew 9:29, Matthew 17:19-21, Mark 6:4-6, Mark 11:24, James 1:6, James 1:7, 1 John 5:14, 1 John 5:15

Reciprocal: 2 Corinthians 12:15 - though

Cross-References

Genesis 6:1
And it happened that, when humankind began to multiply on the face of the ground, daughters were born to them.
Genesis 6:2
Then the sons of God saw the daughters of humankind, that they were beautiful. And they took for themselves wives from all that they chose.
Genesis 6:4
The Nephilim were upon the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God went into the daughters of humankind, and they bore children to them.
Genesis 6:6
And Yahweh regretted that he had made humankind on the earth, and he was grieved in his heart.
Genesis 6:7
And Yahweh said, "I will destroy humankind whom I created from upon the face of the earth, from humankind, to animals, to creeping things, and to the birds of heaven, for I regret that I have made them."
Genesis 6:10
And Noah fathered three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
Genesis 6:11
And the earth was corrupted before God, and the earth was filled with violence.
Genesis 6:12
And God saw the earth, and behold, it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted its way upon the earth.
Genesis 7:23
And he blotted out every living thing upon the surface of the ground, from humankind, to animals, to creeping things, and to the birds of heaven; they were blotted out from the earth. Only Noah and those who were with him in the ark remained.
Genesis 49:5
Simeon and Levi are brothers; weapons of violence are their swords. Let me not come into their council.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Now for a recompence in the same,.... That your love to me may answer mine to you; that as you have my heart, I may have yours, and the same room in your heart, as you have in mine. The Vulgate Latin version reads, "having the same recompence"; and the Arabic version renders it, "grant to me the same recompence"; and the Syriac version, "recompense to me my usuries that are with you"; that is, repay me with affection, let love be returned for love.

I speak as unto my children; which relation subsisting between us requires mutual affection; for as a father should love his children, so children should love their father:

be ye also enlarged; in your love to me, as I am to you; and then, as if he should say, you will bear with, and take in good part the following exhortation and advice.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Now for a recompence in the same - “By way of recompence, open your hearts in the same manner toward me as I have done toward you. It is all the reward or compensation which I ask of you; all the return which I desire. I do not ask silver or gold, or any earthly possessions. I ask only a return of love, and a devotedness to the cause which I love, and which I endeavor to promote.”

I speak as unto my children - I speak as a parent addressing his children. I sustain toward you the relation of a spiritual father, and I have a right to require and expect a return of affection.

Be ye also enlarged - Be not straitened in your affections. Love me as I love you. Give to me the same proofs of attachment which I have given you. The idea in this verse is, that the only compensation or remuneration which he expected for all the love which he had shown them, and for all his toils and self-denials in their behalf 2 Corinthians 6:4-5, was, that they would love him, and yield obedience to the laws of the gospel requiring them to be separate from the world, 2 Corinthians 6:14-18. One ground of the claim which he had to their affection was, that he sustained toward them the relation of a father, and that he had a right to require and to expect such a return of love. The Syriac renders it well: “Enlarge your love toward me.” Tyndale renders it: “I speak unto you as unto children, which have like reward with us; stretch yourselves therefore out; bear not the yoke with unbelievers.”

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 2 Corinthians 6:13. Now for a recompense in the same — That you may, in some sort, repay me for my affection towards you, I speak to you as unto my children, whom I have a right to command, be ye also enlarged-love me as I love you.


 
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