2 Corinthians 6:11 Meaning: What an Enlarged Heart Means
Our mouth is open to you, Corinthians. Our heart is enlarged.
O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged.
Our mouth is open unto you, O Corinthians, our heart is enlarged.
Our mouth hath been open unto you, O Corinthians, our heart hath been enlarged!
Our mouth is opened to you, Corinthians, our heart is expanded.
Meaning in one sentence
Paul’s 'heart is enlarged' in 2 Corinthians 6:11.
Context
Paul is writing from Macedonia, likely Philippi, after a painful separation from the Corinthian church. He has just listed the hardships he endures for the gospel, beatings, sleepless nights, tears, and slander (2 Cor 6:4, 10). Now he turns directly to the Corinthians with a fresh warmth. In this letter, he defends his ministry against those who questioned his motives, and here he insists that his affection for them is genuine. The verse bridges his catalogue of suffering to a plea that they open their hearts in return (v. 13) and then to a warning about being mismatched with unbelievers (v. 14). By naming them “Corinthians” directly, he uses this address only here and in Philippians 4:15, he makes his appeal personal and tender.
Key Words
The Greek verb behind “is opened” (aneōgen) is in the perfect tense: Paul’s mouth stands open, permanently unguarded toward them. This isn’t a one‑time speech but an ongoing freedom to speak his mind because of love. The heart, kardia in Greek, was seen as the seat of will and emotion. The striking word is “enlarged” (peplatuntai), from platunō, to widen or expand. Thayer’s lexicon notes that it means “to welcome and embrace you in love.” It is the opposite of a shriveled, guarded heart. In the Old Testament, “enlargement of heart” appears for Solomon (1 Kings 4:29) and for joy (Psalm 119:32). Paul uses this unusual word to show that his love isn’t cramped by their failings, it stretches to take them in. Love makes room, even when it hurts.
How Christians Read This Verse
John Calvin saw the open mouth as boldness that springs from a clear conscience, while the enlarged heart points to the cheerfulness of benevolence. Chrysostom, quoted by the Cambridge Bible, compared love to heat that expands the heart and opens the mouth. Matthew Henry says the apostle seemed to want words to express his warm affections. Robertson remarks how remarkable this is given the provocations Paul received from the Corinthians, they had slandered his motives and mocked his appearance, yet his heart expands instead of contracts. Wesley notes that Paul seldom uses their name, but here it carries peculiar force. Across traditions, the emphasis is the same: Paul’s love is not a polite courtesy but an active, costly opening of himself.
A common misunderstanding
Some read this as Paul boasting about his eloquence or his emotional style. In fact, he is not praising his own speech at all. He is explaining why he speaks with such vulnerable honesty: because his heart has been made wide enough to hold them, failures and all. The open mouth is the natural result of the enlarged heart, not a claim about rhetorical skill.
Living This Out
Consider someone you have closed your mouth around, maybe because they hurt you, disappointed you, or misunderstood you. Paul had every reason to speak cautiously to the Corinthians. They had called his character into question. Yet his heart grew bigger, not smaller. This week, ask God for a single person toward whom your heart feels tight or guarded. Pray for the courage to speak freely to them, not out of anger, but with the same kind of enlarged love Paul showed. Let the hurt open you, not harden you.
Main takeaway: Love expands the heart so we can speak openly and honestly to those who have hurt us.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Paul had a very big heart for the Christians in Corinth. Even when they were not kind to him, his heart grew bigger, not smaller. God can make our hearts big too, so we can love people even when they make mistakes.
For ages 9, 12
Paul had been hurt by the Corinthians, they said mean things about him and questioned his love. But instead of closing off, he says his heart “has been enlarged.” That is not natural; it comes from God. When someone lets you down, you can ask God to give you a heart that expands rather than contracts. An enlarged heart doesn’t mean you ignore wrong, but it means you don’t let your love shrink.
Questions People Ask
What does 'enlarged heart' mean in 2 Corinthians 6:11?
The Greek word 'peplatuntai' means to widen or expand. Paul uses it to describe a heart that has grown big enough to hold the Corinthians with genuine love, despite their failings. It is not an organ but a symbol of deep affection and readiness to welcome them.
Why does Paul call them 'Corinthians' directly?
Paul rarely addresses readers by name in his letters; here it is a mark of personal warmth. He is moving from a general description of his ministry to a direct, affectionate appeal. It makes clear that his words are for them, not just any audience.
How does this verse connect to the warning about unequal yokes in verse 14?
Paul prepares the Corinthians for a difficult command by first reminding them of his love. He wants them to know that his warning comes from an enlarged heart, not from cold legalism. The openness and love are the foundation for the call to separate from unbelief.
What did early church fathers like Chrysostom say about this verse?
Chrysostom saw the enlarged heart as the effect of love, comparing it to heat that expands. He said virtue is warm and fervent, and that is what opened Paul's mouth and expanded his heart. The early church consistently read this as a picture of genuine, costly pastoral love.
Is Paul only describing his own feelings here?
No, he is also modeling how Christian love works. The open mouth and enlarged heart are not emotions Paul simply felt; they are the fruit of the Spirit at work in him amid real conflict. He shows that love doesn't just tolerate, it actively grows wider to hold others.
For pastors & researchers
Greek interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study