Bible Strands
2 Corinthians 6:12
It is not our affection, but yours, that is restrained.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Paul writes to the Corinthian church immediately after declaring his own unrestricted speech and open heart, and directly before urging them to reciprocate that posture.
The words — στενοχωρεῖσθε (stenochōreisthe) literally means "you are constricted" or "you are restrained," functioning with ἐν (en) to mark the sphere or cause of that limitation.
The thread — The tension between constrained and open affection appears in 2 Corinthians 7:2, where Paul requests room in their hearts, and Philippians 1:8, where he witnesses his own Christ-driven longing for them.
Why it lands — It demands the reader identify what is artificially limiting their love for fellow believers and consciously remove those barriers to match the apostolic standard of open-hearted fellowship.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels.
Cross-references
- 2 Corinthians 7:2 Make room for us in your hearts. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have exploited no one.
- Micah 2:7 Should it be said, O house of Jacob, “Is the Spirit of the LORD impatient? Are these the things He does?” Do not My words bring good to him who walks uprightly?
- Philippians 1:8 God is my witness how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.
- Job 36:16 Indeed, He drew you from the jaws of distress to a spacious and broad place, to a table full of richness.
- 1 John 3:17 If anyone with earthly possessions sees his brother in need, but withholds his compassion from him, how can the love of God abide in him?
- Proverbs 4:12 When you walk, your steps will not be impeded; when you run, you will not stumble.
- Ecclesiastes 6:9 Better what the eye can see than the wandering of desire. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.