After Paul's lofty rhetoric on reconciliation that closes out chapter 5, he now returns to his struggles with the Corinthians. From inspiring and lyrical sentences in chapter 5 such as, "So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new," Paul shifts back to the earthbound and ordinary struggles with the Corinthians. He once again asks them to come around, to recognize him and his authority, and most of all, to respond to the gospel of Jesus Christ. As he puts it in chapter 6, verse 11: "Our heart is open wide to you." And, he wants them to respond in kind, as he says in verse 13: "In return - I speak as to children - open wide your hearts also."

"Don't you love me?" I remember the power of that question to me from my mother…