In return is literally “the same recompense.” The sense is clear. Paul asks the Corinthians to open their hearts to him and his colleagues just as he and his associates have opened theirs to the Corinthians. That is, in return for the love that Paul and his associates have for the Corinthians, they want to be repaid by experiencing love from the people they love.

That Paul compares the Corinthians to children does not mean that they are immature (as in 1 Cor 3.1-2); rather in this context the word children is an expression of affection (see 1 Cor 4.14; Gal 4.19). Revised English Bible says “If I may speak to you like a father.”

The Greek has no pronoun before children. Some languages will require a possessive pronoun here. Though the pronoun “our” (Paul and his co-workers) would be appropriate, in light of the first person singular I speak, the pronoun “my” (Good News Translation, Bible en français courant) seems more appropriate. Translators should avoid suggesting that Paul actually has children.

Widen your hearts also: see comments on 6.11. Good News Translation keeps the metaphorical language (“Open your hearts wide!”) while translating the meaning also (“show us the same feelings that we have for you”). Depending on how verse 11 has been rendered, translators may want to consider one of the following models: “love us with all your hearts also” or “make room in your hearts for us also.”

The whole verse may possibly be rendered “since we still love you, I am asking that you rekindle your love for us. (I am talking to you now as if you were my children.)”

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellingworth, Paul. A Handbook on Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1993. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .