Note 24 at 2 Cor. 6:12: The word "straiten" means "1) to make narrow or restricted; 2) to put into difficulties or distress" (American Heritage Dict.). Many of the Corinthian believers had rejected Paul's leadership and were no doubt blaming him for all their problems, just as people do today. Paul was saying that the difficulties and distress that the Corinthians were experiencing were of their own making, not his. It was their heart that restricted them. Paul had opened wide his heart to them.

Note 25 at 2 Cor. 6:12: The term "bowels" refers to the affections or emotions. In old English, "bowels" were the seat of affections, just as we use the word "heart" to describe the seat of our emotions today. When we say we love someone with all our heart, we aren't speaking of our physical pump. Likewise, the King James English is not speaking literally of our bowels, but our innermost affections.