¹⁴ For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.^{(A) 15} And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves^(B) but for him who died for them^(C) and was raised again.

¹² We work hard with our own hands.^(A) When we are cursed, we bless;^(B) when we are persecuted,^(C) we endure it;

⁶ Or is it only I and Barnabas^(A) who lack the right to not work for a living?

⁷ Who serves as a soldier^(B) at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard^(C) and does not eat its grapes? Who tends a flock and does not drink the milk? ⁸ Do I say this merely on human authority? Doesn’t the Law say the same thing? ⁹ For it is written in the Law of Moses: “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.”^[a](D) Is it about oxen that God is concerned?^{(E) 10} Surely he says this for us, doesn’t he? Yes, this was written for us,^(F) because whoever plows and threshes should be able to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest.^{(G) 11} If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you?^{(H) 12} If others have this right of support from you, shouldn’t we have it all the more?

But we did not use this right.^(I) On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder^(J) the gospel of Christ.

¹³ Don’t you know that those who serve in the temple get their food from the temple, and that those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar?^{(K) 14} In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.^(L)

¹⁵ But I have not used any of these rights.^(M) And I am not writing this in the hope that you will do such things for me, for I would rather die than allow anyone to deprive me of this boast.^{(N) 16} For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach.^(O) Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! ¹⁷ If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward;^(P) if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me.^{(Q) 18} What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge,^(R) and so not make full use of my rights^(S) as a preacher of the gospel.

¹⁴ Now I am ready to visit you for the third time,^(A) and I will not be a burden to you, because what I want is not your possessions but you. After all, children should not have to save up for their parents,^(B) but parents for their children.^{(C) 15} So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well.^(D) If I love you more,^(E) will you love me less? ¹⁶ Be that as it may, I have not been a burden to you.^(F) Yet, crafty fellow that I am, I caught you by trickery!

⁶ We were not looking for praise from people,^(A) not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles^(B) of Christ we could have asserted our authority.^{(C) 7} Instead, we were like young children^[a] among you.

Just as a nursing mother cares for her children,^{(D) 8} so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God^(E) but our lives as well.^{(F) 9} Surely you remember, brothers and sisters, our toil and hardship; we worked^(G) night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone^(H) while we preached the gospel of God to you.

¹¹ and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands,^(A) just as we told you,

⁸ nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked^(A) night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. ⁹ We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help,^(B) but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you to imitate.^(C)