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)