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)

¹⁰ Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people?^(A) If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Paul’s Plea for Onesimus

⁸ Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, ⁹ yet I prefer to appeal to you^(A) on the basis of love. It is as none other than Paul—an old man and now also a prisoner^(B) of Christ Jesus—

⁹ Surely you remember, brothers and sisters, our toil and hardship; we worked^(A) night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone^(B) while we preached the gospel of God to you.

⁴⁴ How can you believe since you accept glory from one another but do not seek the glory that comes from the only God^[a]?^(A)