¹⁸ What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge,^(A) and so not make full use of my rights^(B) as a preacher of the gospel.

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 Was it a sin^(A) for me to lower myself in order to elevate you by preaching the gospel of God^(B) to you free of charge?^{(C) 8} I robbed other churches by receiving support from them^(D) so as to serve you. ⁹ And when I was with you and needed something, I was not a burden to anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied what I needed.^(E) I have kept myself from being a burden to you^(F) in any way, and will continue to do so.

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)

⁵ For what we preach is not ourselves,^(A) but Jesus Christ as Lord,^(B) and ourselves as your servants^(C) for Jesus’ sake.

³³ even as I try to please everyone in every way.^(A) For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many,^(B) so that they may be saved.^(C)

⁹ Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block^(A) to the weak.^(B)

¹³ How were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was never a burden to you?^(A) Forgive me this wrong!^(B)

¹⁴ Now I am ready to visit you for the third time,^(C) 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,^(D) but parents for their children.^{(E) 15} So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well.^(F) If I love you more,^(G) will you love me less? ¹⁶ Be that as it may, I have not been a burden to you.^(H) Yet, crafty fellow that I am, I caught you by trickery! ¹⁷ Did I exploit you through any of the men I sent to you? ¹⁸ I urged^(I) Titus^(J) to go to you and I sent our brother^(K) with him. Titus did not exploit you, did he? Did we not walk in the same footsteps by the same Spirit?

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?