¹⁸ What is my reward then? That ^(A)when I preach the gospel, I may present the gospel ^[a]of Christ without charge, that I ^(B)may not abuse my authority in the gospel.

^6 (A)Nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, when ^(B)we might have ^(C)made demands ^(D)as apostles of Christ.

⁷ Did I commit sin in ^[a]humbling myself that you might be exalted, because I preached the gospel of God to you ^(A)free of charge? ⁸ I robbed other churches, taking wages from them to minister to you. ⁹ And when I was present with you, and in need, ^(B)I was a burden to no one, for what I lacked ^(C)the brethren who came from Macedonia supplied. And in everything I kept myself from being burdensome to you, and so I will keep myself.

⁸ nor did we eat anyone’s bread ^[a]free of charge, but worked with ^(A)labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, ⁹ not because we do not have ^(B)authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us.

^5 (A)For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ^(B)ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake.

³³ just ^(A)as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.

⁹ But ^(A)beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become ^(B)a ^[a]stumbling block to those who are weak.

¹³ For what is it in which you were inferior to other churches, except that I myself was not burdensome to you? Forgive me this wrong!

Love for the Church

^14 (A)Now for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be burdensome to you; for ^(B)I do not seek yours, but you. ^(C)For the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children. ¹⁵ And I will very gladly spend and be spent ^(D)for your souls; though ^(E)the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved.

¹⁶ But be that as it may, ^(F)I did not burden you. Nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you by cunning! ¹⁷ Did I take advantage of you by any of those whom I sent to you? ¹⁸ I urged Titus, and sent our ^(G)brother with him. Did Titus take advantage of you? Did we not walk in the same spirit? Did we not walk in the same steps?

⁶ Or is it only Barnabas and I ^(A)who have no right to refrain from working? ⁷ Who ever ^(B)goes to war at his own expense? Who ^(C)plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Or who ^(D)tends a flock and does not drink of the milk of the flock?