⁷ Or ^(A)did I commit a sin in humbling myself so that you might be exalted, because ^(B)I preached God's gospel to you free of charge?

¹³ For in what were you less favored than the rest of the churches, except that ^(A)I myself did not burden you? Forgive me this wrong!

⁹ For you remember, brothers, ^(A)our labor and toil: we ^(B)worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.

Paul Defends His Ministry

10 ^(A)I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the ^(B)meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold toward you when I am away!—

⁶ Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living?

^10 (A)We are fools for Christ's sake, but ^(B)you are wise in Christ. ^(C)We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. ¹¹ To the present hour ^(D)we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and ^(E)buffeted and ^(F)homeless, ¹² and we ^(G)labor, working with our own hands. ^(H)When reviled, we bless; ^(I)when persecuted, we endure;

⁸ nor did we eat anyone's bread without paying for it, but ^(A)with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you.

¹⁴ In the same way, the Lord commanded that ^(A)those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.

¹⁵ But ^(B)I have made no use of any of these rights, nor am I writing these things to secure any such provision. For I would rather die than have anyone ^(C)deprive me of my ground for boasting. ¹⁶ For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For ^(D)necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! ¹⁷ For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward, but if not of my own will, I am still entrusted with ^(E)a stewardship. ¹⁸ What then is my reward? That in my preaching ^(F)I may present the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.

^34 (A)You yourselves know that ^(B)these hands ministered to my necessities and ^(C)to those who were with me.