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?

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!

⁹ For you remember, brethren, our ^(A)labor and toil; for laboring night and day, ^(B)that we might not be a burden to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God.

The Spiritual War

10 Now ^(A)I, Paul, myself am pleading with you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—^(B)who in presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you.

⁶ Or is it only Barnabas and I ^(A)who have no right to refrain from working?

¹⁰ We are ^(A)fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ! ^(B)We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonored! ¹¹ To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless. ^12 (C)And we labor, working with our own hands. ^(D)Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure;

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,

¹⁴ Even so ^(A)the Lord has commanded ^(B)that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel.

¹⁵ But ^(C)I have used none of these things, nor have I written these things that it should be done so to me; for ^(D)it would be better for me to die than that anyone should make my boasting void. ¹⁶ For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for ^(E)necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel! ¹⁷ For if I do this willingly, ^(F)I have a reward; but if against my will, ^(G)I have been entrusted with a stewardship. ¹⁸ What is my reward then? That ^(H)when I preach the gospel, I may present the gospel ^[a]of Christ without charge, that I ^(I)may not abuse my authority in the gospel.

^34 [a]Yes, you yourselves know ^(A)that these hands have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me.