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)

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

Paul’s Defense of His Ministry

10 By the humility and gentleness^(A) of Christ, I appeal to you—I, Paul,^(B) who am “timid” when face to face with you, but “bold” toward you when away!

⁶ Or is it only I and Barnabas^(A) who lack the right to not work for a living?

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 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.

¹⁴ In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.^(A)

¹⁵ But I have not used any of these rights.^(B) And I am not writing this in the hope that you will do such things for me, for I would rather die than allow anyone to deprive me of this boast.^{(C) 16} For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach.^(D) Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! ¹⁷ If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward;^(E) if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me.^{(F) 18} What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge,^(G) and so not make full use of my rights^(H) as a preacher of the gospel.

¹² If others have this right of support from you, shouldn’t we have it all the more?

But we did not use this right.^(A) On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder^(B) the gospel of Christ.

¹⁰ We are fools for Christ,^(A) but you are so wise in Christ!^(B) We are weak, but you are strong!^(C) You are honored, we are dishonored! ¹¹ To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless.^{(D) 12} We work hard with our own hands.^(E) When we are cursed, we bless;^(F) when we are persecuted,^(G) we endure it;