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

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.

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

¹⁴ Now I am ready to visit you for the third time,^(A) 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,^(B) but parents for their children.^(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.

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