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!

¹² If others are partakers of this right over you, are we not even more?

^(A)Nevertheless we have not used this right, but endure all things ^(B)lest we hinder the gospel of Christ.

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

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.

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.

¹⁵ But ^(A)I have used none of these things, nor have I written these things that it should be done so to me; for ^(B)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 ^(C)necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel! ¹⁷ For if I do this willingly, ^(D)I have a reward; but if against my will, ^(E)I have been entrusted with a stewardship. ¹⁸ What is my reward then? That ^(F)when I preach the gospel, I may present the gospel ^[a]of Christ without charge, that I ^(G)may not abuse my authority in the gospel.