¹⁶ Be that as it may, I have not been a burden to you.^(A) Yet, crafty fellow that I am, I caught you by trickery!

⁵ You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed^(A)—God is our witness.^(B)

³ For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives,^(A) nor are we trying to trick you.^(B)

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

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.^(A) I have kept myself from being a burden to you^(B) in any way, and will continue to do so. ¹⁰ As surely as the truth of Christ is in me,^(C) nobody in the regions of Achaia^(D) will stop this boasting^(E) of mine.

² I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold^(A) as I expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world.^{(B) 3} For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.^(C)

Paul’s Joy Over the Church’s Repentance

² Make room for us in your hearts.^(A) We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have exploited no one.

² Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways;^(A) we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God.^(B) On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience^(C) in the sight of God.

Paul’s Change of Plans

¹² Now this is our boast: Our conscience^(A) testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, with integrity^[a](B) and godly sincerity.^(C) We have done so, relying not on worldly wisdom^(D) but on God’s grace.