⁷ It was for the sake of the Name^(A) that they went out, receiving no help from the pagans.^(B)

Paul’s Labor for the Church

²⁴ Now I rejoice^(A) in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions,^(B) for the sake of his body, which is the church.^(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)

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.

⁵ For what we preach is not ourselves,^(A) but Jesus Christ as Lord,^(B) and ourselves as your servants^(C) for Jesus’ sake.

¹⁸ What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge,^(A) and so not make full use of my rights^(B) as a preacher of the gospel.

¹⁵ Then Naaman and all his attendants went back to the man of God^(A). He stood before him and said, “Now I know^(B) that there is no God in all the world except in Israel. So please accept a gift^(C) from your servant.”

¹⁶ The prophet answered, “As surely as the Lord lives, whom I serve, I will not accept a thing.” And even though Naaman urged him, he refused.^(D)

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.

¹³ Don’t you know that those who serve in the temple get their food from the temple, and that those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar?^{(C) 14} In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.^(D)

¹⁵ But I have not used any of these rights.^(E) 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.^(F)