Thanks for Their Gifts

¹⁰ I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me.^(A) Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. ¹¹ I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content^(B) whatever the circumstances. ¹² I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry,^(C) whether living in plenty or in want.^{(D) 13} I can do all this through him who gives me strength.^(E)

¹⁴ Yet it was good of you to share^(F) in my troubles. ¹⁵ Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days^(G) of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia,^(H) not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only;^{(I) 16} for even when I was in Thessalonica,^(J) you sent me aid more than once when I was in need.^{(K) 17} Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account.^{(L) 18} I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus^(M) the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant^(N) offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. ¹⁹ And my God will meet all your needs^(O) according to the riches of his glory^(P) in Christ Jesus.

²⁰ To our God and Father^(Q) be glory for ever and ever. Amen.^(R)

Paul’s Rights as an Apostle

9 Am I not free?^(A) Am I not an apostle?^(B) Have I not seen Jesus our Lord?^(C) Are you not the result of my work in the Lord?^{(D) 2} Even though I may not be an apostle to others, surely I am to you! For you are the seal^(E) of my apostleship in the Lord.

³ This is my defense to those who sit in judgment on me. ⁴ Don’t we have the right to food and drink?^{(F) 5} Don’t we have the right to take a believing wife^(G) along with us, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers^(H) and Cephas^[a]?^{(I) 6} Or is it only I and Barnabas^(J) who lack the right to not work for a living?

⁷ Who serves as a soldier^(K) at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard^(L) and does not eat its grapes? Who tends a flock and does not drink the milk? ⁸ Do I say this merely on human authority? Doesn’t the Law say the same thing? ⁹ For it is written in the Law of Moses: “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.”^[b](M) Is it about oxen that God is concerned?^{(N) 10} Surely he says this for us, doesn’t he? Yes, this was written for us,^(O) because whoever plows and threshes should be able to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest.^{(P) 11} If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you?^{(Q) 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.^(R) On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder^(S) 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?^{(T) 14} In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.^(U)