³³ I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing.^{(A) 34} You yourselves know that I worked with my own hands to support myself and those who are with me.^{(B) 35} In every way I’ve shown you that it is necessary to help the weak by laboring like this and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, because he said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

The Character of Paul’s Ministry

³ We are not giving anyone an occasion for offense, so that the ministry will not be blamed. ⁴ Instead, as God’s ministers, we commend ourselves in everything: by great endurance, by afflictions, by hardships, by difficulties, ⁵ by beatings, by imprisonments,^(A) by riots, by labors, by sleepless nights, by times of hunger, ⁶ by purity,^(B) by knowledge,^(C) by patience,^(D) by kindness,^(E) by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love,^{(F) 7} by the word of truth,^[a](G) by the power of God;^(H) through weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left, ⁸ through glory^(I) and dishonor, through slander and good report; regarded as deceivers, yet true; ⁹ as unknown, yet recognized; as dying, yet see—we live; as being disciplined, yet not killed; ¹⁰ as grieving, yet always rejoicing;^(J) as poor, yet enriching many; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.

⁷ Or did I commit a sin by humbling^(A) myself so that you might be exalted,^(B) because I preached the gospel of God to you free of charge?^{(C) 8} I robbed other churches by taking pay from them to minister to you. ⁹ When I was present with you and in need, I did not burden anyone, since the brothers who came from Macedonia^(D) supplied my needs.^(E) I have kept myself, and will keep myself, from burdening you in any way. ¹⁰ As the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting of mine will not be stopped^[a] in the regions of Achaia.^{(F) 11} Why? Because I don’t love you? God knows I do!

¹² But I will continue to do what I am doing, in order to deny^[b] an opportunity to those who want to be regarded as our equals in what they boast about.