Ifotherssharethe rightover you, do we not more?Nevertheless,we did not usethisright,but we endureall thingssothat we will causenohindranceto the gospelof Christ.
He saidto them, "Do not delayme, since the LORDhas prosperedmy way.Sendme awaythat I may goto my master."
Allof them conspiredtogetherto come[and] fightagainst Jerusalemand to causea disturbancein it.
"Woeto you lawyers!For you have taken awaythe keyof knowledge;you yourselvesdid not enter,and you hinderedthosewho were entering."
and becausehe was of the same trade,he stayedwith them and they were working,for by tradethey were tent-makers.
For this reasonI have oftenbeen preventedfrom comingto you;
bearsallthings,believesallthings,hopesall things,enduresall things.
Actually,then,it is alreadya defeatfor you, that you havelawsuitswith one another.Whynot ratherbe wronged?Whynot ratherbe defrauded?
Soalsothe Lorddirectedthosewho proclaimthe gospelto get their livingfrom the gospel.
But I have usednoneof these things.And I am not writingthese thingssothat it will be donesoin my case;for it would be betterfor me to diethanhave anyman makemy boastan emptyone.
For ifI preachthe gospel,I have nothingto boastof, for I am undercompulsion;for woeis me ifI do not preach the gospel.
Whatthenis my reward?That, when I preach the gospel,I may offerthe gospelwithout charge,soas not to make full useof my rightin the gospel.
Ifto othersI amnot an apostle,at leastI amto you; for you are the sealof my apostleshipin the Lord.
But whatI am doingI will continueto do,sothat I may cut offopportunityfrom thosewho desirean opportunityto be regardedjustas we are in the matter about whichthey are boasting.
For you tolerateit ifanyoneenslavesyou, anyonedevoursyou, anyonetakesadvantage of you, anyoneexaltshimself, anyonehitsyou in the face.
Nowwhen I cameto Troasfor the gospelof Christand when a doorwas openedfor me in the Lord,
givingnocause for offensein anything,sothat the ministrywill not be discredited,
