and becausehe was of the same trade,he stayedwith them and they were working,for by tradethey were tent-makers.
For you recall,brethren,our laborand hardship,[how] workingnightand daysoas not to be a burdento anyof you, we proclaimedto you the gospelof God.
and we toil,workingwith our ownhands;when we are reviled,we bless;when we are persecuted,we endure;
and when I was presentwith you and was in need,I was not a burdento anyone;for when the brethrencamefrom Macedoniathey fully suppliedmy need,and in everythingI keptmyselffrom being a burdento you, and will continueto do so.
For in whatrespect were you treated as inferiorto the restof the churches,exceptthat I myselfdid not become a burdento you? Forgiveme thiswrong!
Ordid I commita sinin humblingmyselfsothat you might be exalted,becauseI preachedthe gospelof Godto you without charge?
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.
Whatthenis my reward?That, when I preach the gospel,I may offerthe gospelwithout charge,soas not to make full useof my rightin the gospel.
and to make it your ambitionto lead a quiet lifeand attendto your ownbusiness and workwith your hands,justas we commandedyou,
"Pleaselet us goto the Jordanand eachof us takefrom therea beam,and let us makea placetherefor ourselves wherewe may live."So he said,"Go."