6 Even though I’m not good with words, I know what I’m talking about. Timothy and I have made this clear to you in every possible way.
7 Did I commit a sin when I humbled myself by telling you the Good News of God free of charge so that you could become important?
8 I robbed other churches by taking pay from them to serve you.
9 When I was with you and needed something, I didn’t bother any of you for help. My friends from the province of Macedonia supplied everything I needed. I kept myself from being a financial burden to you in any way, and I will continue to do that.
10 As surely as I have Christ’s truth, my bragging will not be silenced anywhere in Greece.
11 Why? Because I don’t love you? God knows that I do love you.
12 But I’ll go on doing what I’m doing. This will take away the opportunity of those people who want to brag because they think they’re like us.