2 Corinthians 11:9
7 Was it a sin for me to humble myself in order to exalt you, because I preached the gospel of God to you free of charge?
8 I robbed other churches by accepting their support in order to serve you.
And when I was with you and in need, I was not a burden to anyone; for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied my needs. I have refrained from being a burden to you in any way, and I will continue to do so.
10 As surely as the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting of mine will not be silenced in the regions of Achaia.
11 Why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!
Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- And when I was with you and in need, I was not a burden to anyone; for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied my needs. I have refrained from being a burden to you in any way, and I will continue to do so.
- KJV
- And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myself.
- WEB
- When I was present with you and was in need, I wasn’t a burden on anyone, for the brothers, when they came from Macedonia, supplied the measure of my need. In everything I kept myself from being burdensome to you, and I will continue to do so.
- ASV
- and when I was present with you and was in want, I was not a burden on any man; for the brethren, when they came from Macedonia, supplied the measure of my want; and in everything I kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and [so] will I keep [myself].
- DARBY
- And being present with you and lacking, I did not lazily burden any one, (for the brethren who came from Macedonia supplied what I lacked,) and in everything I kept myself from being a burden to you, and will keep myself.
- BLB
- And being present with you⁺ and having been in need, I burdened no one; for the brothers having come from Macedonia supplied my need, and in everything I kept and will keep myself unburdensome to you⁺.
- ÅB
- for det jeg manglet, det utfylte brødrene som kom fra Makedonia, og i alle måter har jeg holdt meg og vil holde meg fra å falle dere til byrde.
- OTB
- Og da jeg var hos dere og i nød, belastet jeg ingen; for da brødrene kom fra Makedonia, forsynte de fullt ut mitt behov, og i alt holdt jeg meg fra å være en byrde for dere, og vil fortsette å gjøre det.
- B1930
- for det jeg manglet, det utfylte brødrene som kom fra Makedonia, og i alle måter har jeg holdt mig og vil holde mig fra å falle eder til byrde.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
2 Thessalonians 3:8–9
nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. Instead, in labor and toil, we worked night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you.
Read in context1 Thessalonians 2:9
Surely you recall, brothers, our labor and toil. We worked night and day so that we would not be a burden to anyone while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.
Read in context1 Thessalonians 2:6
Nor did we seek praise from you or from anyone else, although as apostles of Christ we had authority to demand it.
Read in contextPhilippians 4:10–16
Now I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it.
Read in contextHebrews 11:37
They were stoned, they were sawed in two, they were put to death by the sword. They went around in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, oppressed, and mistreated.
Read in contextActs 20:33
I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing.
Read in context2 Corinthians 8:1–2
Now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the churches of Macedonia.
Read in contextNehemiah 5:15
The governors before me had heavily burdened the people, taking from them bread and wine plus forty shekels of silver. Their servants also oppressed the people, but I did not do this because of my fear of God.
Read in context