But if you put up with these big-shot “apostles,” why can’t you put up with simple me? I’m as good as they are. It’s true that I don’t have their voice, haven’t mastered that smooth eloquence that impresses you so much. But when I do open my mouth, I at least know what I’m talking about. We haven’t kept anything back. We let you in on everything.

 I wonder, did I make a bad mistake in proclaiming God’s Message to you without asking for something in return, serving you free of charge so that you wouldn’t be inconvenienced by me? It turns out that the other churches paid my way so that you could have a free ride. Not once during the time I lived among you did anyone have to lift a finger to help me out. My needs were always supplied by the believers from Macedonia province. I was careful never to be a burden to you, and I never will be, you can count on it. With Christ as my witness, it’s a point of honor with me, and I’m not going to keep it quiet just to protect you from what the neighbours will think. It’s not that I don’t love you; God knows I do. I’m just trying to keep things open and honest between us.

 And I’m not changing my position on this. I’d die before taking your money. I’m giving nobody grounds for lumping me in with those money-grubbing “preachers,” vaunting themselves as something special. The Message

It is interesting to see how people who are determined to undermine a good man will find a way to do so. Paul was ready to concede that he didn’t have the ”eloquence” of his critics, but he never saw this as being of value in ministry. He relied, in his weakness, upon the power of God, and he spoke the truth.

Now we see that, in Corinth, he was criticised for not taking funding from the church (even though, as an apostle, he had the right to do so: see 1 Cor.9). In the meantime, his false teaching critics were lying to them, and laughing all the way to the bank. The people (or at least some of them) took it as an indication of Paul’s inferiority that he didn’t ‘charge’ for his services.

As they say, ‘Go figure’!