2Corinthians 11:6-11 But though I be rude in speech, yet not in knowledge; but we have been throughly made manifest among you in all things. Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that you might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely? I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service. 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. As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this boasting in the regions of Achaia. Wherefore? because I love you not? God knows.
‘In all things’ – they gave testimony of all things through their daily conversations: their daily holy living, behaviour or manner of life; the whole conduct of life in their domestic and public relations.
‘Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that you might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely?’ Paul asks here if he sinned in labouring with his hands and in taking help from other congregations while he laboured to save their souls?
‘Robbed’ [Greek: sulao] to take from, to take away. It simply means that he took wages or material help from other congregations as their missionary so that his needs might be supplied.
‘No man shall stop me of this boasting in the regions of Achaia.’ From this, it appears that he had not taken money from any of the congregations in this region of Greece. ‘Wherefore? because I love you not?’ Paul asked them if they knew why he acted like he did and intended to continue to refuse to take money from them? If they thought he did it because he did not love them? He then stated that God knew the contrary; that he loved them very much. He did it simply to cut off the occasion of his enemies (vv 12-13) who wanted grounds to slander him to them.
Living the Word 