What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod of discipline or with love and a spirit of gentleness?

I wrote you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people.

Now with regard to the issues you wrote about: "It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman."

Do we not have the right to financial support?

Do we not have the right to the company of a believing wife, like the other apostles and the Lord's brothers and Cephas?

Or do only Barnabas and I lack the right not to work?

If others receive this right from you, are we not more deserving? But we have not made use of this right. Instead we endure everything so that we may not be a hindrance to the gospel of Christ.

It is not rude, it is not self-serving, it is not easily angered or resentful.

If anyone considers himself a prophet or spiritual person, he should acknowledge that what I write to you is the Lord's command.