but I fear lest by some means or other, as Eve was beguiled by the subtilly of the serpent, your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is due to Christ. if he that is come to you, preaches another Jesus whom I have not preached, or if ye receive other gifts of the spirit, than what ye have received from me, or another gospel, than what you have accepted, you might well bear with his pretensions: for I think I am not at all inferior to the chiefest of the apostles. read more.
if my language is inelegant, my knowledge is not contemptible; but has been fully display'd among you on all occasions. If I have degraded myself for your advantage by preaching the holy gospel to you gratis, is that such a trespass? by taking wages of other churches, I may have injured them, to do you service. when I was present among you, and in want, I was chargeable to no man: for the brethren which came from Macedonia, supplied my necessities: and as I have, so I always shall keep myself from being burdensome to you. I solemnly protest, no man shall hinder me of this applause, in the regions of Achaia. why so? is it because I love you not? far otherwise, God knows. but this I do, and shall do, to make them drop their hire, who are so bent upon hire: and then indeed they will be as they pretend to be, like me. for these are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguised so as to pass for true apostles. and no wonder; for satan himself may put on the appearance of an angel of light. therefore it is not strange if his agents are so disguised as to appear like ministers of the gospel; but their end shall be answerable to their actions.