I robbed other assemblies, taking wages from them that I might serve you.
Parallel translations
- KJV I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service.
- BSB I robbed other churches by accepting their support in order to serve you.
- NKJV I robbed other churches, taking wages from them to minister to you.
- NASB I robbed other churches by taking wages from them to serve you;
- NLT I “robbed” other churches by accepting their contributions so I could serve you at no cost.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Paul says he 'robbed' other churches, accepting their support so he could serve the Corinthians without charge. Others bore the cost of his free ministry to them.
Overview
With deliberate exaggeration, Paul describes accepting aid from other congregations to fund his unpaid labor in Corinth. He took nothing from the Corinthians themselves. This sacrifice underscores his integrity and disinterested love, refuting the slander that his refusal of support signaled a lack of apostolic standing.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 3
- Phil 4:18But I have all things, and abound. I am filled, having received from Epaphroditus the things that came from you, a sweet-smelling fragrance, an acceptable and well-pleasing sacrifice to God.
- Phil 4:14–16However you did well that you shared in my affliction.
- 2 Cor 11:9When 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.
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
In Christ all God's promises are 'Yes and Amen'; though rich, he became poor to make us rich, and in him God reconciles the world, making us new creations.
How 2 Corinthians 11:8 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.