Paul displays an unwavering dedication to serving the Corinthians without ulterior motives, choosing to depend on broader Christian generosity so he could build them up in faith.
The Apostle Paul, writing around AD 55-57 from Macedonia, addresses the believers in the Greek seaport city of Corinth. By this time, Paul (born in Tarsus around AD 5) had already embarked on multiple missionary journeys, spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the Roman Empire. In this passage, he employs strong language to make a point about how he supported his ministry to the Corinthians. He tells them, “I robbed other churches by taking wages from them to serve you;” (2 Corinthians 11:8). Although the word “robbed” may appear startling, Paul uses it figuratively to demonstrate that he relied on financial contributions from other congregations so he would not become a financial burden on the Corinthians themselves. Throughout his ministry, Paul frequently accepted aid from believers in distant regions while working to ensure that new groups of Christians would not feel obligated to support him while he taught them the gospel (Philippians 4:15-18, 2 Corinthians 11:8-9).
Paul’s approach reveals his deep concern for genuine service over personal gain. He wanted to show the Corinthians his sincerity and avoid any appearance that he was merely seeking profit from them. During his extensive travels, Paul would often labor as a tentmaker (Acts 18:2-3) and accept gifts only from those churches that had the resources to help, in order to protect new believers from undue pressure. Corinth, located on the narrow isthmus between mainland Greece and the Peloponnese, was a bustling trade hub. There, Paul spent about eighteen months preaching and discipling converts (Acts 18:11). By “robbing” other congregations—meaning accepting their support—he freely proclaimed the gospel in Corinth, demonstrating humility and love while promoting spiritual growth.
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2 Corinthians 11:8 meaning
The Apostle Paul, writing around AD 55-57 from Macedonia, addresses the believers in the Greek seaport city of Corinth. By this time, Paul (born in Tarsus around AD 5) had already embarked on multiple missionary journeys, spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the Roman Empire. In this passage, he employs strong language to make a point about how he supported his ministry to the Corinthians. He tells them, “I robbed other churches by taking wages from them to serve you;” (2 Corinthians 11:8). Although the word “robbed” may appear startling, Paul uses it figuratively to demonstrate that he relied on financial contributions from other congregations so he would not become a financial burden on the Corinthians themselves. Throughout his ministry, Paul frequently accepted aid from believers in distant regions while working to ensure that new groups of Christians would not feel obligated to support him while he taught them the gospel (Philippians 4:15-18, 2 Corinthians 11:8-9).
Paul’s approach reveals his deep concern for genuine service over personal gain. He wanted to show the Corinthians his sincerity and avoid any appearance that he was merely seeking profit from them. During his extensive travels, Paul would often labor as a tentmaker (Acts 18:2-3) and accept gifts only from those churches that had the resources to help, in order to protect new believers from undue pressure. Corinth, located on the narrow isthmus between mainland Greece and the Peloponnese, was a bustling trade hub. There, Paul spent about eighteen months preaching and discipling converts (Acts 18:11). By “robbing” other congregations—meaning accepting their support—he freely proclaimed the gospel in Corinth, demonstrating humility and love while promoting spiritual growth.