2 Corinthians 11:7
“Or did I commit a sin in humbling myself that you might be exalted, because I preached to you God’s Good News free of charge?”
What does 2 Corinthians 11:7 mean?
Paul is asking the Corinthians a pointed question about his own choices. He deliberately worked without pay to support himself while spreading the gospel among them, and some people were actually criticizing him for it. They saw his refusal to accept financial support as beneath a real apostle, and they used it as evidence that he wasn't truly authorized by God. But Paul flips this around: he's wondering if choosing humility and self-sacrifice so that others could hear about Jesus without barriers was somehow wrong. He's not actually asking because he's uncertain, he's gently challenging his critics to think about what their complaints really say about their values. When you're going through hard times, this is a good reminder that choosing the humble path, the one that serves others even at cost to yourself, isn't a weakness or a failure, it's often exactly what love looks like.