⁵ You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed^(A)—God is our witness.^{(B) 6} We were not looking for praise from people,^(C) not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles^(D) of Christ we could have asserted our authority.^{(E) 7} Instead, we were like young children^[a] among you.

Just as a nursing mother cares for her children,^{(F) 8} so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God^(G) but our lives as well.^{(H) 9} Surely you remember, brothers and sisters, our toil and hardship; we worked^(I) night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone^(J) while we preached the gospel of God to you.