2-corinthians 11:8
Translations
King James Version (KJV)
I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service.
American King James Version (AKJV)
I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service.
American Standard Version (ASV)
I robbed other churches, taking wages of them that I might minister unto you;
Basic English Translation (BBE)
I took money from other churches as payment for my work, so that I might be your servant;
Webster's Revision
I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service.
World English Bible
I robbed other assemblies, taking wages from them that I might serve you.
English Revised Version (ERV)
I robbed other churches, taking wages of them that I might minister unto you;
Clarke's 2-corinthians 11:8 Bible Commentary
I robbed other Churches - This part of the sentence is explained by the latter, taking wages to do you service. The word οψωνιον signifies the pay of money and provisions given daily to a Roman soldier. As if he had said: I received food and raiment, the bare necessaries of life, from other Churches while labouring for your salvation. Will you esteem this a crime?
Barnes's 2-corinthians 11:8 Bible Commentary
I robbed other churches - The churches of Macedonia and elsewhere, which had ministered to his needs. Probably he refers especially to the church at Philippi (see Philippians 4:15-16), which seems to have done more than almost any other church for his support. By the use of the word "robbed" here Paul does not mean that he had obtained anything from them in a violent or unlawful manner, or anything which they did not give voluntarily. The word (ἐσύλησα esulēsa) means properly, "I spoiled, plundered, robbed," but the idea of Paul here is, that he, as it were, robbed them, because he did not render an equivalent for what they gave him. They supported him when he was laboring for another people. A conqueror who plunders a country gives no equivalent for what he takes. In this sense only could Paul say that he had plundered the church at Philippi. His general principle was, that "the laborer was worthy of his hire," and that a man was to receive his support from the people for whom he labored (see 1 Corinthians 9:7-14), but this rule he had not observed in this case.
Taking wages of them - Receiving a support from them. They bore my expenses.
To do you service - That I might labor among you without being supposed to be striving to obtain your property, and that I might not be compelled to labor with my own hands, and thus to prevent my preaching the gospel as I could otherwise do. The supply from other churches rendered it unnecessary in a great measure that his time should be taken off from the ministry in order to obtain a support.
Wesley's 2-corinthians 11:8 Bible Commentary
11:8 I spoiled other churches - I, as it were, took the spoils of them: it is a military term. Taking wages (or pay, another military word) of them - When I came to you at first.And when I was present with you, and wanted - My work not quite supplying my necessities. I was chargeable to no man - Of Corinth.