when people lie about us, we answer in a friendly manner. We are the world’s dirt and scum, even now.

For we never appeared with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed – God is our witness –

although we could have imposed our weight as apostles of Christ; instead we became little children among you. Like a nursing mother caring for her own children,

You are witnesses, and so is God, as to how holy and righteous and blameless our conduct was toward you who believe.

Just as Isaiah predicted, “If the Lord of armies had not left us descendants, we would have become like Sodom, and we would have resembled Gomorrah.”

For, I think, God has exhibited us apostles last of all, as men condemned to die, because we have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to people.

in that our gospel did not come to you merely in words, but in power and in the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction (surely you recall the character we displayed when we came among you to help you).