Albert Barnes Commentary 2 Corinthians 11:8

"I robbed other churches, taking wages [of them] that I might minister unto you;" — 2 Corinthians 11:8 (ASV)

I robbed other churches. The churches of Macedonia and elsewhere had provided for his needs. He probably refers especially to the church at Philippi , which seems to have done more for his support than almost any other church. By using the word "robbed" here, Paul does not mean that he had obtained anything from them in a violent or unlawful manner, or anything that they did not give voluntarily.

The word (esulhsa) properly means, "I spoiled, plundered, robbed;" but Paul's idea here is that he, as it were, robbed them because he did not provide an equivalent for what they gave him. They supported him when he was laboring for other people. A conqueror who plunders a country gives no equivalent for what he takes.

Only in this sense 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 (1 Corinthians 9:7–14); but he had not observed this rule in this case.

Taking wages of them. Receiving support from them. They covered my expenses.

To do you service. This was so that I could labor among you without being thought to be striving for your property. It was also so that I would not be compelled to labor with my own hands, which would have hindered me from preaching the gospel as effectively as I otherwise could. The support from other churches largely made it unnecessary for his time to be taken from the ministry to earn a living.