Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 2 Corinthians 11:10

"As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this glorying in the regions of Achaia." — 2 Corinthians 11:10 (ASV)

This policy, which enabled Paul to boast that he was preaching the Gospel free of charge (v.7; cf. 1 Corinthians 9:18), he refused to abandon (cf. 1 Corinthians 9:15). It was Christ’s truth he was speaking when he affirmed that he would not bow to pressure from his opponents anywhere in Achaia regarding this issue (v.10).

But why did Paul not accept money for preaching? Two conflicting explanations are mentioned here. (1) Some had malevolently asserted that it was evidence of Paul’s lack of affection for the Corinthians. He dismisses this by appealing to God’s knowledge of his heart (v.11). (2) Like the wandering preachers of the day, the intruders at Corinth had apparently received remuneration for their instruction. Since they regarded themselves as in some sense apostles, they probably felt fully within their rights that they could accept or even demand wages as a validation of their apostleship. But Paul’s stance was an acute embarrassment to them, for they could not boast as he did about preaching a message gratuitously. Thus Paul hoped to deprive his opponents of the opportunity of boasting that they were working at Corinth on precisely the same terms he had been. His financial independence would highlight his rivals’ financial dependence and cause the Corinthians to rethink their attitude toward him.