Verse 7 is a rhetorical question that expects the answer “No.” In some languages the sense will be clearer if this is rendered as in Good News Translation, as a clear negative statement followed by the question “Was that the wrong thing to do?” The answer will then be obvious. Or in other cases the most natural rendering will include the explicit answer “No!” after the question has been asked.

In abasing myself: Paul “humbled” himself (Good News Translation, New Revised Standard Version). The verb used here is related to the noun “humble” in 10.1. One language has translated “I became like a common laborer.” Another speaks of “lowering myself [in order to lift you up].”

That you might be exalted: exaltation, or lifting up, is a common theme in both the Old and the New Testaments and in some cases refers to ultimate exaltation to heavenly glory. However, in this case it is simply the opposite of humiliation. Paul endures humiliation in order to show respect for the Corinthian Christians. The passive may be avoided by following the model of Contemporary English Version, “honor you.”

Paul identifies his gospel as God’s gospel. Unlike the superapostles who preached a “different gospel” (11.4), Paul’s gospel comes from God.

Without cost to you means that Paul did not ask for any remuneration from the Corinthian church. Note that Good News Translation transposes this to the beginning of the verse. Some other possible models of this clause are “I did not make you pay me for the Good News that I preached to you” or “I did not ask for money when I told you the Good News.”

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellingworth, Paul. A Handbook on Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1993. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .