Communities with Christian Churches 2:5, 6 flattering words. Paul used 3 disclaimers to affirm the purity of his motives for ministry: 1) he denied being a smooth talking preacher who tried to make favorable impressions in order to gain influence for selfish advantage; 2) he did not pretend to be poor and work night and day (cf. v. 9) as a pretense to get rich in the ministry at their expense; and 3) he didn’t use his honored position as an apostle to seek personal glory, only God’s glory (cf.