But be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile.
I did not burden you. The "I" (Greek) is emphatic. A possible insinuation of the Corinthians is anticipated and refuted. 'You may say, granted that I did not burden you myself; nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile'-namely, made a gain of you by means of others (1 Thessalonians 2:3).