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Friday, July 11th, 2025
the Week of Proper 9 / Ordinary 14
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International Standard Version

1 Thessalonians 2:7

even though as apostles of Christ we might have made such demands. Instead, we were gentleinfants">[fn] among you, like a nursing mother tenderly caring for her own children.1 Corinthians 2:3; 9:22; 2 Corinthians 13:4; 2 Timothy 2:24;">[xr]

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Gentleness;   Love;   Meekness;   Minister, Christian;   Nurse;   Preaching;   Thompson Chain Reference - Gentleness;   Meekness-Retaliation;   Nurses;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Children;   Meekness;   Ministers;   Simplicity;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Nurse;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Work;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Gentleness;   Gospel;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Nurse;   Thessalonians, the Epistles to the;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Apostles;   Mother;   Nurse;   1 Thessalonians;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Gentleness;   Nurse;   Thessalonians, First Epistle to the;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Abstinence;   Metaphor;   Thessalonians Epistles to the;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Nurse;   Paul;   Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types - Nurse;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Cherish;   Gentleness;   Nurse;   Thessalonians, the First Epistle of Paul to the;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Although we could have been a burden as Christ’s apostles, instead we were gentle among you, as a nurse nurtures her own children.
King James Version (1611)
But wee were gentle among you, euen as a nurse cherisheth her children:
King James Version
But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children:
English Standard Version
But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children.
New American Standard Bible
But we proved to be gentle among you. As a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children,
New Century Version
even though as apostles of Christ we could have used our authority over you. But we were very gentle with you, like a mother caring for her little children.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children.
Legacy Standard Bible
But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children.
Berean Standard Bible
On the contrary, we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother caring for her children.
Contemporary English Version
But as apostles, we could have demanded help from you. After all, Christ is the one who sent us. We chose to be like children or like a mother nursing her baby.
Complete Jewish Bible
As emissaries of the Messiah, we could have made our weight felt; but instead, we were gentle when we were with you, like a mother feeding and caring for her children.
Darby Translation
but have been gentle in the midst of you, as a nurse would cherish her own children.
Easy-to-Read Version
When we were with you, as apostles of Christ we could have used our authority to make you help us. But we were very gentle with you. We were like a mother caring for her little children.
Geneva Bible (1587)
But we were gentle among you, euen as a nource cherisheth her children.
George Lamsa Translation
But we were meek when we were among you, and like a foster mother who loves her children:
Good News Translation
even though as apostles of Christ we could have made demands on you. But we were gentle when we were with you, like a mother taking care of her children.
Lexham English Bible
Although we could have insisted on our own importance as apostles of Christ, yet we became infants in your midst, like a nursing mother cherishes her own children.
Literal Translation
But we were gentle in your midst, even as a nurse should warmly cherish her children.
Amplified Bible
But we behaved gently when we were among you, like a devoted mother tenderly caring for her own children.
American Standard Version
But we were gentle in the midst of you, as when a nurse cherisheth her own children:
Bible in Basic English
But we were gentle among you, like a woman caring for her little ones:
Hebrew Names Version
But we were gentle in the midst of you, as when a nurse cherishes her own children.
Etheridge Translation
but we were humble among you, and, as a nurse who loveth her children,
Murdock Translation
But we were lowly among you; and like a nurse, who fondleth her children,
Bishop's Bible (1568)
When we myght haue ben in auctoritie, as the Apostles of Christe, but we were tender among you, euen as a nource cherissheth her chyldren,
English Revised Version
But we were gentle in the midst of you, as when a nurse cherisheth her own children:
World English Bible
But we were gentle in the midst of you, as when a nurse cherishes her own children.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
But we were gentle in the midst of you, even as a nurse cherisheth her own children.
Weymouth's New Testament
On the contrary, in our relations to you we showed ourselves as gentle as a mother is when she tenderly nurses her own children.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
nether of othere, whanne we, as Cristis apostlis, miyten haue be in charge to you. But we weren maad litle in the myddil of you, as if a nursche fostre hir sones;
Update Bible Version
We might have claimed authority as apostles of Christ; but we were gentle in the midst of you, as when a nurse cherishes her own children:
Webster's Bible Translation
But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children:
New English Translation
although we could have imposed our weight as apostles of Christ; instead we became little children among you. Like a nursing mother caring for her own children,
New King James Version
But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children.
New Living Translation
As apostles of Christ we certainly had a right to make some demands of you, but instead we were like children among you. Or we were like a mother feeding and caring for her own children.
New Life Bible
Instead, we were gentle when we came to you. We were like a mother caring for her children.
New Revised Standard
though we might have made demands as apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you, like a nurse tenderly caring for her own children.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
But we became gentle in your midst, - as though, a nursing mother, had been cherishing her own children:
Douay-Rheims Bible
Whereas we might have been burdensome to you, as the apostles of Christ: but we became little ones in the midst of you, as if a nurse should cherish her children:
Revised Standard Version
But we were gentle among you, like a nurse taking care of her children.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
but we were tender amonge you even as a norsse cheressheth her children
Young's Literal Translation
But we became gentle in your midst, as a nurse may cherish her own children,
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
but we were tender amonge you. Like as a norsse cherisheth hir children,
Mace New Testament (1729)
we behav'd to you with a tender regard, even as a mother, who nurses her own children.
Simplified Cowboy Version
Instead, we rode through your herd like little kids at their first branding. We cared for y'all with the gusto of a protective stud watching over his mares and foals.

Contextual Overview

7 even though as apostles of Christ we might have made such demands. Instead, we were gentleinfants">[fn] among you, like a nursing mother tenderly caring for her own children.1 Corinthians 2:3; 9:22; 2 Corinthians 13:4; 2 Timothy 2:24;">[xr] 8 We cared so deeply for you that we were determined to share with you not only the gospel of God but our very lives. That is how dear you were to us.Romans 1:11; 15:29; 2 Corinthians 12:15;">[xr] 9 You remember, brothers, our labor and toil. We worked night and day so that we would not become a burden to any of you while we proclaimed the gospel of God to you.Acts 20:34; 1 Corinthians 4:12; 2 Corinthians 11:9; 12:13-14; 2 Thessalonians 3:8;">[xr] 10 You and God are witnesses of how pure, honest, and blameless our conduct was among you who believe.2 Corinthians 7:2; 1 Thessalonians 1:5; 2 Thessalonians 3:7;">[xr] 11 You know very well that we treated each of you the way a father treatstreats">[fn] his children. 12 We comforted and encouraged you, urging you to live in a manner worthy of the God who callscalled">[fn] you into his kingdom and glory.1 Corinthians 1:9; Ephesians 4:1; Philippians 1:27; Colossians 1:10; 1 Thessalonians 4:1; 5:24; 2 Thessalonians 2:14; 2 Timothy 1:9;">[xr]

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

we: Genesis 33:13, Genesis 33:14, Isaiah 40:11, Ezekiel 34:14-16, Matthew 11:29, Matthew 11:30, John 21:15-17, 1 Corinthians 2:3, 1 Corinthians 9:22, 2 Corinthians 10:1, 2 Corinthians 13:4, Galatians 5:22, Galatians 5:23, 2 Timothy 2:24, 2 Timothy 2:25, James 3:17

as: 1 Thessalonians 2:11, Numbers 11:12, Isaiah 49:23, Isaiah 66:13, Acts 13:18, *marg.

Reciprocal: Genesis 47:12 - according to their families Numbers 12:3 - very Psalms 131:1 - my heart 1 Corinthians 4:21 - and 1 Thessalonians 1:10 - wait 1 Thessalonians 5:14 - comfort Titus 3:2 - gentle

Cross-References

John 20:22
When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit.
Acts 17:25
and he isn't served by hands as if he needed anything. He himself gives everyone life, breath, and everything.Genesis 2:7; Numbers 16:22; Job 1:12:10; 27:3; 33:4; Psalm 50:8; Isaiah 42:5; 57:16; Zechariah 12:1;">[xr]
Romans 9:20
On the contrary, who are you - mere man that you are - to talk back to God? Can an object that was molded say to the one who molded it, "Why did you make me like this?"Isaiah 29:16; 45:9; 64:8;">[xr]
1 Corinthians 15:47
The first man came from the dust of the earth; the second man came from heaven.Genesis 2:7; 3:19; John 3:13,31;">[xr]
2 Corinthians 4:7
But we have this treasure in clay jars to show that its extraordinary power comes from God and not from us.1 Corinthians 2:5; 2 Corinthians 5:1; 12:9;">[xr]
2 Corinthians 5:1
We know that if the earthly tent we live in is torn down, we have a building in heaven that comes from God, an eternal house not built by humanhuman">[fn] hands.Job 1:4:19; 2 Corinthians 4:7; 2 Peter 1:13-14;">[xr]
Hebrews 12:9
Furthermore, we had earthly fathers who used to discipline us, and we respected them for it. We should even more submit to the Father of our spirits and live, shouldn't we?Numbers 16:22; 27:16; Job 1:12:10; Ecclesiastes 12:7; Isaiah 42:5; 57:16; Zechariah 12:1;">[xr]

Gill's Notes on the Bible

But we were gentle among you,.... Meek and humble, mild and moderate; not using severity, or carrying it in a haughty imperious manner; assuming power and dominion, lording it over God's heritage, and commanding persons to do homage and honour to them, and forcing themselves upon them, and obliging them to maintain them. The Vulgate Latin and Ethiopic versions, instead of "gentle", read, "little children"; as the word signifies, by adding a letter to it, and expresses much the same as the other, that they were harmless and modest, and disinterested; and sought not themselves neither honour nor wealth, but the real good of others, and were kind and tender, and affectionate to them:

even as a nurse cherisheth her children: or "the children of her own self"; her own children, and so designs a nursing mother, one whose the children are, has bore them as well as nurses them, and therefore has the most tender concern for them; she lays them in her bosom, and hugs them in her arms, and so warms and cherishes them; gives them the breast, bears with their frowardness, condescends to do the meanest things for them; and that without any self-interest, from a pure parental affection for them: and such were the apostles to these Thessalonians; they were their spiritual parents, of whom they travailed in birth, till Christ was formed in them; they used them with the greatest kindness and tenderness; they fed them with the sincere milk of the word; they bore patiently all the slighting and ill treatment they met with; and condescended to men of low estates, and did them all the good offices they could, without any selfish views or sinister ends: a like simile is used by the Jews e, who say,

"he that rises in the night to study in the law, the law makes known to him his offences; and not in a way of judgment, but כאמא, as a mother makes known to her son, "with gentle words":''

but the ministration of the Gospel is much more gentle.

e Zohar in Lev. fol. 10. 2.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

But we were gentle among you - Instead of using authority, we used only the most kind and gentle methods to win you and to promote your peace and order. The word here rendered “nurse,” may mean any one who nurses a child, whether a mother or another person. It seems here to refer to a mother (compare 1 Thessalonians 2:11), and the idea is, that the apostle felt for them the affectionate solicitude which a mother does for the child at her breast.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 7. But we were gentle among you — Far from assuming the authority which we had, we acted towards you as a tender nurse or parent does to a delicate child. We fed, counselled, cherished, and bore with you; we taught you to walk, preserved you from stumbling, and led you in a right path.

Instead of ηπιοι, gentle, many MSS., and several versions and fathers, have νηπιοι, young children. But this never can be considered the original reading, the scope of the place being totally opposed to it. It is the Thessalonians whom the apostle considers as young children, and himself and fellow labourers as the nurse; he could with no propriety say that he was among them as a little child, while himself professed to be their nurse.


 
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