1 Thessalonians 2:8

Contextual Overview

⁷As apostles of Christ we could have been a burden to you, but we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children. ⁷ Instead, we were like young children among you. Just as a nursing mother cares for her children, ⁷ But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children. ⁷But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children. ⁷Instead, 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. ⁷ But we were gentle among you, like a woman caring for her little ones: ⁷ but have been gentle in the midst of you, as a nurse would cherish her own children. ⁷ Although we could have been a burden as Christ's apostles, instead we were gentle among you, as a nursing mother nurtures her own children. ⁷ But we were gentle in the midst of you, as when a nurse cherishes her own children. ⁷ But we were gentle in the midst of you, even as a nurse cherisheth her own children.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

affectionately: Jeremiah 13:15-17, Romans 1:11, Romans 1:12, Romans 9:1-3, Romans 10:1, Romans 15:29, 2 Corinthians 6:1, 2 Corinthians 6:11-13, Galatians 4:19, Philippians 1:8, Philippians 2:25, Philippians 2:26, Colossians 1:28, Colossians 4:12, Hebrews 13:17

but: Acts 20:23, Acts 20:24, 2 Corinthians 12:15, Philippians 2:17, 1 John 3:16

dear: Luke 7:2, Philippians 2:20, *marg. Philippians 4:1, Colossians 1:7, Philemon 1:1

Reciprocal: Exodus 18:18 - Thou wilt surely wear away Lamentations 3:41 - with Acts 16:32 - they Romans 12:8 - giveth 2 Corinthians 7:3 - to die 2 Corinthians 8:3 - beyond 2 Corinthians 12:14 - for I Galatians 4:15 - if 1 Thessalonians 3:12 - even

Cross-References

Genesis 2:8
Now the LORD God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed.

Genesis 2:8
Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed.

Genesis 2:8
And Yahweh God planted a garden in Eden, toward the east; and there He placed the man whom He had formed.

Genesis 2:8
The LORD God planted a garden toward the east, in Eden; and there He placed the man whom He had formed.

Genesis 2:8
And the Lord God planted a garden eastwarde in Eden, and there he put the man whom he had shapen.

Genesis 2:8
Then the Lord God planted a garden in the East, in a place named Eden. He put the man he made in that garden.

Genesis 2:8
And the LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the east; and there he put the man whom he had formed.

Genesis 2:8
Forsothe the Lord God plauntide at the bigynnyng paradis of likyng, wherynne he settide man whom he hadde formed.

Genesis 2:8
And the LORD God planted a garden Eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.

Genesis 2:8
And the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

So being affectionately desirous of you,.... Not of theirs but them; not of glory from them, nor a maintenance by them, but of their spiritual and eternal welfare; were as fond of them as a nursing mother is of her children, who, when absent from them but ever so little a while, longs to see them; see 1 Thessalonians 2:17 and 1 Thessalonians 3:1,

we were willing: took the utmost pleasure, delight, and complacency:

to have imparted unto you, not the Gospel of God only; the sincere milk of the word, which they did freely, fully, and for their spiritual good and profit, without any regard to any advantage of their own:

but also our own souls, or "lives"; which is the highest expression and strongest proof of love that can be given; and respect is still had to the similitude of the nursing mother, who may be said to impart her blood, for such it her milk diversified, for the nourishment of her children: and such was the great concern of the apostles for the interest of Christ, the spread of the Gospel, and the good of souls, that their lives were not dear unto them, so that these ends might he answered: because ye were dear unto us; both because they were loved by God, redeemed by Christ, regenerated by the Spirit of Christ, and had the image of Christ stamped upon them; and also because that they were their spiritual children; and as children are dear to their parents, so were these to them, even to such a degree, as that, were there a necessity for it, they could freely have laid down their lives for them.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

So, being affectionately desirous of you - The word here rendered “being affectionately desirous” - ὁμειρομενοι homeiromenoi - occurs nowhere else in the New Testament. It means to “long after, to have a strong affection for.” The sense here is, that Paul was so strongly attached to them that he would have been willing to lay down his life for them.

We were willing to have imparted unto you - To have given or communicated; Romans 1:11.

Not the gospel of God only - To be willing to communicate the knowledge of the gospel was in itself a strong proof of love, even if it were attended with no self-denial or hazard in doing it. We evince a decided love for a man when we tell him of the way of salvation, and urge him to accept of it. We show strong interest for one who is in danger, when we tell him of a way of escape, or for one who is sick, when we tell him of a medicine that will restore him; but we manifest a much higher love when we tell a lost and ruined sinner of the way in which he may be saved. There is no method in which we can show so strong an interest in our fellow-men, and so much true benevolence for them, as to go to them and tell them of the way by which they may be rescued from everlasting ruin.

But also our own souls - Or rather “lives” - ψυχὰς psuchas; Matthew 6:25; Matthew 20:28; Luke 12:22, Luke 12:13; Mark 3:4. This does not mean that the apostle was willing to be damned, or to lose his soul in order to save them, but that if it had been necessary he would have been ready to lay down his life; see 1 John 3:16. “We ought to lay down our lives for the brethren;” compare notes, John 15:13. His object seems to be to assure them that he did not leave them from any want of love to them, or from the fear of being put to death. It was done from the strong conviction of duty. He appears to have left them because he could not longer remain without exposing others to danger, and without the certainty that there would be continued disturbances; see Acts 17:9-10.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 8. Being affectionately desirous of you — We had such intense love for you that we were not only willing and forward to preach the unsearchable riches of Christ to you, but also to give our own lives for your sake, because ye were dear, διοτι αγαπητοι ἡμιν, because ye were beloved by us. The words used here by the apostle are expressive of the strongest affection and attachment.