But we were gentle Mild, tender; among Εν μεσω υμων, in the midst of, you Like a hen surrounded with her young; even as a nurse A mother who suckles her own offspring, as the word τροφος here signifies; cherisheth her children The offspring of her own womb, warming them in her bosom, and feeding them with her milk. So being affectionately desirous of you Ουτως ιμειρομενοι υμων, being tenderly affectionate toward you; or loving you tenderly; a beautiful poetical expression, as Blackwall observes, signifying the most passionate desire: we were willing to have imparted not the gospel only, but our own souls Or lives, rather. Chandler observes, that “the apostle here considers the Thessalonians as in the infancy of their conversion; himself as the tender mother who nursed them; the gospel as the milk with which he fed them; and his very soul, or life, as what he was willing to part with for their preservation. Could the fondest mother carry her affection for her helpless infant further?” He adds, “Nothing can exceed the elegance, the strength, and the moving affection of this description! A man must have no bowels, who does not find them moved by so fine, so lively, and warm a scene.”
Related Commentaries of 1 Thessalonians 2:7
1 Thessalonians 2:7-8
7 But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children:
8 So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.