Christian Standard Bible
1 Thessalonians 2:7
7Although we could have been a burden as Christ’s apostles, instead we were gentle among you, as a nurse nurtures her own children.
1 Thessalonians 2:7 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children:
- New International Version (NIV)Instead, we were like young children among you. Just as a nursing mother cares for her children,
- English Standard Version (ESV)But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children.
- New King James Version (NKJV)But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children.
Context of 1 Thessalonians 2:7
5For we never used flattering speech, as you know, or had greedy motives — God is our witness — 6and we didn’t seek glory from people, either from you or from others. Although we could have been a burden as Christ’s apostles, instead we were gentle among you, as a nurse nurtures her own children. 8We cared so much for you that we were pleased to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us. 9For you remember our labor and hardship, brothers and sisters. Working night and day so that we would not burden any of you, we preached God’s gospel to you.
Read all of 1 Thessalonians 21 Thessalonians 2:7 word by word
δυνάμενοι ἐν βάρει εἶναι ὡς Χριστοῦ ἀπόστολοι· ἀλλ᾽ ἐγενήθημεν νήπιοι ἐν μέσῳ ὑμῶν, ὡς ἐὰν τροφὸς θάλπῃ τὰ ἑαυτῆς τέκνα,Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·μέσοςmesos · midstG3319
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Butἀλλάalla · butG235
- we wereγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
- gentleἤπιοςēpios · gentleG2261
- amongἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- youσύsu · youG4771
- evenἄνan · ifG302
- asὡςhōs · as/whenG5613
- a nurseτροφόςtrophos · nursing motherG5162
- cherishethθάλπωthalpō · to care forG2282
- herἑαυτοῦheautou · themselfG1438
- childrenτέκνονteknon · childG5043
Cross-references for 1 Thessalonians 2:7
- Genesis 33:13Jacob replied, “My lord knows that the children are weak, and I have nursing flocks and herds. If they are driven hard for one day, the whole herd will die.
- Isaiah 40:11He protects his flock like a shepherd; he gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them in the fold of his garment. He gently leads those that are nursing.
- Ezekiel 34:14I will tend them in good pasture, and their grazing place will be on Israel’s lofty mountains. There they will lie down in a good grazing place; they will feed in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel.
- Matthew 11:29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
- John 21:15When they had eaten breakfast, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said to him, “you know that I love you.” “Feed my lambs,” he told him.
- 1 Corinthians 2:3I came to you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling.
- 1 Corinthians 9:22To the weak I became weak, in order to win the weak. I have become all things to all people, so that I may by every possible means save some.
- 2 Corinthians 10:1Now I, Paul, myself, appeal to you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ — I who am humble among you in person but bold toward you when absent.
- 2 Corinthians 13:4For he was crucified in weakness, but he lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but in dealing with you we will live with him by God’s power.
- Galatians 5:22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
- 2 Timothy 2:24The Lord’s servant must not quarrel, but must be gentle to everyone, able to teach, and patient,
- James 3:17But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without pretense.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:11As you know, like a father with his own children,
- Numbers 11:12Did I conceive all these people? Did I give them birth so you should tell me, ‘Carry them at your breast, as a nursing mother carries a baby,’ to the land that you swore to give their ancestors?
- Isaiah 49:23Kings will be your guardians and their queens your nursing mothers. They will bow down to you with their faces to the ground and lick the dust at your feet. Then you will know that I am the Lord; those who put their hope in me will not be put to shame.
- Isaiah 66:13As a mother comforts her son, so I will comfort you, and you will be comforted in Jerusalem.
Commentaries on 1 Thessalonians 2:7
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 7But 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 , gentle, many MSS., and several versions and fathers, have , young children. But this never can be considered the original reading, the scope of the place being…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 7But 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.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 7-12Verses 7-12 Mildness and tenderness greatly recommend religion, and are most conformable to God's gracious dealing with sinners, in and by the gospel. This is the way to win people. We should not only be faithful to our calling as Christians, but in our particular callings and relations. Our great gospel privilege is, that God has called us to his kingdom and glory. The great gospel duty is, that we walk worthy of God. We should live as becomes those…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 7we were gentle among you: Some manuscripts say we were like infants. Paul and his associates did not use their authority as apostles to make demands (see Matthew 20:25–28).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 77. we were--Greek, "we were made" by God's grace. gentle--Greek, "mild in bearing with the faults of others" [Tittmann]; one, too, who is gentle (though firm) in reproving the erroneous opinions of others (2Ti 2:24). Some of the oldest manuscripts read, "we became little children" (compare Mt 18:3, 4). Others support the English Version reading, which forms a better antithesis to 1Th 2:6, 7, and harmonizes better with what follows; for he would hardly, in…Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Thessalonians 2:7
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 1 Thessalonians 2
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
Christian Standard Bible — © 2017 Holman Bible Publishers
Commentaries