New English Translation
1 Thessalonians 2:7
7although 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,
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 appeared with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed – God is our witness – 6nor to seek glory from people, either from you or from others, 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, 8with such affection for you we were happy to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us. 9For you recall, brothers and sisters, our toil and drudgery: By working night and day so as not to impose a burden on any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God.
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 33:13But Jacob said to him, “My lord knows that the children are young, and that I have to look after the sheep and cattle that are nursing their young. If they are driven too hard for even a single day, all the animals will die.
- Isaiah 40:11Like a shepherd he tends his flock; he gathers up the lambs with his arm; he carries them close to his heart; he leads the ewes along.
- Ezekiel 34:14In a good pasture I will feed them; the mountain heights of Israel will be their pasture. There they will lie down in a lush pasture, and they will feed on rich grass on the mountains of Israel.
- Matthew 11:29Take my yoke on you and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
- John 21:15Then when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these do?” He replied, “Yes, Lord, you know I love you.” Jesus told him, “Feed my lambs.”
- 1 Corinthians 2:3And I was with you in weakness and in fear and with much trembling.
- 1 Corinthians 9:22To the weak I became weak in order to gain the weak. I have become all things to all people, so that by all means I may save some.
- 2 Corinthians 10:1Now I, Paul, appeal to you personally by the meekness and gentleness of Christ (I who am meek when present among you, but am full of courage toward you when away!) –
- 2 Corinthians 13:4For indeed he was crucified by reason of weakness, but he lives because of God’s power. For we also are weak in him, but we will live together with him, because of God’s power toward you.
- Galatians 5:22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
- 2 Timothy 2:24And the Lord’s slave must not engage in heated disputes but be kind toward all, an apt teacher, patient,
- James 3:17But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and not hypocritical.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:11As you know, we treated each one of you as a father treats his own children,
- Numbers 11:12Did I conceive this entire people? Did I give birth to them, that you should say to me, ‘Carry them in your arms, as a foster father bears a nursing child,’ to the land which you swore to their fathers?
- Isaiah 49:23Kings will be your children’s guardians; their princesses will nurse your children. With their faces to the ground they will bow down to you and they will lick the dirt on your feet. Then you will recognize that I am the Lord; those who wait patiently for me are not put to shame.
- Isaiah 66:13As a mother consoles a child, so I will console you, and you will be consoled over 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
New English Translation — © 1996-2016 Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C.
Commentaries