1 Thessalonians 2:8
Our own lives as well
- The gospel’s word εὐαγγέλιον euangelion · gospel
Original
Translations
We cared so deeply that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God, but our own lives as well. That is how beloved you have become to us.
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.
so being desirous of you, we are well-pleased to impart to you not only the good news of God, but also our own souls, because you have become beloved to us,
우리가 이같이 너희를 사모하여 하나님의 복음으로만 아니라 우리 목숨까지 너희에게 주기를 즐겨함은 너희가 우리의 사랑하는 자 됨이니라
우리가 이같이 너희를 다정하게 사모하여 하나님의 복음뿐 아니라 우리 자신의 혼까지도 너희에게 기꺼이 나누어 주고자 함은 너희가 우리에게 소중하였기 때문이라.
Commentaries
Matthew Henry on 1Thess 2:7-12 as a whole
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. …
Read the whole commentary →Wesley 1Thess 2:8
To impart our own souls - To lay down our lives for your sake.
Read the whole commentary →
Note
Paul has just said that he and his companions were gentle among the Thessalonians, "like a nursing mother caring for her children" (1 Thessalonians 2:7). This verse carries the picture on. What they gave was not the gospel alone.
We cared so deeply that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God, but our own lives as well. That is how beloved you have become to us.
1 Thessalonians 2:8In 2:1–12 Paul is looking back on his conduct, and 2:7–12 is its tenderest part: first a mother's care, then a father's (1 Thessalonians 2:11). "We cared so deeply" renders ὁμειρόμενοι, a rare word found nowhere else in the New Testament, the longing of one who yearns for another. The KJV's "affectionately desirous of you" catches it well.
here is the object of μεταδοῦναι, an aorist infinitive, "to share, to impart", and the verb has two objects: the gospel of God, and their own souls (τὰς ἑαυτῶν ψυχάς). The main verb, εὐδοκοῦμεν, "we were delighted", is imperfect: this was their settled pleasure through the whole stay, not one generous moment. The gospel is news, but it was not handed over at arm's length.
The noun ψυχή can be "soul" or "life", and the versions choose. The KJV and the LSV say "our own souls"; the BSB, "our own lives as well." "Souls" suggests their whole inner selves, their hearts and time and affection; "lives" can suggest more, a readiness to die for them. Both lie within the word, and the next verse shows what the giving looked like day by day: work night and day so as not to be a burden (1 Thessalonians 2:9).
Wesley takes the stronger sense: "To lay down our lives for your sake" Wesley. Matthew Henry sees in the apostles' gentleness a likeness to the gospel itself: "Mildness and tenderness greatly recommend religion, and are most conformable to God's gracious dealing with sinners, in and by the gospel" Matthew Henry. And he adds, plainly, "This is the way to win people" Matthew Henry.
The gospel these men shared is the news of the One who, as this letter says, "died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with Him" (1 Thessalonians 5:10). The news of One who gave Himself came to Thessalonica through people who gave themselves. In this verse what the gospel says and how it was handed on have the same shape.