1 Thessalonians 2:7b-8 7But we were child-like among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. 8so, longing for you, we determined to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own souls, because you had become beloved to us.
These verses shift to the positive motive Paul and his companions had when they came to Thessalonica to preach the gospel. Paul uses the image is of a loving mother who gently and affectionately cares for her small children. The translation child-like (nēpioi) generally refers to infants and small children (1 Corinthians 13:11). The next phrase, like a nursing mother, indicates that Paul is not referring to age but to the gentle demeanor of a child. The metaphor is mixed, moving from the image of a child to a mother. Rather than trying to reconcile this unclear image, we are better off imagining in our minds the love shown between a mother and child.
The words in these verses are loaded with emotion and affection. These words reveal Paul’s motive and how he felt about the Thessalonians. He deeply desired and longed to be (the rare word omeiroumenoi) to be with the Thessalonians. This longing came from the heart of a pastor who loved the people under his care. These believers had become dear and beloved to Paul. When people know that a pastor loves them in this way, they will be more apt to listen to anything he or she says. Paul’s rhetoric here should have had the effect of encouraging the Thessalonians to listen and heed what he wrote in this letter. If this was his general approach in ministry, it is no wonder he was an effective missionary.
Paul and his ministry team did not come with a mission of simply preaching words, although this certainly would have changed lives because the gospel has its own power and authority. Rather, they came sharing themselves. Their message was not just in words but in their loving actions. These verses show how Paul, Silas, Timothy, and others who joined them at different points approached new places with humility and openness. They were not like other traveling speakers, entertainers, or religious gurus who were in it for the praise or money. They were driven by a deep love for people. What we say is confirmed by how we approach people. Our actions often speak louder than our words.
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