1 Thessalonians 2:7

“But we were gentle among you, etc.] Meek and humble, mild and moderate; not using severity, or carrying it in a haughty imperious manner; assuming power and dominion, lording it over God's heritage, and commanding persons to do homage and honour to them, and forcing themselves upon them, and obliging them to maintain them. The Vulgate Latin and Ethiopic versions, instead of “gentle”, read, “little children”; as the word signifies, by adding a letter to it, and expresses much the same as the other, that they were harmless and modest, and disinterested; and sought not themselves neither honour nor wealth, but the real good of others, and were kind and tender, and affectionate to them: even as…”

“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 (Ti2 2:24). Some of the oldest manuscripts read, "we became little children" (compare Mat 18:3-4). Others support the English Version reading, which forms a better antithesis to Th1 2:6-7, and harmonizes better with what follows; for he would hardly, in the same sentence, compare himself both to the "infants" or "little children," and to "a nurse," or rather, "suckling mother." Gentleness is the fitting characteristic of a nurse. among you--Greek, "in the midst of you," that is, in our…”

“But 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. return to 'Top of Page'”

“But we were gentle - Mild, tender. In the midst of you - Like a hen surrounded with her young. Even as a nurse cherisheth her own children - The offspring of her own womb. 1 Thessalonians 2:8”

“2:7 we were like children: Some manuscripts read we were gentle. Paul and his associates did not wield their apostolic authority to make demands (cp. Matt 20:25-28).”

“we: Gen 33:13, Gen 33:14; Isa 40:11; Eze 34:14-16; Mat 11:29, Mat 11:30; Joh 21:15-17; Co1 2:3, Co1 9:22; Co2 10:1, Co2 13:4; Gal 5:22, Gal 5:23; Ti2 2:24, Ti2 2:25; Jam 3:17 as: Th1 2:11; Num 11:12; Isa 49:23, Isa 66:13; Act 13:18 \*marg. 1 Thessalonians 2:8”