Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, on 1Thess 2:7

“Whereas we might have been burdensome to you, as the apostles of Christ: but we became little ones in the midst of you, as if a nurse should cherish her children:”

“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 intercourse with you being as one of yourselves. nurse--a suckling mother. her--Greek, "her own children" (compare Th1 2:11). So Gal 4:19.”

Imported from an open dataset — not yet checked against the printed edition.