Theophylact of Ohrid, 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:”

“Or: in honor, glory, and abundance; or: we could have taken from you and been fed, and been a burden to you. For our dignity demanded this, to take from you. "Gentle," that is, meek, not burdensome. Or: "gentle" (νήπιοι) "among you," that is, without malice, without ambition. For the one without malice thinks nothing of the sort. The expression "among you" has this meaning: in my dealings with you I was the same as you, as though I had not received a higher appointment. Here the apostle shows his tender love. Does a nurse flatter a child? Does she seek money from little ones? So too a teacher must be gentle and love those who insult him, just as a nurse loves her children, even if they beat her.”

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