HAVING THUS A FOND AFFECTION FOR
YOU, WE WERE WELL-PLEASED TO IMPART TO YOU NOT ONLY THE GOSPEL OF GOD
BUT ALSO OUR OWN LIVES: houtos homeiromenoi (PMPMPN) humon eudokoumen
(1PIAI) metadounai (AAN) humin ou monon to euaggelion tou theou alla kai
tas heauton psuchas: (Jeremiah
13:15-17;
Romans 1:11,12;
9:1-3;
10:1;
15:29;
2 Corinthians 6:1,11-13;
Galatians 4:19;
Philippians 1:8;
2:25,26;
Colossians 1:28;
4:12;
Hebrews 13:17)
We were yearning for you so tenderly (Williams)
Having fond affection (2442)
(homeiromai or himeíromai from hímeros = a longing
or yearning after) means to desire, to be affectionately desirous of.
The word expresses an experiencing of a strong feeling intensified by an
inner attachment and thus a longing for, having a strong affection for
or loving very much.
Homeiromai means to long for someone passionately and earnestly,
and, being linked to a mother’s love, is intended here to express an
affection so deep and compelling as to be unsurpassed.
It is used on grave inscriptions
describing the parents’ sad yearning for their dead child and seems to
indicate deep affection and great attraction or when parents wanted to
describe their sad longing for a too-soon-departed child.
Hiebert writes regarding homeiromai
that...
Whatever its origin, it denotes the
warm affection and tender yearning that the missionaries felt for their
spiritual babes at Thessalonica. The present tense marks the constant
nature of the learning and affection the new believers experienced. (Hiebert,
D. Edmond: 1 & 2 Thessalonians: BMH Book. 1996)
The
only other use of this verb in Scripture is in the
Septuagint (LXX)
translation of Job...
Who long for death, but there
is none, and dig for it more than for hidden treasures (Job 3:21)
Wuest renders it...
having a kindly feeling for you
This word is used only here in
Scripture and indicates the yearning love of a mother for her children.
Paul's pastoral heart is laid bare in these verses as he continues the
figure of the nursing mother picturing her as not satisfied with
nursing the child, but interesting herself affectionately in all that
concerns the child.
WE WERE WELL-PLEASED TO IMPART
TO YOU NOT ONLY THE GOSPEL OF GOD BUT ALSO OUR OWN LIVES: eudokoumen
(1PIAI) metadounai (AAN) humin ou monon to euaggelion tou theou alla kai
tas heauton psuchas: (Acts
20:23,24;
2 Corinthians 12:15;
Philippians 2:17;
1 John 3:16)
We see a similar thought expressed
by Paul in other NT passages ...
(Paul declaring to the Ephesian
elders in their last encounter) I do not consider my life of any account
as dear to myself, in order that I may finish my course, and the
ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of
the gospel of the grace of God. (Acts
20:24)
And I will most gladly spend and be
expended (consumed) for your souls. If I love you the more, am I to be
loved the less? (2 Corinthians 12:15)
But even if I am being poured out as
a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice
and share my joy with you all. (see note
Philippians 2:17)
It has been well said that people
don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care! Paul
gave both his care and his knowledge, and we who desire to make
disciples of all the nations should do no less!
Well pleased (2106)
(eudokeo from eu = well + dokeo = think) means to
think well of, approve of or take pleasure in. Paul is saying in essence
that this imparting (gospel and souls) was actually done as a free
and deliberate choice. The word denotes a predetermination of the will
and could be rendered something like “we esteemed it good.”
Vincent writes that Paul's
use of the
imperfect tense
(for eudokeo) could be rendered
we continued to entertain and manifest our affectionate solicitude (Or
as Wuest has it "we constantly took delight ")
Hiebert writes that....
The
imperfect tense
testified that with continued hearty good will they acted "to share"
with the Thessalonians what they had to share. (Hiebert,
D. Edmond: 1 & 2 Thessalonians: BMH Book. 1996)
God said
This is My
beloved (agapetos) Son, in whom I am well pleased (eudokeo). (Mt 3:17)
Eudokeo occasionally is found in later Greek, and often in
the Septuagint. In NT eudokeo is used of God's decrees, as Lu 12:32; 1
Cor. 1:21; Gal. 1:15; Col. 1:19; and of the free determination and plans
of men, as Ro 15:26; 2 Cor. 5:8; 1 Th. 3:1.
Living for Jesus
Who died in my place,
Bearing on Calv'ry my sin and disgrace;
Such love constrains me to answer His call,
Follow His leading, and give Him my all. --Chisholm
Impart (3330)
(metadidomi
from metá = with, denoting association +
dídomi = to give) means to share with someone else what one has, and
has the nuances of to impart, to communicate, to give a share or part of.
It means refers to transferring something to another.
It is the giving of something by
which the giver retains one part and the receiver another so that they
both share in the matter. The The word means more than “to give.”
It means to give from oneself.
The
usual Greek verb for giving is didomi, but metadidomi is the intensified
form which carries the additional meanings of sharing and
imparting that which is one’s own.
Hiebert explains that...
The preposition meta prefixed to the
infinitive brings out the thought that the missionaries did not merely
give a gift but rather imparted something they desired to share with the
Thessalonians. The aorist tense of the infinitive summarizes their work
at Thessalonica as having had this character. Far from coming to get
something from the people, the missionaries came to share with them the
best possession they had: "the gospel of God." This good news, which has
its origin and source in God, was indeed a priceless treasure that would
enrich the Thessalonians for time and eternity. Paul, Silvanus, and
Timothy's willingness to share this treasure was indeed an expression of
genuine love. The sharing of the saving gospel with others was the
reason for their call and function as Christ's apostles. (Ibid)
MacArthur explains that
metadidomi...
means to share, or give someone
something of which one retains a part. That is exactly what happens when
Christians impart to other people divine truth. They give someone else
the good news of salvation, yet without losing possession of it
themselves. (MacArthur,
John: 1 & 2 Thessalonians. Moody Press
or
Logos)
Paul speaks of himself and his fellow–missionaries as having been well
pleased to impart to the converts both God’s Gospel and their own souls
(i.e., so sharing those with them as to spend themselves and spend out
their lives for them)
There are 2 uses in the LXX (Job
31:17, Pr 11;26) 5 uses of metadidomi in the NT...
Luke 3:11 And he would answer
and say to them, "Let the man who has two tunics share with him
who has none; and let him who has food do likewise."
Romans 1:11 (note)
For I long to see you in order that I may impart some spiritual
gift to you, that you may be established;
Romans 12:8 (note)
or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with
liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with
cheerfulness.
Ephesians 4:28 (note)
Let him who steals steal no longer; but rather let him labor, performing
with his own hands what is good, in order that he may have something to
share with him who has need.
1 Thessalonians 2:8 Having
thus a fond affection for you, we were well-pleased to impart to
you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had
become very dear to us.
The gospel of God - Far
from coming to get something from the people, the missionaries came to
share with them the best possession they had: "the gospel of God."
Barnes sounds the right
note here commenting that...
To be willing to communicate the
knowledge of the gospel was in itself a strong proof of love, even if it
were attended with no self-denial or hazard in doing it. We evince a
decided love for a man when we tell him of the way of salvation, and
urge him to accept of it. We show strong interest for one who is in
danger, when we tell him of a way of escape, or for one who is sick,
when we tell him of a medicine that will restore him; but we manifest a
much higher love when we tell a lost and ruined sinner of the way in
which he may be saved. There is no method in which we can show so strong
an interest in our fellow-men, and so much true benevolence for them, as
to go to them and tell them of the way by which they may be rescued from
everlasting ruin. (Albert Barnes. Barnes NT Commentary)
Gospel (2098)(euaggelion
from eú = good + aggéllo = proclaim, tell) originally
referred to a reward for good news and later became the good news
itself. The word euaggelion was in just as common use in the
first century as our words good news today. “Have you any good news for
me today?” would have been a common question. In this secular use
euaggelion described good news of any kind and prior to
the writing of the New Testament, had no definite religious connotation
in the ancient world until it was taken over by the "Cult of Caesar"
which was the state religion and in which the emperor was worshipped as
a god (see more discussion of this use below). The writers of the New
Testament adapted the term as God's message of salvation for lost
sinners.
Bruce comments that...
They could share the gospel with
their converts without any diminution in their own enjoyment of its
benefits, but to share their own lives involved utter self-denial,
spending and being spent in the interest of others (cf. 2 Cor 12:15). (Bruce,
F F: 1 and 2 Thessalonians. Word Biblical Commentary. Dallas: Word,
Incorporated. 1982 or
Logos)
Lives (5590)
(psuche from psucho = breathe, blow) signifies life in the
distinctness of individual existence, especially of man, occasionally of
brutes. In the further development of the idea it becomes, instead of
the body, the seat of the will, dispositions, desires, passions; and,
combined with the soma body, denotes the constituent parts of humanity.
Hence the morally endowed individuality of man which continues after
death. In this context is the non-material inner life of human beings
for which the body serves as a dwelling place and as in this verse often
with focus on various aspects of feeling, thinking, choosing in which
the psychological being
Psuche denotes their inner
being, their entire personality. Literally, they gave up their
souls—their real inner beings—not so much to die for them but to live
for the sake of the Thessalonians. Along with their preaching went an
unstinting outpouring of their innermost self. It sets the true standard
of pastoral service and is the key to a vital ministry. Such a ministry
is costly but it is the antidote to the blight of professionalism. There
was nothing superficial or partial about their sacrificial service.
Psuche signifies here the life of
the individual person which is shared with another. It is the life of
the individual as it is manifested in behavior and refers to the
observable totality of Paul’s earthly existence. Paul is saying literally that they
gave up their souls (psuche) their real inner beings, for the sake of
the Thessalonians.
Bruce comments that
psuche is here the seat of
affection and will (cf. Phil 1:27; Phil 2:2; Phil 2:19). The meaning is
not simply we were willing to give (lay down) our lives for you but we
were willing to give ourselves to you, to put ourselves at your
disposal, without reservation. Those addressed seem to have followed and
reciprocated the apostolic example, to judge from 2 Cor 8:5, where it is
said that the Macedonian churches first gave themselves to the Lord and
to us (Paul and his companions) by the will of God. (Bruce,
F F: 1 and 2 Thessalonians. Word Biblical Commentary. Dallas: Word,
Incorporated. 1982 or
Logos)
When William Tyndale was told that
the bishops had burnt all the copies of his New Testament on which they
could lay their hands, he calmly wrote, with a too sure presage of his
after fate, “In burning the New Testament, they did none other things
than I looked for: nor more shall they do if they burn me also, if it be
God’s will it shall be so”; and that he was prepared for that was amply
proved that day at Vilvorde, when, standing at the stake, he cried,
“Lord, open the King of England’s eyes!”
BECAUSE YOU HAD BECOME VERY DEAR
TO US: dioti agapetoi hemin egenethete. (2PAPI): (Luke
7:2;
Philippians 2:20;
*marg:;
Philippians 4:1;
Colossians 1:7;
Philemon 1:1)
Because (1360)
(dioti from dia = for + hoti = that) is a marker of
cause or reason and thus means on account of this, for this reason or as
the NAS renders it because. Love was the inducement for this
costly ministry of giving their lives and the gospel.
Became (1096)
(ginomai) means to come into existence or to being. As a result
of their labors among the Thessalonians there came into existence (aorist
tense = at a point
in time) in the missionaries a deep affection.
Dear (27)
(agapetos) pertains to one who is loved or the object of
another's affection. This indicates that a deep, affectionate
relationship had developed between the missionaries and their converts,
who were beloved to them
Paul used agapetos twice in
one verse to describe the saints at Philippi writing...
Therefore, my beloved
(agapetos) brethren whom I long to see, my joy and crown, so stand firm
in the Lord, my beloved. (Philippians
4:1)
Have you ever heard someone say
(and not jokingly) "I love ministry; it is just people I can’t stand!"
Paul shows us clearly in these verses that true ministry has a deep love
for the people one ministers to.
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1Thessalonians 2:8 - Our Daily
Bread - Give It Away-
Parents, teachers, and school board members in central Texas were
astounded when a retired couple offered 4-year college scholarships to
all 45 children in a local school's first-grade class. The only
conditions are that the child stays off drugs, graduates from the high
school in that district, and attends an accredited Texas public
university, junior college, or trade school. Years earlier, a company
had paid half the college tuition for one of the donors, and he never
forgot. "They helped me," he says, "and now it's my turn."
All of us have received a gift we can share with others. Although it may
not be money, it's something that has enhanced our lives. Paul reminded
the Thessalonians that "we were well pleased to impart to you not only
the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become dear
to us" (1 Thessalonians 2:8).
What has been given to you that you need to pass along in the name of
Christ? The gift of listening when someone needs to talk? Sharing in a
Bible-study group where people learn to nourish themselves from the
Word? Sending a thoughtful card to someone with a heavy heart?
The gospel is always most effective when it is shared by people who
joyfully give themselves away. —David C. McCasland
The message you may
give,
The words that come from you,
Most truly honor Jesus
When love is given too. —D. De Haan
God gives to you so you can give to others.