1 Thessalonians 2:6-8

Expanded Bible

⁶ We were not looking for human ·praise [glory], from you or anyone else, ⁷ even though as apostles of Christ we could have ·used our authority over you [thrown our weight around; exercised our prerogatives].

But we were very gentle with you,^[a] like a ·mother [nurse; nursing mother] caring for her [^Lown] little children. ⁸ Because we ·loved [had such affection for/devotion to] you, we were ·happy [pleased; delighted] to share not only God’s ·Good News [Gospel] with you, but ·even [also] our own lives. You had become so ·dear [beloved] to us!