1Cor 10:33, 1Th 2:8 | Barnes | STEP | Verse 33. Even as I , etc. Paul here proposes his own example as their guide. The example which he refers to is that which he had exhibited as described in this and the preceding chapters. His main object had been to please all men; i.e., not to alarm their prejudices, or needlessly to excite their opposition, ( ); also ", while he made known to them the truth, and sought their salvation. It is well when a minister can without ostentation appeal to his own example, and urge others to a life of self-denial and holiness, by his own manner of living, and by what he is himself in his daily walk and conversation.

1 Corinthians 10:33

Verse 33. Even as I, etc. Paul here proposes his own example as their guide. The example which he refers to is that which he had exhibited as described in this and the preceding chapters. His main object had been to please all men; i.e., not to alarm their prejudices, or needlessly to excite their opposition, (1Cor 10:19); also 1Cor 10:20-23", while he made known to them the truth, and sought their salvation. It is well when a minister can without ostentation appeal to his own example, and urge others to a life of self-denial and holiness, by his own manner of living, and by what he is himself in his daily walk and conversation.

1 Thessalonians 2:8

Verse 8. So, being affectionately desirous of you. The word here rendered "being affectionately desirous" ιμειρω occurs nowhere else in the New Testament. It means to long after, to have a strong affection for. The sense here is, that Paul was so strongly attached to them that he would have been willing to lay down his life for them.

We were willing to have imparted unto you. To have given or communicated, Rom 1:11.

Not the gospel of God only. 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.

But also our own souls. Or rather lives--ψυχας. Mt 6:25, 20:28, Lk 12:22,23, Mk 3:4. This does not mean that the apostle was willing to be damned, or to lose his soul in order to save them; but that, if it had been necessary, he would have been ready to lay down his life. See Jn 3:16. "We ought to lay down our lives for the brethren." Comp. Jn 15:13. His object seems to be to assure them that he did not leave them from any want of love to them, or from the fear of being put to death. It was done from the strong conviction of duty. He appears to have left them because he could not longer remain without exposing others to danger, and without the certainty that there would be continued disturbances. See Acts 17:9,10.

(a) "have imparted" Rom 1:1 (+) "souls" "lives"