1 Thessalonians 2:8
“So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Out of deep affection Paul gave them not only the gospel but his very self, because they had become dear to him.
What Does 1 Thessalonians 2:8 Mean?
Paul opens his heart. He was 'affectionately desirous' of them, longing for them with a tender ache, and so he gave more than a message. He imparted 'not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls.' He poured out his very life, his time, energy, and love, holding nothing back because they had become 'dear' to him.
Here is the difference between a professional and a father. Paul did not merely deliver doctrine and move on; he spent himself on the people who received it. The gospel and the giver came together, for he could not separate the truth he preached from the love that drove him to preach it. This is the costliest and most fruitful kind of ministry, the kind that mirrors the Lord who gave not only His teaching but Himself for those He loved. To these believers, Paul was not a passing voice but a heart wholly given.
In the Original Language
psyche (ψυχή), 'souls' -- the living self, one's whole inner life and being.