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. 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.
The verse describes ministry at Thessalonica on the seacoast after leaving Philippi, where the gospel was labored for while working with the hands night and day to support oneself. Being affectionately desirous means the messengers held the believers dear and were willing to impart not only God's gospel but also their own lives and souls for them. That loving, self-giving care for believers belongs to faithful ministry, moved by deep affection for those being taught. That affection was expressed with gentle and tender care, like a nurse cherishing her children. It was care with a mother's tenderness while laboring among them.
The same tenderness joined bold preaching of Christ with kindness and thoughtfulness, without harshness or impoliteness. Faithful affection also included correcting and warning the believers, as a father does his children. Devoted affection was shown by working night and day to support oneself and refusing to be chargeable or to burden others, rather than eating anyone's bread for nothing. This self-support was a voluntary surrender of a real right, since it is perfectly right for the preacher to be supported because the laborer is worthy of hire.
Self-support guarded the gospel among seacoast Greeks known for sharp trading practices and for thinking gain is godliness. It was done so no one could say preaching was done to gain support, suspect selfish motives, depreciate the work, or harm the influence of God's servants and of fellow laborers and hearers. The ministry in the verse is sincere in affection and gentleness, free from flattery, greed, pursuit of human praise, and self-interest.