The word translated selves
(or lives
; NIV) is the Greek word ψυχάς, which is traditionally translated as souls.
Unfortunately, the traditional translation οf ψυχή as soul
probably creates more confusion than clarity in most instances of its use. This Greek word generally has one of four meanings:
person [as an individual human being]
(Romans 2:9; Romans 13:1)life [in the physiological sense]
(Romans 11:3; Romans 16:4)inner being [as the centre of a person's will, emotions, and thinking]
(Ephesians 6:6; Philippians 1:27), orlife [as embracing a person's entire existence]
(2 Corinthians 12:15)1,2
Here in 1 Thessalonians 2:8, commentators are essentially divided between understanding ψυχάς as inner life
(often with an emphasis on the emotions),3,4,5 and whole person.
6,7,8 If one focuses only on 1 Thessalonians 2:7b-1 Thessalonians 2:8, the picture of the nurse-mother may incline one toward interpreting this word as a reference to Paul’s inner life, and especially to his emotions. However, one needs to include 1 Thessalonians 2:9 to understand the flow of thought here. 1 Thessalonians 2:9 begins with for,
and thus provides a further explanation of 1 Thessalonians 2:8.
In 1 Thessalonians 2:9, Paul speaks about his hard work, which enabled him to avoid burdening the Thessalonian believers. By relieving them in this way, the apostle demonstrated his loving, compassionate concern for the new Christians (cf. the tender care of a nurse-mother). But this kind of hard work also represented a sharing of Paul’s whole being: there was no aspect of his life—including his time and abilities—that he was not willing to place at the disposal of the new community. The gospel, precious as it was, may be viewed as something external to Paul himself, and he might have considered his duty complete once the gospel had been faithfully delivered. But he could not stop there. Just as a nurse-mother is willing to spend her substance out of longing for her children, so Paul was willing to spend himself for the new believers.
8 So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.