2 Thessalonians 3:7

2 Thessalonians 3:7 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;
• New International Version (NIV)For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you,
• English Standard Version (ESV)For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you,
• New King James Version (NKJV)For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you;

Context of 2 Thessalonians 3:7

5May the Lord direct your hearts to God’s love and Christ’s endurance. 6Now we command you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from every brother or sister who is idle and does not live according to the tradition received from us. For you yourselves know how you should imitate us: We were not idle among you; 8we did not eat anyone’s food free of charge; instead, we labored and toiled, working night and day, so that we would not be a burden to any of you. 9It is not that we don’t have the right to support, but we did it to make ourselves an example to you so that you would imitate us.

2 Thessalonians 3:7 word by word

αὐτοὶ γὰρ οἴδατε πῶς δεῖ μιμεῖσθαι ἡμᾶς· ὅτι οὐκ ἠτακτήσαμεν ἐν ὑμῖν,Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Forγάρgar · forG1063
• yourselvesαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• knowεἴδωeidō · to perceive: understandG1492
• howπῶςpōs · how?!G4459
• ye oughtδεῖdei · be necessaryG1163
• to followμιμέομαιmimeomai · to imitateG3401
• usἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• forὅτιhoti · that/since: sinceG3754
• we behavedἀτακτέωatakteō · be idleG812
• notοὐou · noG3756
• amongἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• youσύsu · youG4771

Cross-references for 2 Thessalonians 3:7

• 2 Thessalonians 3:9It is not that we don’t have the right to support, but we did it to make ourselves an example to you so that you would imitate us.
• 1 Corinthians 4:16Therefore I urge you to imitate me.
• 1 Corinthians 11:1Imitate me, as I also imitate Christ.
• Philippians 3:17Join in imitating me, brothers and sisters, and pay careful attention to those who live according to the example you have in us.
• Philippians 4:9Do what you have learned and received and heard from me, and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.
• 1 Thessalonians 1:6and you yourselves became imitators of us and of the Lord when, in spite of severe persecution, you welcomed the message with joy from the Holy Spirit.
• 1 Timothy 4:12Don’t let anyone despise your youth, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity.
• 1 Peter 5:3not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.
• 2 Thessalonians 3:6Now we command you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from every brother or sister who is idle and does not live according to the tradition received from us.
• 1 Thessalonians 2:10You are witnesses, and so is God, of how devoutly, righteously, and blamelessly we conducted ourselves with you believers.

Commentaries on 2 Thessalonians 3:7

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 7We behaved not ourselves disorderly - · We did not go out of our rank - we kept our place, and discharged all its duties.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 7For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us - You know what you should do in order to imitate us. For we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you - See the notes on 1 Thessalonians 2:10.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 6-15Verses 6-15 Those who have received the gospel, are to live according to the gospel. Such as could work, and would not, were not to be maintained in idleness. Christianity is not to countenance slothfulness, which would consume what is meant to encourage the industrious, and to support the sick and afflicted. Industry in our callings as men, is a duty required by our calling as Christians. But some expected to be maintained in idleness, and indulged a…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 7In the ancient world, people valued teaching by example. Paul set a good example by working to earn his own food (3:8; 1 Thessalonians 2:9).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 77. how ye ought to follow us--how ye ought to live so as to "imitate (so the Greek for 'follow') us" (compare Notes, see on 1Co 11:1; 1Th 1:6).Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Thessalonians 3:7

• Commandments
• Example
• Labor
• Minister, Christian
• Zeal, Religious

In the dictionaries

• Admonish
• Disorderly
• Lord
• Poor
• Follow
• tradition

Commentaries on 2 Thessalonians 3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings