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

5We pray that the Lord will lead you in your thoughts. Then you will understand God's love better and better. And you will be patient and strong, as Christ is. 6Our friends, you must stay away from every believer who is living in a lazy way. We tell you this with the authority that the Lord Jesus Christ gives to us. Lazy people like that are not living in the way that we taught you. You yourselves know that you ought to copy our example. You know that we were not lazy when we lived among you. 8We always paid for the food that anyone gave to us. We worked hard all the time, during the day and at night. We did that so that we would not make trouble for any of you. 9We could have told you to give us what we needed. We have authority to do that. But we wanted to show you how to live properly. Then you could copy our example.

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 3:9We could have told you to give us what we needed. We have authority to do that. But we wanted to show you how to live properly. Then you could copy our example.
• 1 Corinthians 4:16That is why I want you to copy my example.
• 1 Corinthians 11:1Copy my example, in the same way that I copy Christ's example.
• Philippians 3:17My Christian friends, you should try to live in the way that I do. Carefully watch other people who live like that. We have shown you what is right.
• Philippians 4:9Remember what I have taught you. Remember the message that you heard from me. Remember what you saw when I lived among you. You also must do those same things. God is the one who gives us peace in our minds. He will be with you.
• 1 Thessalonians 1:6In your lives also, you copied our example and the example of the Lord Jesus. When you believed our message, people caused you to have a lot of trouble. But God's Holy Spirit helped you to be very happy.
• 1 Timothy 4:12You are still a young man, but everyone should respect you as the leader in the church. Show the believers how they should live. Be a good example to them in these ways: what you say, what you do, how you love people, how you trust God, and how you do only what is right.
• 1 Peter 5:3God has given you a group of believers to take care of them. Do not try to rule over them with power. Instead, show them how to live in a good way, so that they can copy you.
• 2 Thessalonians 3:6Our friends, you must stay away from every believer who is living in a lazy way. We tell you this with the authority that the Lord Jesus Christ gives to us. Lazy people like that are not living in the way that we taught you.
• 1 Thessalonians 2:10You know that we lived in a good way when we were with you. God also knows that. We were completely honest with you believers. Nobody could say that we did anything wrong.

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