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 lives as you show God’s love and Christ’s endurance. 6Brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ we order you not to associate with any believer who doesn’t live a disciplined life and doesn’t follow the tradition you received from us. You know what you must do to imitate us. We lived a disciplined life among you. 8We didn’t eat anyone’s food without paying for it. Instead, we worked hard and struggled night and day in order not to be a burden to any of you. 9It’s not as though we didn’t have a right to receive support. Rather, we wanted to set an example for you to follow.

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’s not as though we didn’t have a right to receive support. Rather, we wanted to set an example for you to follow.
• 1 Corinthians 4:16So I encourage you to imitate me.
• 1 Corinthians 11:1Imitate me as I imitate Christ.
• Philippians 3:17Brothers and sisters, imitate me, and pay attention to those who live by the example we have given you.
• Philippians 4:9Practice what you’ve learned and received from me, what you heard and saw me do. Then the God who gives this peace will be with you.
• 1 Thessalonians 1:6You imitated us and the Lord. In spite of a lot of suffering, you welcomed God’s word with the kind of joy that the Holy Spirit gives.
• 1 Timothy 4:12Don’t let anyone look down on you for being young. Instead, make your speech, behavior, love, faith, and purity an example for other believers.
• 1 Peter 5:3Don’t be rulers over the people entrusted to you, but be examples for the flock to follow.
• 2 Thessalonians 3:6Brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ we order you not to associate with any believer who doesn’t live a disciplined life and doesn’t follow the tradition you received from us.
• 1 Thessalonians 2:10You and God are witnesses of how pure, honest, and blameless we were in our dealings 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