2 Thessalonians 3:7
New International Version
For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you,

New Living Translation
For you know that you ought to imitate us. We were not idle when we were with you.

English Standard Version
For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you,

Berean Standard Bible
For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not undisciplined among you,

Berean Literal Bible
For you yourselves know how it behooves you to imitate us, because we were not idle among you,

King James Bible
For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;

New King James Version
For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you;

New American Standard Bible
For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example, because we did not act in an undisciplined way among you,

NASB 1995
For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example, because we did not act in an undisciplined manner among you,

NASB 1977
For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example, because we did not act in an undisciplined manner among you,

Legacy Standard Bible
For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we did not act in an unruly manner among you,

Amplified Bible
For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example, because we did not act in an undisciplined or inappropriate manner when we were with you [we were never idle or lazy, nor did we avoid our duties],

Christian Standard Bible
For you yourselves know how you should imitate us: We were not idle among you;

Holman Christian Standard Bible
For you yourselves know how you must imitate us: We were not irresponsible among you;

American Standard Version
For yourselves know how ye ought to imitate us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
For you know how it is right to imitate us, for we have not walked wickedly among you,

Contemporary English Version
You surely know that you should follow our example. We didn't waste our time loafing,

Douay-Rheims Bible
For yourselves know how you ought to imitate us: for we were not disorderly among you;

English Revised Version
For yourselves know how ye ought to imitate us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
You know what you must do to imitate us. We lived a disciplined life among you.

Good News Translation
You yourselves know very well that you should do just what we did. We were not lazy when we were with you.

International Standard Version
For you yourselves know what you must do to imitate us. We never lived in idleness among you.

Literal Standard Version
for you have known how it is necessary to imitate us, because we did not act disorderly among you;

Majority Standard Bible
For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not undisciplined among you,

New American Bible
For you know how one must imitate us. For we did not act in a disorderly way among you,

NET Bible
For you know yourselves how you must imitate us, because we did not behave without discipline among you,

New Revised Standard Version
For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us; we were not idle when we were with you,

New Heart English Bible
For you know how you ought to imitate us. For we were not undisciplined among you,

Webster's Bible Translation
For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;

Weymouth New Testament
For you yourselves know that it is your duty to follow our example. There was no disorder in our lives among you,

World English Bible
For you know how you ought to imitate us. For we didn’t behave ourselves rebelliously among you,

Young's Literal Translation
for yourselves have known how it behoveth you to imitate us, because we did not act disorderly among you;

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Warning against Irresponsibility
6Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from any brother who leads an undisciplined life that is not in keeping with the tradition you received from us. 7For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not undisciplined among you, 8nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. Instead, in labor and toil, we worked night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you.…

Cross References
1 Thessalonians 1:6
And you became imitators of us and of the Lord when you welcomed the message with the joy of the Holy Spirit, in spite of your great suffering.

1 Thessalonians 5:14
And we urge you, brothers, to admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, and be patient with everyone.

2 Thessalonians 3:6
Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from any brother who leads an undisciplined life that is not in keeping with the tradition you received from us.

2 Thessalonians 3:9
Not that we lack this right, but we wanted to offer ourselves as an example for you to imitate.


Treasury of Scripture

For yourselves know how you ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;

how.

2 Thessalonians 3:9
Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us.

1 Corinthians 4:16
Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.

1 Corinthians 11:1
Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

for.

2 Thessalonians 3:6
Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.

1 Thessalonians 2:10
Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe:

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Act Behave Behaved Disorder Disorderly Duty Example Follow Idle Imitate Life Manner Ought Ourselves Ruled Undisciplined Used Yourselves
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Act Behave Behaved Disorder Disorderly Duty Example Follow Idle Imitate Life Manner Ought Ourselves Ruled Undisciplined Used Yourselves
2 Thessalonians 3
1. Paul craves their prayers for himself;
3. testifies what confidence he has in them;
5. makes request to God in their behalf;
6. gives them various precepts, especially to shun idleness, and ill company;
16. and then concludes with prayer and salutation.














(7) For justifies the assertion that they had received a better teaching. (Comp. 1Thessalonians 2:1; 1Thessalonians 4:9; 1Thessalonians 5:2.)

To follow us.--The word, of course, means "to imitate"; and the rather compressed expression seems to stand for something fuller, such as, "Yourselves know how you ought to live, for you have but to imitate us: you recollect not only a tradition, but an example." This is better than (with St. Chrysostom) to make the whole "tradition" consist of example without precept, however such an interpretation might simplify the logic.

For (or because).--Historical justification of the statement that their example was a trustworthy mode in this particular, at any rate: see the same use of "for" in 1Thessalonians 2:9, "for labouring," &c.; 1Thessalonians 4:3. It is perhaps simpler, however, to translate the word "that," instead of "for ": "You know perfectly how to live--how to imitate our example--that we never," &c. Then follows a description of the Apostles' conduct at Thessalonica similar to that in the First Epistle, thus giving us a clearer understanding why they dwelt so long and so passionately upon the topic there--namely, in order by force of tacit, contrast to shame the disorderly brethren into imitation. . . .

Verse 7. - For yourselves know; without it being necessary for me to say anything about the matter; ye yourselves are witnesses. How ye ought to follow (or, imitate) us; better, perhaps, to be restricted to Paul than used as inclusive of Silas and Timothy. For we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you; referring to the apostle's residence in Thessalonica.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
For
γὰρ (gar)
Conjunction
Strong's 1063: For. A primary particle; properly, assigning a reason.

you yourselves
αὐτοὶ (autoi)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

know
οἴδατε (oidate)
Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 1492: To know, remember, appreciate.

how
πῶς (pōs)
Conjunction
Strong's 4459: Adverb from the base of pou; an interrogative particle of manner; in what way?; also as exclamation, how much!

you ought
δεῖ (dei)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1163: Third person singular active present of deo; also deon deh-on'; neuter active participle of the same; both used impersonally; it is Necessary.

to imitate
μιμεῖσθαι (mimeisthai)
Verb - Present Infinitive Middle or Passive
Strong's 3401: To imitate, follow. Middle voice from mimos; to imitate.

us,
ἡμᾶς (hēmas)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Plural
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

because
ὅτι (hoti)
Conjunction
Strong's 3754: Neuter of hostis as conjunction; demonstrative, that; causative, because.

we were not undisciplined
ἠτακτήσαμεν (ētaktēsamen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural
Strong's 812: From ataktos; to be irregular.

among
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

you,
ὑμῖν (hymin)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.


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NT Letters: 2 Thessalonians 3:7 For you know how you ought (2 Thess. 2 Thes. 2Th iiTh ii th)
2 Thessalonians 3:6
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