2 Thessalonians 3:9
New International Version
We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you to imitate.

New Living Translation
We certainly had the right to ask you to feed us, but we wanted to give you an example to follow.

English Standard Version
It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate.

Berean Standard Bible
Not that we lack this right, but we wanted to offer ourselves as an example for you to imitate.

Berean Literal Bible
not that we do not have the right, but that we may offer ourselves as an example to you for you to imitate us.

King James Bible
Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us.

New King James Version
not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us.

New American Standard Bible
not because we do not have the right to this, but in order to offer ourselves as a role model for you, so that you would follow our example.

NASB 1995
not because we do not have the right to this, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you, so that you would follow our example.

NASB 1977
not because we do not have the right to this, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you, that you might follow our example.

Legacy Standard Bible
not because we do not have the authority, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you, so that you would imitate us.

Amplified Bible
not because we do not have a right to such support, but [we provided our own financial support] to offer ourselves as a model for you, so that you would follow our example.

Christian Standard Bible
It 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.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
It 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.

American Standard Version
not because we have not the right, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you, that ye should imitate us.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Not because we did not have authority, but that we might give you an example by our lives, that you may imitate us.

Contemporary English Version
We had the right not to work, but we wanted to set an example for you.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Not as if we had not power: but that we might give ourselves a pattern unto you, to imitate us.

English Revised Version
not because we have not the right, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you, that ye should imitate us.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
It's not as though we didn't have a right to receive support. Rather, we wanted to set an example for you to follow.

Good News Translation
We did this, not because we do not have the right to demand our support; we did it to be an example for you to follow.

International Standard Version
It is not as though we did not have that right, but we wanted to give you an example to follow.

Literal Standard Version
not because we have no authority, but that we might give ourselves to you [as] a pattern, to imitate us;

Majority Standard Bible
Not that we lack this right, but we wanted to offer ourselves as an example for you to imitate.

New American Bible
Not that we do not have the right. Rather, we wanted to present ourselves as a model for you, so that you might imitate us.

NET Bible
It was not because we do not have that right, but to give ourselves as an example for you to imitate.

New Revised Standard Version
This was not because we do not have that right, but in order to give you an example to imitate.

New Heart English Bible
not because we do not have the right, but to make ourselves an example to you, that you should imitate us.

Webster's Bible Translation
Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves a pattern to you to follow us.

Weymouth New Testament
This was not because we had not a claim upon you, but it arose from a desire to set you an example--for you to imitate us.

World English Bible
This was not because we don’t have the right, but to make ourselves an example to you, that you should imitate us.

Young's Literal Translation
not because we have not authority, but that ourselves a pattern we might give to you, to imitate us;

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Warning against Irresponsibility
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. 9Not that we lack this right, but we wanted to offer ourselves as an example for you to imitate. 10For even while we were with you, we gave you this command: “If anyone is unwilling to work, he shall not eat.”…

Cross References
1 Corinthians 4:16
Therefore I urge you to imitate me.

1 Corinthians 9:4
Have we no right to food and to drink?

2 Thessalonians 3:7
For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not undisciplined among you,

1 Peter 5:3
not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.


Treasury of Scripture

Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample to you to follow us.

Not.

Matthew 10:10
Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.

1 Corinthians 9:4-14
Have we not power to eat and to drink? …

Galatians 6:6
Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.

to make.

2 Thessalonians 3:7
For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;

John 13:15
For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.

1 Peter 2:21
For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

Jump to Previous
Authority Claim Conduct Desire Ensample Example Follow Help Imitate Imitating Model Offer Order Ourselves Pattern Power Right
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Authority Claim Conduct Desire Ensample Example Follow Help Imitate Imitating Model Offer Order Ourselves Pattern Power Right
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.














(9) Power.--Rather, authority, which is power plus legitimacy, How jealously St. Paul guards the rights of the Apostolate! not for himself, but for the brethren of the Lord and Cephas (1Corinthians 9:5), perhaps for Silas and Timothy (1Thessalonians 2:6, Note), and for futurity. The unbounded claims of spiritual fatherhood seem copied from the Roman law of patria potestas. (Comp. Philemon 1:8; Philemon 1:19.)

To make.--Literally, in order that we might give. It was not without thought and design that they had adopted the plan.

An ensample.--The same word as in 1Thessalonians 1:7. Literally, a model. The argument is a strong a fortiori. Whatever reason these Thessalonians might have for giving up work, St. Paul had the same, and more. He looked for the Advent, as they did; he spent his time in going about among the brethren, as they did; and over and above, he had the apostolic right to maintenance, which they had not. Why should not he have left off work, if they could justify themselves in so doing? If he thought right to work, a fortiori, it must be their duty to work too. . . .

Verse 9. - Not because we have not power; that is, to demand support. Paul, as an apostle, had the right of maintenance from the Churches among whom he laboured. This right of support he insists upon in the First Epistle to the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 9:1-18). But for the sake of his converts, to give them an example of diligent working, and to remove every impediment to the progress of the gospel, he often waived his rights. Thus he did at Thessalonica (1 Thessalonians 2:6, 9), at Corinth (Acts 18:3; 2 Corinthians 11:9), and at Ephesus (Acts 20:340; in all these places he laboured for his maintenance as a tent maker. But - we acted so - to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow - imitate - us.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Not
οὐχ (ouch)
Adverb
Strong's 3756: No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not.

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

we lack
ἔχομεν (echomen)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural
Strong's 2192: To have, hold, possess. Including an alternate form scheo skheh'-o; a primary verb; to hold.

[this] right,
ἐξουσίαν (exousian)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1849: From exesti; privilege, i.e. force, capacity, competency, freedom, or mastery, delegated influence.

but
ἀλλ’ (all’)
Conjunction
Strong's 235: But, except, however. Neuter plural of allos; properly, other things, i.e. contrariwise.

we wanted to
ἵνα (hina)
Conjunction
Strong's 2443: In order that, so that. Probably from the same as the former part of heautou; in order that.

offer
δῶμεν (dōmen)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 1st Person Plural
Strong's 1325: To offer, give; I put, place. A prolonged form of a primary verb; to give.

ourselves
ἑαυτοὺς (heautous)
Reflexive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 1438: Himself, herself, itself.

[as] an example
τύπον (typon)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5179: From tupto; a die, i.e. a stamp or scar; by analogy, a shape, i.e. A statue, style or resemblance; specially, a sampler, i.e. A model or instance.

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

to
εἰς (eis)
Preposition
Strong's 1519: A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases.

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


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NT Letters: 2 Thessalonians 3:9 Not because we don't have the right (2 Thess. 2 Thes. 2Th iiTh ii th)
2 Thessalonians 3:8
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