For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not undisciplined among you,
Parallel translations
- WEB For you know how you ought to imitate us. For we didn’t behave ourselves rebelliously among you,
- KJV For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;
- NKJV For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you;
- NASB For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example, because we did not act in an undisciplined way among you,
- NLT For you know that you ought to imitate us. We were not idle when we were with you.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Paul reminds them to imitate his own example, since he and his team were never idle among them. Leaders' conduct sets a pattern for believers to follow.
Overview
Paul points to his own diligent behavior as the standard the idle were ignoring. The call to "imitate us" assumes that godly leaders model the very life they teach (1 Corinthians 11:1). His appeal grounds the command of verse 6 in a living, observed example rather than mere words.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- 2 Th 3:6Now 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.
- 2 Th 3:9Not that we lack this right, but we wanted to offer ourselves as an example for you to imitate.
- 1 Cor 4:16Therefore I urge you to imitate me.
- 1 Cor 11:1You are to imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.
- Phil 3:17Join one another in following my example, brothers, and carefully observe those who walk according to the pattern we set for you.
- 1 Th 1:6–7And 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.
- Titus 2:7In everything, show yourself to be an example by doing good works. In your teaching show integrity, dignity,
- 1 Tim 4:12Let no one despise your youth, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.
- Phil 4:9Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me, put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
- 1 Th 2:10You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous, and blameless our conduct was among you who believed.
- 1 Pet 5:3not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Christ will be revealed from heaven in flaming fire, glorified in his saints, overthrowing the lawless one — the certain hope that steadies the suffering church.
How 2 Thessalonians 3:7 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.