For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;
Parallel translations
- WEB For you know how you ought to imitate us. For we didn’t behave ourselves rebelliously among you,
- BSB For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not undisciplined 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, 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.
- 2 Th 3:9Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us.
- 1 Cor 4:16Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.
- 1 Cor 11:1Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.
- Phil 3:17Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.
- 1 Th 1:6–7And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:
- Titus 2:7In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,
- 1 Tim 4:12Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
- Phil 4:9Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
- 1 Th 2:10Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe:
- 1 Pet 5:3Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples 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.