2 Thessalonians 3:7
 2 Thessalonians 3:7 
New International Version (©2011)
For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you,

New Living Translation (©2007)
For you know that you ought to imitate us. We were not idle when we were with you.

English Standard Version (©2001)
For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you,

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example, because we did not act in an undisciplined manner among you,

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

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
For you yourselves know how you must imitate us: We were not irresponsible among you;

International Standard Version (©2012)
For you yourselves know what you must do to imitate us. We never lived in idleness among you.

NET Bible (©2006)
For you know yourselves how you must imitate us, because we did not behave without discipline among you,

Aramaic Bible in Plain English (©2010)
For you know how it is right to imitate us, for we have not walked wickedly among you,

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
You know what you must do to imitate us. We lived a disciplined life among you.

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;

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

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

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

Darby Bible Translation
For ye know yourselves how ye ought to imitate us, because we have not walked disorderly among you;

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

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

3:6-15 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 curious and conceited temper. They meddled with the concerns of others, and did much harm. It is a great error and abuse of religion, to make it a cloak for idleness or any other sin. The servant who waits for the coming of his Lord aright, must be working as his Lord has commanded. If we are idle, the devil and a corrupt heart will soon find us somewhat to do. The mind of man is a busy thing; if it is not employed in doing good, it will be doing evil. It is an excellent, but rare union, to be active in our own business, yet quiet as to other people's. If any refused to labour with quietness, they were to note him with censure, and to separate from his company, yet they were to seek his good by loving admonitions. The Lords is with you while you are with him. Hold on your way, and hold on to the end. We must never give over, or tire in our work. It will be time enough to rest when we come to heaven.


Pulpit Commentary

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.


Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us,.... The apostle goes on to dissuade from that which denominates persons disorderly walkers, and exposes them to the censure of the church, and that partly by the example of the apostles, and partly by their command. He appeals to them, to their knowledge and judgment, it being a thing well known to them, that they ought to walk as they had the apostles for ensamples; for who should they follow but their spiritual fathers, shepherds, and guides? and especially so far as they were followers of Christ, as they were, in the case referred unto, working with their own hands:

for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you; they could appeal to them as witnesses, and God also, how holily, justly, and unblamably they walked among them; see 1 Thessalonians 2:10 and particularly, that they did not live an idle and inactive life among them.


Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

7. 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 [2457]1Co 11:1; [2458]1Th 1:6).


2 Thessalonians 3:7 Parallel Commentaries

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Bible Hub: Online Parallel Bible


Warning against Idleness
6Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw yourselves from every brother that walks disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us. 7For yourselves know how you ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you; 8Neither did we eat any man's bread for nothing; but worked with labor and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you: …

1 Thessalonians 1:6 You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.
1 Thessalonians 5:14 And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone.
2 Thessalonians 3:6 In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers and sisters, to keep away from every believer who is idle and disruptive and does not live according to the teaching you received from us.
2 Thessalonians 3:9 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.