2 Thessalonians 3:7

How ye ought to imitate us (pw dei mimeisqai hma). Literally, how it is necessary to imitate us. The infinitive mimeisqai is the old verb mimeomai from mimo (actor, mimic), but in N.T. only here (and verse 1 Thessalonians 9 ), Hebrews 13:7 ; 3 John 1:11 . It is a daring thing to say, but Paul knew that he had to set the new Christians in the midst of Jews and Gentiles a model for their imitation ( Philippians 3:17 ). For we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you (oti ouk htakthsamen en umin). First aorist active indicative of old verb ataktew, to be out of ranks of soldiers. Specific denial on Paul's part in contrast to verse Philippians 6 17 .