2 Thessalonians 3:7

7 For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you,

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2 Thessalonians 3:7 in Other Translations

KJV

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

ESV

7 For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you,

NLT

7 For you know that you ought to imitate us. We were not idle when we were with you.

MSG

7 We showed you how to pull your weight when we were with you, so get on with it.

CSB

7 For you yourselves know how you must imitate us: we were not irresponsible among you;

2 Thessalonians 3:7 Meaning and Commentary

2 Thessalonians 3:7

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.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

2 Thessalonians 3:7 In-Context

5 May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.

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.

7 For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you,

8 nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you.

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.