Lectionary Calendar
Wednesday, July 9th, 2025
the Week of Proper 9 / Ordinary 14
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Read the Bible

Bishop's Bible

2 Thessalonians 3:9

Not but that we had auctoritie, but to make our selues an ensample vnto you to folowe vs.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Commandments;   Example;   Labor;   Minister, Christian;   Zeal, Religious;   Thompson Chain Reference - Example;   Good;   Imitation;   Leaders;   Ministers;   Religious;   Social Duties;   Spiritual;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Ministers;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Giving;   Work;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Discipline;   Thessalonians, First and Second, Theology of;   Wealth;   Work;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Paul;   Poor;   Thessalonians, the Epistles to the;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Imitate;   Typology;   2 Thessalonians;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Care, Careful;   Discipline;   Energy;   Example;   Power Powers;   Thessalonians Epistles to the;   Type;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Ensample;   Type;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Authority in Religion;   Example;   Make;   Power;   Type;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
It is not that we don’t have the right to support, but we did it to make ourselves an example to you so that you would imitate us.
King James Version (1611)
Not because we haue not power, but to make our selues an ensample vnto you to follow vs.
King James Version
Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us.
English Standard Version
It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate.
New American Standard Bible
not because we do not have the right to this, but in order to offer ourselves as a role model for you, so that you would follow our example.
New Century Version
We had the right to ask you to help us, but we worked to take care of ourselves so we would be an example for you to follow.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
not because we do not have the right to this, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you, so that you would follow our example.
Legacy Standard Bible
not because we do not have the authority, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you, so that you would imitate us.
Berean Standard Bible
Not that we lack this right, but we wanted to offer ourselves as an example for you to imitate.
Contemporary English Version
We had the right not to work, but we wanted to set an example for you.
Complete Jewish Bible
It was not that we hadn't the right to be supported, but so that we could make ourselves an example to imitate.
Darby Translation
not that we have not the right, but that we might give ourselves as an example to you, in order to your imitating us.
Easy-to-Read Version
We had the right to ask you to help us. But we worked to take care of ourselves so that we would be an example for you to follow.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Not because we haue not authoritie, but that we might make our selues an ensample vnto you to follow vs.
George Lamsa Translation
Not because we did not have the right, but to make ourselves an example to you to follow us.
Good News Translation
We did this, not because we do not have the right to demand our support; we did it to be an example for you to follow.
Lexham English Bible
not that we do not have the right, but so that we may give ourselves as an example to you, so that you may imitate us.
Literal Translation
Not that we do not have authority, but that we give ourselves as an example to you, for you to act like us.
Amplified Bible
not because we do not have a right to such support, but [we provided our own financial support] to offer ourselves as a model for you, so that you would follow our example.
American Standard Version
not because we have not the right, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you, that ye should imitate us.
Bible in Basic English
Not because we have not the right, but to make ourselves an example to you, so that you might do the same.
Hebrew Names Version
not because we don't have the right, but to make ourselves an example to you, that you should imitate us.
International Standard Version
It is not as though we did not have that right, but, we wantedwe wanted
">[fn] to give you an example to follow.1 Corinthians 9:6; 1 Thessalonians 2:6; 2 Thessalonians 2:7;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
Not because we had not power, but because in ourselves we would give you an example, that you may imitate us.
Murdock Translation
It was not because we have no authority, but that we might give you an example in ourselves, that ye might imitate us.
English Revised Version
not because we have not the right, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you, that ye should imitate us.
World English Bible
not because we don't have the right, but to make ourselves an example to you, that you should imitate us.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Not because we have not power; but that we might make ourselves an example to you, that ye might imitate us.
Weymouth's New Testament
This was not because we had not a claim upon you, but it arose from a desire to set you an example--for you to imitate us.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Not as we hadden not power, but that we schulden yyue vs silf ensaumple to you to sue vs.
Update Bible Version
not because we don't have the right, but to make ourselves an example to you, that you should imitate us.
Webster's Bible Translation
Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves a pattern to you to follow us.
New English Translation
It was not because we do not have that right, but to give ourselves as an example for you to imitate.
New King James Version
not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us.
New Living Translation
We certainly had the right to ask you to feed us, but we wanted to give you an example to follow.
New Life Bible
We could have asked you to give us food. But we did not so that you might follow our way of living.
New Revised Standard
This was not because we do not have that right, but in order to give you an example to imitate.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Not because we have not authority, but that, ourselves, as an ensample, we might hold forth unto you, - to the end ye might he imitating us.
Douay-Rheims Bible
Not as if we had not power: but that we might give ourselves a pattern unto you, to imitate us.
Revised Standard Version
It was not because we have not that right, but to give you in our conduct an example to imitate.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
not but that we had auctoritie: but to make oure selves an insample vnto you to folowe vs.
Young's Literal Translation
not because we have not authority, but that ourselves a pattern we might give to you, to imitate us;
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Not but that we had auctorite, but to geue oure selues for an ensample vnto you to folowe vs.
Mace New Testament (1729)
not, that we had no just claim, but to present ourselves as a pattern, which you should imitate,
Simplified Cowboy Version
It wasn't that we didn't have the right to accept such things, but we worked hard so y'all would see us walking the walk, not just talking the talk.

Contextual Overview

6 We commaunde you brethren in the name of our Lorde Iesus Christe, that ye withdrawe your selues from euery brother that walketh inordinately, and not after the institution whiche he receaued of vs. 7 For ye your selues knowe howe ye ought to folowe vs: For we behaued not our selues inordinately among you, 8 Neither toke we breade of any man for nought: but wrought with labour and sweat nyght and daye, because we woulde not be chargeable to any of you. 9 Not but that we had auctoritie, but to make our selues an ensample vnto you to folowe vs. 10 For when we were with you, this we warned you of: that yf any woulde not worke, the same shoulde not eate. 11 For we haue heard that there are some which walke among you inordinately, workyng not at all, but be busy bodies. 12 Them that are such, we commaunde and exhort by our Lorde Iesus Christ, that they workyng in quietnesse, eate their owne breade. 13 And ye brethren, be not weery in well doyng. 14 Yf any man obey not our doctrine, signifie hym by an epistle, and haue no companie with hym, that he maye be ashamed. 15 Yet count him not as an enemie, but warne hym as a brother.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Not: Matthew 10:10, 1 Corinthians 9:4-14, Galatians 6:6, 1 Thessalonians 2:6

to make: 2 Thessalonians 3:7, John 13:15, 1 Peter 2:21

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 19:11 - Why are 2 Kings 5:26 - Is it a time Nehemiah 5:14 - I and my Acts 18:3 - and wrought Acts 20:34 - that these 1 Corinthians 4:16 - General 1 Corinthians 6:12 - are not 1 Corinthians 9:12 - Nevertheless 1 Corinthians 9:18 - when 1 Corinthians 11:1 - Be ye 2 Corinthians 11:9 - I was Philippians 3:17 - be 1 Thessalonians 1:6 - ye Titus 2:7 - all Hebrews 10:24 - consider Hebrews 13:7 - whose 1 Peter 5:3 - but Revelation 4:8 - and they

Cross-References

Genesis 3:12
And Adam said: The woman whom thou gauest [to be] with me, she gaue me of the tree, and I dyd eate.
Genesis 3:13
And the Lord God sayd vnto the woman: Why hast thou done this? And the woman sayde: the serpent begyled me, and I dyd eate.
Genesis 3:17
Unto Adam he sayde: Because thou hast hearkened vnto the voyce of thy wyfe, and hast eaten of the tree concernyng the whiche I commaunded thee, saying, thou shalt not eate of it, cursed is the grounde for thy sake, in sorowe shalt thou eate of it all the dayes of thy lyfe.
Genesis 3:19
In the sweatte of thy face shalt thou eate thy breade, tyll thou be turned agayne into the ground, for out of it wast thou taken: For dust thou art, and into dust shalt thou be turned agayne.
Genesis 3:20
And Adam called his wyfes name Heua, because she was the mother of all lyuyng.
Genesis 3:21
Unto Adam also and to his wyfe dyd the Lorde God make garments of skynnes, and he put them on.
Genesis 4:9
And the Lorde said vnto Cain: where is Habel thy brother? Which sayde I wote not: Am I my brothers keper?
Genesis 11:5
But the Lorde came downe to see the citie and towre whiche the chyldren of men buylded.
Genesis 16:8
And he said: Hagar Sarais mayde, whence camest thou? and whither wylt thou go? She sayde: I flee fro the face of my mistresse Sarai.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Not because we have not power,.... To forbear working, or require a maintenance from the churches to whom we minister, since Christ has ordained, that they that preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel; see 1 Corinthians 9:4. This the apostle says to preserve their right of claim, when and where they should think fit to make use of it; and lest other ministers of the word, who could not support themselves as they did, should be hurt by such an example; and lest covetous men should make use of it to indulge their sin, and improve it against the maintenance of Gospel ministers: wherefore the apostle observes to them, that they did not do this, as conscious that they had no right to demand a supply from them,

but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us; for it seems there were many idle lazy persons among them, who either had no callings or trades, or did not attend to them; wherefore the apostles wrought with their own hands, to set an example, who could not for shame but work, when they saw persons in so high an office, and of such a character, working with labour and travail, night and day, among them.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Not because we have not power ... - See the notes on 1 Corinthians 9:6, 1 Corinthians 9:12, 1 Corinthians 9:14.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 9. Not because we have not power — We have the power, εξουσιαν, the right, to be maintained by those in whose behalf we labour. The labourer is worthy of his hire, is a maxim universally acknowledged and respected; and they who preach the Gospel should live by the Gospel: the apostle did not claim his privilege, but laboured for his own support, that he might be an example to those whom he found otherwise disposed, and that he might spare the poor. See 1 Corinthians 9:1, &c.


 
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