Lectionary Calendar
Thursday, July 31st, 2025
the Week of Proper 12 / Ordinary 17
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Read the Bible

Good News Translation

2 Thessalonians 3:7

You yourselves know very well that you should do just what we did. We were not lazy when we were with you.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Commandments;   Example;   Labor;   Minister, Christian;   Zeal, Religious;   Thompson Chain Reference - Behaviour;   Conduct, Christian;   Example;   Paul's;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Mission;   Thessalonica;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Discipline;   Perfect, Perfection;   Thessalonians, First and Second, Theology of;   Wealth;   Work;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Paul;   Poor;   Thessalonians, the Epistles to the;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Idle;   2 Thessalonians;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Follow;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Care, Careful;   Example;   Thessalonians Epistles to the;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Disorderly;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
For you yourselves know how you should imitate us: We were not idle among you;
King James Version (1611)
For your selues know how yee ought to follow vs: for wee behaued not our selues disorderly among you,
King James Version
For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;
English Standard Version
For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you,
New American Standard Bible
For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example, because we did not act in an undisciplined way among you,
New Century Version
You yourselves know that you should live as we live. We were not lazy 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,
Legacy Standard Bible
For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we did not act in an unruly manner among you,
Berean Standard Bible
For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not undisciplined among you,
Contemporary English Version
You surely know that you should follow our example. We didn't waste our time loafing,
Complete Jewish Bible
For you yourselves know how you must imitate us, that we were not idle when we were among you.
Darby Translation
For ye know yourselves how ye ought to imitate us, because we have not walked disorderly among you;
Easy-to-Read Version
You yourselves know that you should live like we do. We were not lazy when we were with you.
Geneva Bible (1587)
For ye your selues know, how ye ought to follow vs: for we behaued not our selues inordinately among you,
George Lamsa Translation
For you know well how you ought to imitate us; for our behaviour was not disorderly among you;
Lexham English Bible
For you yourselves know how it is necessary to imitate us, that we did not behave irresponsibly among you,
Literal Translation
For you yourselves know how it is right to act like us, because we were not disorderly among you;
Amplified Bible
For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example, because we did not act in an undisciplined or inappropriate manner when we were with you [we were never idle or lazy, nor did we avoid our duties],
American Standard Version
For yourselves know how ye ought to imitate us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;
Bible in Basic English
For you yourselves are used to taking us as your example, because our life among you was ruled by order,
Hebrew Names Version
For you know how you ought to imitate us. For we didn't behave ourselves rebelliously among you,
International Standard Version
For you yourselves know what you must do to imitate us. We did not live in idlenessWe did not lead a disorderly life">[fn] among you.1 Corinthians 4:16; 11:1; 1 Thessalonians 1:6-7; 2:10;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
For you know how it behoveth to imitate us who walked not wickedly among you.
Murdock Translation
For ye know how ye ought to imitate us, who did not walk wickedly among you.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
For ye your selues knowe howe ye ought to folowe vs: For we behaued not our selues inordinately among you,
English Revised Version
For yourselves know how ye ought to imitate us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;
World English Bible
For you know how you ought to imitate us. For we didn't behave ourselves rebelliously among you,
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
For yourselves know how ye ought to imitate us: we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you,
Weymouth's New Testament
For you yourselves know that it is your duty to follow our example. There was no disorder in our lives among you,
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
For `ye silf witen, hou it bihoueth to sue vs. For we weren not vnpesible among you,
Update Bible Version
For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us: for we did not behave 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;
New English Translation
For you know yourselves how you must imitate us, because we did not behave without discipline among you,
New King James Version
For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you;
New Living Translation
For you know that you ought to imitate us. We were not idle when we were with you.
New Life Bible
You know you should follow the way of life we lived when we were with you. We worked hard while we were there.
New Revised Standard
For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us; we were not idle when we were with you,
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
For, ye yourselves, know, how needful it is to be imitating us, in that we were not disorderly among you,
Douay-Rheims Bible
For yourselves know how you ought to imitate us. For we were not disorderly among you.
Revised Standard Version
For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us; we were not idle when we were with you,
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Ye youre selves knowe how ye ought to folowe vs. For we behaved not oure selves inordinatly amonge you.
Young's Literal Translation
for yourselves have known how it behoveth [you] to imitate us, because we did not act disorderly among you;
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
For ye yor selues knowe, how ye oughte to folowe vs: for we behaued not oure selues inordinatly amonge you,
Mace New Testament (1729)
for you know what an example we have given for your imitation: that our conduct among you was regular:
Simplified Cowboy Version
Y'all know the way we taught y'all . . . so do it. We weren't lazy when we were with you,

Contextual Overview

6 Our friends, we command you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to keep away from all believers who are living a lazy life and who do not follow the instructions that we gave them. 7 You yourselves know very well that you should do just what we did. We were not lazy when we were with you. 8 We did not accept anyone's support without paying for it. Instead, we worked and toiled; we kept working day and night so as not to be an expense to any of you. 9 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. 10 While we were with you, we used to tell you, "Whoever refuses to work is not allowed to eat." 11 We say this because we hear that there are some people among you who live lazy lives and who do nothing except meddle in other people's business. 12 In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ we command these people and warn them to lead orderly lives and work to earn their own living. 13 But you, friends, must not become tired of doing good. 14 It may be that some there will not obey the message we send you in this letter. If so, take note of them and have nothing to do with them, so that they will be ashamed. 15 But do not treat them as enemies; instead, warn them as believers.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

how: 2 Thessalonians 3:9, 1 Corinthians 4:16, 1 Corinthians 11:1, Philippians 3:17, Philippians 4:9, 1 Thessalonians 1:6, 1 Thessalonians 1:7, 1 Timothy 4:12, Titus 2:7, 1 Peter 5:3

for: 2 Thessalonians 3:6, 1 Thessalonians 2:10

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 2:6 - General 2 Kings 4:7 - pay Proverbs 31:18 - her candle John 21:3 - I go Acts 20:18 - after 1 Corinthians 9:6 - have 1 Corinthians 13:5 - behave 2 Corinthians 7:2 - we have wronged 1 Thessalonians 1:5 - what 1 Thessalonians 2:9 - our 1 Thessalonians 4:11 - to work Hebrews 13:7 - whose

Cross-References

Genesis 2:25
The man and the woman were both naked, but they were not embarrassed.
Genesis 3:5
God said that because he knows that when you eat it, you will be like God and know what is good and what is bad."
Genesis 3:10
He answered, "I heard you in the garden; I was afraid and hid from you, because I was naked."
Genesis 3:11
"Who told you that you were naked?" God asked. "Did you eat the fruit that I told you not to eat?"
Deuteronomy 28:34
Your sufferings will make you lose your mind.
2 Kings 6:20
As soon as they had entered the city, Elisha prayed, "Open their eyes, Lord , and let them see." The Lord answered his prayer; he restored their sight, and they saw that they were inside Samaria.
Isaiah 28:20
You will be like the person in the proverb, who tries to sleep in a bed too short to stretch out on, with a blanket too narrow to wrap himself in.
Luke 16:23
and in Hades, where he was in great pain, he looked up and saw Abraham, far away, with Lazarus at his side.

Gill's Notes on the 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.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us - You know what you should do in order to imitate us.

For we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you - See the notes on 1 Thessalonians 2:10.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 7. We behaved not ourselves disorderly — ουκ ητακτησαμεν. We did not go out of our rank-we kept our place, and discharged all its duties.


 
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