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Scripture · New Testament

2 Thessalonians 3:9

2 Thessalonians 3:9 is verse 9 of 2 Thessalonians chapter 3, shown here in the Berean Standard Bible.

Berean Standard Bible

Not that we lack this right, but we wanted to offer ourselves as an example for you to imitate.

BSB source and public domain terms

King James Version

Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us.

World English Bible

This was not because we don’t have the right, but to make ourselves an example to you, that you should imitate us.

Read in context

2 Thessalonians 3:7–11 · Berean Standard Bible

7 For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not undisciplined among you,

8 nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. Instead, in labor and toil, we worked night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you.

9 Not that we lack this right, but we wanted to offer ourselves as an example for you to imitate.

10 For even while we were with you, we gave you this command: “If anyone is unwilling to work, he shall not eat.”

11 Yet we hear that some of you are leading undisciplined lives and accomplishing nothing but being busybodies.

Read all of 2 Thessalonians 3

Greek words

Data created by STEPBible.org based on work at Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).

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Cross-references

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge lists these related verses. Scripture text comes from the Berean Standard Bible.

Matthew 10:10

Take no bag for the road, or second tunic, or sandals, or staff; for the worker is worthy of his provisions.

1 Corinthians 9:4

Have we no right to food and to drink?

1 Corinthians 9:5

Have we no right to take along a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas?

1 Corinthians 9:6

Or are Barnabas and I the only apostles who must work for a living?

1 Corinthians 9:7

Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Who tends a flock and does not drink of its milk?

1 Corinthians 9:8

Do I say this from a human perspective? Doesn’t the Law say the same thing?

1 Corinthians 9:9

For it is written in the Law of Moses: “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.” Is it about oxen that God is concerned?

1 Corinthians 9:10

Isn’t He actually speaking on our behalf? Indeed, this was written for us, because when the plowman plows and the thresher threshes, they should also expect to share in the harvest.

1 Corinthians 9:11

If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much for us to reap a material harvest from you?

1 Corinthians 9:12

If others have this right to your support, shouldn’t we have it all the more? But we did not exercise this right. Instead, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ.

1 Corinthians 9:13

Do you not know that those who work in the temple eat of its food, and those who serve at the altar partake of its offerings?

1 Corinthians 9:14

In the same way, the Lord has prescribed that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.

Galatians 6:6

Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word must share in all good things with his instructor.

1 Thessalonians 2:6

Nor did we seek praise from you or from anyone else, although as apostles of Christ we had authority to demand it.

2 Thessalonians 3:7

For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not undisciplined among you,

John 13:15

I have set you an example so that you should do as I have done for you.

1 Peter 2:21

For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His footsteps:

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