2 Thessalonians 3:7

For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us Lit., imitate us: see note on 1 Thessalonians 1:6; and again, ch. 2 Thessalonians 2:14, and 2 Thessalonians 3:9 below. you know of yourselves "without our needing to tell it all again." Such references are frequent in these Epistles; see note on 1 Thessalonians 2:1.

" Howyou ought to imitate us" points beyond the mere duty to the spirit and mannerof the imitation desired "with what diligence and devotion."

for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you This "for" differs from that at the beginning of the verse; it is a specifying forgiving not a reason for what has just been said, but a definition of its meaning: in that we did not play a disorderly part among you. The readers" attention is called to this feature of the missionaries" conduct, and imitation is recommended. There is a meiosis(or litotes) in the expression, resembling that of 2 Thessalonians 3:2, and of 1 Thessalonians 2:15 (see notes). "Far indeed was our walk from giving an example of disorder!" How far, the next line shows.

To-be-disorderly(a single verb in the Greek) is a word applied to soldiers out of rank. Officers in the army are as much subject to its discipline as the rank and file; and the Apostle Paul felt it to be due to the Churches over which he presided, that he should set an example of a strictly ordered and self-denying life.