2 Thessalonians 3:9

NET Bible® (New English Translation)

It was not because we do not have that right, but to give ourselves as an example for you to imitate.

Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

  • 1 Cor 9:4-9 : 4 Do we not have the right to financial support? 5 Do we not have the right to the company of a believing wife, like the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas? 6 Or do only Barnabas and I lack the right not to work? 7 Who ever serves in the army at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat its fruit? Who tends a flock and does not consume its milk? 8 Am I saying these things only on the basis of common sense, or does the law not say this as well? 9 For it is written in the law of Moses,“Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.” God is not concerned here about oxen, is he? 10 Or is he not surely speaking for our benefit? It was written for us, because the one plowing and threshing ought to work in hope of enjoying the harvest. 11 If we sowed spiritual blessings among you, is it too much to reap material things from you? 12 If others receive this right from you, are we not more deserving?But we have not made use of this right. Instead we endure everything so that we may not be a hindrance to the gospel of Christ. 13 Don’t you know that those who serve in the temple eat food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar receive a part of the offerings? 14 In the same way the Lord commanded those who proclaim the gospel to receive their living by the gospel.
  • 2 Thess 3:7 : 7 For you know yourselves how you must imitate us, because we did not behave without discipline among you,
  • 1 Thess 2:6 : 6 nor to seek glory from people, either from you or from others,
  • 1 Pet 2:21 : 21 For to this you were called, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving an example for you to follow in his steps.
  • Gal 6:6 : 6 Now the one who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with the one who teaches it.
  • John 13:15 : 15 For I have given you an example– you should do just as I have done for you.
  • Matt 10:10 : 10 no bag for the journey, or an extra tunic, or sandals or staff, for the worker deserves his provisions.

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

  • 2 Thess 3:7-8
    2 verses
    88%

    7For you know yourselves how you must imitate us, because we did not behave without discipline among you,

    8and we did not eat anyone’s food without paying. Instead, in toil and drudgery we worked night and day in order not to burden any of you.

  • 2 Thess 3:10-13
    4 verses
    82%

    10For even when we were with you, we used to give you this command:“If anyone is not willing to work, neither should he eat.”

    11For we hear that some among you are living an undisciplined life, not doing their own work but meddling in the work of others.

    12Now such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to work quietly and so provide their own food to eat.

    13But you, brothers and sisters, do not grow weary in doing what is right.

  • 1 Thess 2:8-10
    3 verses
    81%

    8with such affection for you we were happy to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us.

    9For you recall, brothers and sisters, our toil and drudgery: By working night and day so as not to impose a burden on any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God.

    10You are witnesses, and so is God, as to how holy and righteous and blameless our conduct was toward you who believe.

  • 1 Thess 2:4-6
    3 verses
    81%

    4but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we declare it, not to please people but God, who examines our hearts.

    5For we never appeared with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed– God is our witness–

    6nor to seek glory from people, either from you or from others,

  • 1 Cor 9:4-6
    3 verses
    81%

    4Do we not have the right to financial support?

    5Do we not have the right to the company of a believing wife, like the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas?

    6Or do only Barnabas and I lack the right not to work?

  • 1 Cor 9:11-12
    2 verses
    81%

    11If we sowed spiritual blessings among you, is it too much to reap material things from you?

    12If others receive this right from you, are we not more deserving?But we have not made use of this right. Instead we endure everything so that we may not be a hindrance to the gospel of Christ.

  • Phil 3:17
    76%

    17Be imitators of me, brothers and sisters, and watch carefully those who are living this way, just as you have us as an example.

  • 1 Thess 1:5
    75%

    5in that our gospel did not come to you merely in words, but in power and in the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction(surely you recall the character we displayed when we came among you to help you).

  • 2 Cor 8:20
    75%

    20We did this as a precaution so that no one should blame us in regard to this generous gift we are administering.

  • 2 Cor 4:5
    75%

    5For we do not proclaim ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus’ sake.

  • 2 Cor 1:24
    75%

    24I do not mean that we rule over your faith, but we are workers with you for your joy, because by faith you stand firm.

  • 2 Cor 5:12
    75%

    12We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to be proud of us, so that you may be able to answer those who take pride in outward appearance and not in what is in the heart.

  • 1 Thess 1:7
    74%

    7As a result you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.

  • 2 Cor 1:8-9
    2 verses
    74%

    8For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, regarding the affliction that happened to us in the province of Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of living.

    9Indeed we felt as if the sentence of death had been passed against us, so that we would not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead.

  • 2 Cor 10:8-9
    2 verses
    74%

    8For if I boast somewhat more about our authority that the Lord gave us for building you up and not for tearing you down, I will not be ashamed of doing so.

    9I do not want to seem as though I am trying to terrify you with my letters,

  • 2 Cor 8:4-5
    2 verses
    74%

    4begging us with great earnestness for the blessing and fellowship of helping the saints.

    5And they did this not just as we had hoped, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and to us by the will of God.

  • 2 Pet 1:16
    74%

    16For we did not follow cleverly concocted fables when we made known to you the power and return of our Lord Jesus Christ; no, we were eyewitnesses of his grandeur.

  • 1 Cor 4:12
    73%

    12We do hard work, toiling with our own hands. When we are verbally abused, we respond with a blessing, when persecuted, we endure,

  • 2 Cor 4:7
    73%

    7An Eternal Weight of Glory But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that the extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us.

  • 1 Thess 2:1
    73%

    1Paul’s Ministry in Thessalonica For you yourselves know, brothers and sisters, about our coming to you– it has not proven to be purposeless.

  • 2 Cor 3:5
    73%

    5Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as if it were coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God,

  • 2 Cor 10:16
    73%

    16so that we may preach the gospel in the regions that lie beyond you, and not boast of work already done in another person’s area.

  • 2 Cor 6:3
    73%

    3We do not give anyone an occasion for taking an offense in anything, so that no fault may be found with our ministry.

  • 1 Thess 3:1
    73%

    1So when we could bear it no longer, we decided to stay on in Athens alone.

  • 1 Cor 3:9
    73%

    9We are coworkers belonging to God. You are God’s field, God’s building.

  • 2 Cor 8:8
    73%

    8I am not saying this as a command, but I am testing the genuineness of your love by comparison with the eagerness of others.

  • 2 Cor 9:4
    73%

    4For if any of the Macedonians should come with me and find that you are not ready to give, we would be humiliated(not to mention you) by this confidence we had in you.

  • 1 Thess 4:11-12
    2 verses
    73%

    11to aspire to lead a quiet life, to attend to your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you.

    12In this way you will live a decent life before outsiders and not be in need.

  • 1 Thess 1:3
    73%

    3because we recall in the presence of our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and endurance of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

  • 1 Thess 3:3-4
    2 verses
    73%

    3so that no one would be shaken by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are destined for this.

    4For in fact when we were with you, we were telling you in advance that we would suffer affliction, and so it has happened, as you well know.

  • 1 Cor 4:10
    73%

    10We are fools for Christ, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, we are dishonored!

  • 2 Cor 11:9
    72%

    9When I was with you and was in need, I was not a burden to anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia fully supplied my needs. I kept myself from being a burden to you in any way, and will continue to do so.

  • 2 Cor 10:13-14
    2 verses
    72%

    13But we will not boast beyond certain limits, but will confine our boasting according to the limits of the work to which God has appointed us, that reaches even as far as you.

    14For we were not overextending ourselves, as though we did not reach as far as you, because we were the first to reach as far as you with the gospel about Christ.