2 Thessalonians 3:7–9

⁶Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.

⁹Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us.

¹⁶Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.

¹BE ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

⁶And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:

⁷So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.

¹⁷Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.

⁷In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,

¹²Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

⁹Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

¹⁰Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe:

³Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.

¹¹Give us this day our daily bread.

⁹For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.

³And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers.

²⁸Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

¹²And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:

¹¹And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;

¹²Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.

²⁷She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.

⁹And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myself.

³⁴Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.

⁷For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;

⁴Have we not power to eat and to drink?

⁵Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?

⁶Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?

⁷Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?

⁸Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also?

⁹For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen?

¹⁰Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.

¹¹If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?

¹²If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.

¹³Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar?

¹⁴Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.

⁶Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ.

⁶Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.

¹⁵For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.

¹⁰Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.

²¹For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: