2 Thessalonians 3:9 (YLT)

Passage

not because we have not authority, but that ourselves a pattern we might give to you, to imitate us;

Nearby Context

2 Thessalonians 3:7 for yourselves have known how it behoveth <FI>you<Fi> to imitate us, because we did not act disorderly among you;

2 Thessalonians 3:8 nor for nought did we eat bread of any one, but in labour and in travail, night and day working, not to be chargeable to any of you;

2 Thessalonians 3:9 not because we have not authority, but that ourselves a pattern we might give to you, to imitate us;

2 Thessalonians 3:10 for even when we were with you, this we did command you, that if any one is not willing to work, neither let him eat,

2 Thessalonians 3:11 for we hear of certain walking among you disorderly, nothing working, but over working,

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "authority", "ourselves", "pattern", "might", "give", and "imitate". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "authority" and "ourselves", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 8's "nor for nought did we eat bread..." into verse 10's "for even when we were with you...", so "authority" and "ourselves" belong inside that flow. In 2 Thessalonians context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "authority" and "ourselves" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.