Paul expresses himself in this verse in a compressed way, which the translator needs to analyze and to expand where necessary before attempting a stylistically neat translation. The literal translation is: “not that” (or “because”) “we do not have a right, but in order that we may give you ourselves an example so that (you) might imitate us.” The general meaning is:
1. We had the right (not to work) (see 1 Corinthians 9.4-18).
2. (We did not use this right), because we wanted to give you an example.
3. You should follow this example.
The phrase have the right, which Paul uses repeatedly in 1 Corinthians 9.4-18, means “have (nonphysical) power which comes from legitimate authority,” the opposite of brute force. It is often used in speaking of the authority of a particular office. In the present context, it is Paul, Silas, and Timothy who, as apostles, have the right to be financially supported by the churches. Likewise, as apostles, they can give an example to the Christian community (cf. Philippians 3.17). Their authority as apostles comes from Christ, and the word translated right often refers to the power which God possesses or which he gives to particular people (cf. John 1.12: “he gave them the right to becomes God’s children”). No general teaching about “human rights” is in Paul’s mind.
Difficulties are encountered in any literal rendering of the double negative in not because we do not have the right to demand our support. In some languages it may be better to reproduce this as a positive statement, for example, “we have the right to demand our support but we did not do it, rather we kept on working in order to be an example for you to follow.”
The right to demand our support may be expressed in some languages as “it was perfectly all right for us to ask you to give us food and lodging,” or “… to give us food and a place to live.” One may also say “it was perfectly proper for us to ask,” or “it was the correct thing for us to do in asking.”
An example for you to follow partly repeats verse 7 (cf. also Philippians 3.17). The last part of this verse also includes some internal repetition (“give you an example to follow”). The words are thus emphatic, and different languages can convey this emphasis in different ways, without the stylistic heaviness of the literal English translation. “Ourselves” (reflected in the literal rendering of this verse) does not mean “so that we ourselves (and no one else) may give you an example,” but “so that we might give you ourselves as an example,” (cf. Barclay “it was to provide you with ourselves as a pattern and example to copy”; Translator’s New Testament “so that we might offer ourselves to you as a pattern of behaviour”). The translation of both this verse and the context should make it clear that Paul is not saying generally that the Thessalonians should follow the evangelists’ behaviour at all points, but that they should follow their example in work. Good News Translation made this clear in verse 7 by you should do just what we did.
In many languages one cannot speak of “following an example,” but one can “do as others do” or “live in the same way that others live.” Therefore one may translate the final part of verse 9 as “we worked as we did, so that you would know how to live as we lived,” or “… do as we did.”
Quoted with permission from Ellingworth, Paul and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on Paul’s Second Letter to the Thessalonians. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1976. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .