3:17 Be imitators of me, 3 brothers and sisters, 4 and watch carefully those who are living this way, just as you have us as an example.
1 tc Although κανόνι (kanoni, “standard, rule”) is found in most witnesses, though in various locations in this verse (א2 D2 Ψ 075 Ï), it is almost surely a motivated reading, for it clarifies the cryptic τῷ αὐτῷ (tw autw, “the same”). Both the fact that the word floats, and that there are other variants which accomplish greater clarity by other means, strongly suggests the secondary nature of any of the longer readings here. Further, the shortest text has excellent and early support in Ì16,46 א* A B Ivid 6 33 1739 co, rendering it decidedly the preferred reading. The translation adds “standard” because of English requirements, not because of textual basis.
2 tn Grk “Nevertheless, to what we have attained, to the same hold fast.”
3 tn Or “become fellow imitators with me [of Christ].”
4 tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:12.