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However though Christ is said to be our model we must not overlook the fact that Paul says: “I entreat you therefore, be my imitators.” (1 Corinthians 4:16). Again he says: “Be my imitators, even as I also [am] of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1). There is no idea that by imitating Paul we would be imitating someone who was different from Christ, because Paul himself was imitating Christ. Paul speaks similarly to the Philippians saying: “Be imitators [all] together of me, brethren, and fix your eyes on those walking thus as you have us for a model.” (Philippians 3:17). Note here that Paul speaks of us, that is others are included with himself. The letter was from himself and Timotheus, which is no doubt who Paul had particularly in mind. After saying what he did Paul goes on to warn the Philippians against those who were not walking rightly (see verses 18/19). Today we, and particularly young persons, should be warned against making role models of those who are super stars in this world and whose manner of life is contrary to all that is right for a Christian. This thought of imitation (in a right sense, that is, not in an unreal way) is spoken of to the Thessalonians. Paul says that the Thessalonians had “become our imitators, and of the Lord” and as a result the Thessalonians also “became models” (1 Thessalonians 1:6/7). In chapter 2:14 Paul goes on to commend the Thessalonians for not just imitating persons, but for the fact that they had “become imitators of the assemblies of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus”, that is, Christian assemblies. In the second epistle Paul reminds the Thessalonians saying: “For ye know yourselves how ye ought to imitate us, because we have not walked disorderly among you” (chapter 3:7). Note again the us which would no doubt be Paul, Silvanus and Timotheus who wrote the letter. In chapter 3:9 Paul points out that they and those with him had made a point of giving themselves as an example so that the Thessalonians could imitate them. The passages quoted would repay further study. In Hebrews 6:12 the writer exhorts his readers not to be “sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience have been inheritors of the promises”. From |