Daily Devotions
1 Corinthians
"Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ."
Text: 1 Corinthians 11:1
IMITATION OF CHRIST
The word “imitation” does not have good connotations in today’s modern usage. But the original idea of the word was quite different. We are to understand its meaning in the light of its authorial intent.
“Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.”
1 Corinthians 11:1
1. “Imitate me”
a) The word “imitate” may be literally translated as “mimic”.
i) This would mean carefully studying the example of Paul.
ii) Then an assiduous following of his example.
b) Paul used other words that had a similar idea.
i) “Pattern” 1 Timothy 1:16
This word was used by Paul to describe himself as a pattern of how God could save sinners.
ii) “Carefully followed” 2 Timothy 3:10
The key idea of carefully following may be found in 2 Timothy 3:10
2. “Just as I also imitate Christ”
a) Paul did not hold himself out as an example or pattern because
i) Of who he was,
ii) Or what he had achieved,
iii) Or that he was the example of a believer.
b) Paul was conscious of his own personal struggles with sin.
This struggle was well-captured in Romans 6-7.
c) Paul was most careful about “imitating Christ”.
d) In the final analysis, we are actually following Christ Jesus Himself.
A NEEDED CALL
Paul issued a much-needed call to the Corinthians to imitate him even as he imitated Christ!