Amplified Bible
1 Corinthians 4:16
16So I urge you, be imitators of me [just as a child imitates his father].
1 Corinthians 4:16 in other versions
Context of 1 Corinthians 4:16
14I do not write these things to shame you, but to warn and advise you as my beloved children. 15For even if you were to have ten thousand teachers [to guide you] in Christ, yet you would not have many fathers [who led you to Christ and assumed responsibility for you], for I became your father in Christ Jesus through the good news [of salvation]. So I urge you, be imitators of me [just as a child imitates his father]. 17For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, and he will remind you of my way of life in Christ [my conduct and my precepts for godly living], just as I teach everywhere in every church. 18Now some of you have become arrogant and pretentious, as though I were not coming to see you.
Read all of 1 Corinthians 41 Corinthians 4:16 word by word
Παρακαλῶ οὖν ὑμᾶς, μιμηταί μου γίνεσθε.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 4:16
- 1 Corinthians 11:1Imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.
- John 10:4When he has brought all his own sheep outside, he walks on ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice and recognize his call.
- Philippians 3:17Brothers and sisters, together follow my example and observe those who live by the pattern we gave you.
- 1 Thessalonians 1:6You became imitators of us and [through us] of the Lord, after you welcomed our message in [a time of] great trouble with the joy supplied by the Holy Spirit;
- 2 Thessalonians 3:9not because we do not have a right to such support, but [we provided our own financial support] to offer ourselves as a model for you, so that you would follow our example.
- Hebrews 13:7Remember your leaders [for it was they] who brought you the word of God; and consider the result of their conduct [the outcome of their godly lives], and imitate their faith [their conviction that God exists and is the Creator and Ruler of all things, the Provider of eternal salvation through Christ, and imitate their reliance on God with absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness].
- 1 Peter 5:3not lording it over those assigned to your care [do not be arrogant or overbearing], but be examples [of Christian living] to the flock [set a pattern of integrity for your congregation].
Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 4:16
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16Wherefore, I beseech you, be ye followers of me - It should rather be translated, Be ye imitators of me; , from which we have our word mimic, which, though now used only in a bad or ludicrous sense, simply signifies an imitator of another person, whether in speech, manner, habit, or otherwise. As children should imitate their parents in preference to all others, he calls on them to imitate him, as he claims them for his children. He lived for God and…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16Wherefore - Since I am your spiritual father. Be ye followers of me - Imitate me; copy my example; listen to my admonitions. Probably Paul had particularly in his eye their tendency to form parties; and here admonishes them that he had no disposition to form sects, and entreats them in this to imitate his example. A minister should always so live as that he can, without pride or ostentation, point to his own example; and entreat his people to imitate him…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 14-21Verses 14-21 In reproving for sin, we should distinguish between sinners and their sins. Reproofs that kindly and affectionately warn, are likely to reform. Though the apostle spoke with authority as a parent, he would rather beseech them in love. And as ministers are to set an example, others must follow them, as far as they follow Christ in faith and practice. Christians may mistake and differ in their views, but Christ and Christian truth are the same…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 14-16As their spiritual father who first shared the good news about Jesus, Paul shows his true concern for their well-being (see 1 Thessalonians 2:11–12). As his beloved children, they should listen to him and follow his example and teachings (see 1 Corinthians 11:1; Galatians 4:12; Philippians 3:17; 4:9; 1 Thessalonians 1:6; 2 Thessalonians 3:7–9).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1616. be ye followers of me--literally, "imitators," namely, in my ways, which be in Christ (1Co 4:17; 1Co 11:1), not in my crosses (1Co 4:8-13; Ac 26:29; Ga 4:12).Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Corinthians 4:16
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
Amplified Bible — © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631
Commentaries