1 Corinthians 4:16

1 Corinthians 4:16 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.
• New International Version (NIV)Therefore I urge you to imitate me.
• English Standard Version (ESV)I urge you, then, be imitators of me.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Therefore I urge you, imitate me.

Context of 1 Corinthians 4:16

14I’m not writing this to make you feel ashamed but to instruct you as my dear children. 15You may have countless Christian guardians, but you don’t have many ⌞spiritual⌟ fathers. I became your father in the Christian life by telling you the Good News about Christ Jesus. So I encourage you to imitate me. 17That’s why I’ve sent Timothy to you to help you remember my Christian way of life as I teach it everywhere in every church. Timothy is my dear child, and he faithfully does the Lord’s work. 18Some of you have become arrogant because you think I won’t pay you a visit.

1 Corinthians 4:16 word by word

Παρακαλῶ οὖν ὑμᾶς, μιμηταί μου γίνεσθε.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Whereforeοὖνoun · therefore/thenG3767
• I beseechπαρακαλέωparakaleō · to plead/comfortG3870
• youσύsu · youG4771
• be yeγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
• followersμιμητήςmimētēs · imitatorG3402
• of meἐγώegō · I/weG1473

Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 4:16

• 1 Corinthians 11:1Imitate me as I imitate Christ.
• John 10:4After he has brought out all his sheep, he walks ahead of them. The sheep follow him because they recognize his voice.
• Philippians 3:17Brothers and sisters, imitate me, and pay attention to those who live by the example we have given you.
• 1 Thessalonians 1:6You imitated us and the Lord. In spite of a lot of suffering, you welcomed God’s word with the kind of joy that the Holy Spirit gives.
• 2 Thessalonians 3:9It’s not as though we didn’t have a right to receive support. Rather, we wanted to set an example for you to follow.
• Hebrews 13:7Remember your leaders who have spoken God’s word to you. Think about how their lives turned out, and imitate their faith.
• 1 Peter 5:3Don’t be rulers over the people entrusted to you, but be examples for the flock to follow.

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

• Example
• Love
• Zeal, Religious

In the dictionaries

• Account
• Corinthians, First Epistle to the
• Instructor
• Offscouring
• Rod
• Shame
• Steward
• Corinthians, First Epistle to the
• Follower
• Paul, the Apostle

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