1 Corinthians 4:16

1 Corinthians 4:16 in other versions

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

Context of 1 Corinthians 4:16

14I am writing this not to shame you but to warn you as my dear children. 15Even if you had ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. Therefore I urge you to imitate me. 17For this reason I have sent to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church. 18Some of you have become arrogant, as if I were not coming to you.

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 11:1Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.
• John 10:4When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.
• Philippians 3:17Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do.
• 1 Thessalonians 1:6You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.
• 2 Thessalonians 3:9We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you to imitate.
• Hebrews 13:7Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.
• 1 Peter 5:3not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.

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