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 am not writing these things to shame you, but to warn you as my beloved children. 15For even if you had ten thousand others to teach you about Christ, you have only one spiritual father. For I became your father in Christ Jesus when I preached the Good News to you. So I urge you to imitate me. 17That’s why I have sent Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord. He will remind you of how I follow Christ Jesus, just as I teach in all the churches wherever I go. 18Some of you have become arrogant, thinking I will not visit you again.

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 11:1And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.
• John 10:4After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice.
• Philippians 3:17Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example.
• 1 Thessalonians 1:6So you received the message with joy from the Holy Spirit in spite of the severe suffering it brought you. In this way, you imitated both us and the Lord.
• 2 Thessalonians 3:9We certainly had the right to ask you to feed us, but we wanted to give you an example to follow.
• Hebrews 13:7Remember your leaders who taught you the word of God. Think of all the good that has come from their lives, and follow the example of their faith.
• 1 Peter 5:3Don’t lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your own good example.

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