Biblical Guidance on Following and Imitating Christian Leaders
The New Testament explicitly commands believers to imitate faithful Christian leaders, grounding this practice in the leaders' own imitation of Christ. Hebrews 13:7 instructs: "Remember your leaders who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith" [2]. This directive establishes a pattern where spiritual authority derives not from office alone but from demonstrated faithfulness whose "outcome" can be observed and assessed.
The Christological Foundation
Paul frames his own example in explicitly Christological terms. When he writes "be ye followers of me," the Greek term means "imitators," and the context specifies "in my ways, which be in Christ" [10]. Similarly, he urges imitation of himself only insofar as he imitates Christ [9]. This creates a hierarchical structure: believers imitate leaders who imitate Christ, with Christ as the ultimate pattern [1, 5]. Augustine captures this principle when he warns leaders against "promising salvation in themselves," urging instead that followers "trust in the Lord; not in those who go before them" [7]. The leader's role is to point beyond himself to Christ.
What to Imitate
The biblical texts specify concrete qualities for imitation. Christ's example encompasses self-denial [3], meekness [5], early rising for devotion [4], and living "to righteousness" rather than self [1]. Leaders who embody these virtues become secondary models. The emphasis falls on character and conduct observable over time—hence the instruction to "consider the outcome of their way of life" [2]. This temporal dimension protects against premature or superficial imitation; the fruit of a leader's life must be evident before followers pattern themselves after it.
Boundaries and Warnings
Scripture establishes clear limits. John warns against imitating specific evils in church leaders, particularly "pride, ambition, love of preeminence, and tyrannical government" [6]. The command "follow not that which is evil" applies even when the evil appears in those holding authority [6]. This creates a discernment obligation: believers must distinguish between a leader's Christlike qualities (worthy of imitation) and any ungodly patterns (to be rejected). The standard remains external to the leader himself—"the only rule for a Christian is the word of Christ; the only pattern for his imitation is the example of Christ" [8]. Leaders are not the standard but are measured against it.
Sources
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Conduct, Christian — Believing God -- Mr 11:22; Joh 14:11,12. Fearing God -- Ec 12:13; 1Pe 2:17. Loving God -- De 6:5; Mt 22:37. Following God -- Eph 5:1; 1Pe 1:15,16. Obeying God -- Lu 1:6; 1Jo 5:3. Rejoicing in God -- Ps 33:1; Hab 3:18. Believing in Christ -- Joh 6:29; 1Jo 3:23. Loving Christ -- Joh 21:15; 1Pe 1:7,8. Following the example of Christ -- Joh 13:15; 1Pe 2:21-24. Obeying Christ -- Joh 14:21; 15:14. Living To Christ. -- Ro 14:8; 2Co 5:15. To righteousness. -- Mic 6:8; Ro 6:18; 1Pe 2:24. Soberly, righteously, and godly. -- Tit 2:12. Walking Honestly. -- 1”
- Hebrews “Hebrews 13:7 (BSB) — Remember your leaders who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Self-Denial — Christ set an example of -- Mt 4:8-10; 8:20; Joh 6:38; Ro 15:3; Php 2:6-8. A test of devotedness to Christ -- Mt 10:37,38; Lu 9:23,24. Necessary In following Christ. -- Lu 14:27-33. In the warfare of saints. -- 2Ti 2:4. To the triumph of saints. -- 1Co 9:25-27. Ministers especially called to exercise -- 2Co 6:4,5. Should be exercised in Denying ungodliness and worldly lusts. -- Ro 6:12; Tit 2:12. Controlling the appetite. -- Pr 23:2. Abstaining from fleshly lusts. -- 1Pe 2:11. No longer living to lusts of men. -- 1Pe 4:2. Mortifying sinful lusts. -- Mr ”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Early Rising — Christ set an example of -- Mr 1:35; Lu 21:38; Joh 8:2. Requisite for Devotion. -- Ps 5:3; 59:16; 63:1; 88:13; Isa 26:9. Executing God's commands. -- Ge 22:3. Discharge of daily duties. -- Pr 31:15. Neglect of, leads to poverty -- Pr 6:9-11. Practised by the wicked, for Deceit. -- Pr 27:14. Executing plans of evil. -- Mic 2:1. Illustrates spiritual diligence -- Ro 13:11,12. Exemplified Abraham. -- Ge 19:27. Isaac, &c. -- Ge 26:31. Jacob. -- Ge 28:18. Joshua &c. -- Jos 3:1. Gideon. -- Jdj 6:38. Samuel. -- 1Sa 15:12. David. -- 1Sa 17:20. Mary, &c. -- Mr ”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Meekness — Christ set an example of -- Ps 45:4; Isa 53:7; Mt 11:29; 21:5; 2Co 10:1; 1Pe 2:21-23. His teaching -- Mt 5:38-45. A fruit of the Spirit -- Ga 5:22,23. Saints should Seek. -- Zep 2:3. Put on. -- Col 3:12-13. Receive the word of God with. -- Jas 1:21. Exhibit, in conduct, &c. -- Jas 3:13. Answer for their hope with. -- 1Pe 3:15. Show to all men. -- Tit 3:2. Restore the erring with. -- Ga 6:1. Precious in the sight of God -- 1Pe 3:4. Ministers should Follow after. -- 1Ti 6:11. Instruct opposers with. -- 2Ti 2:24,25. Urge, on their people. -- Tit 3:1,2. A char”
- 3 John (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 3 John 1:11: Beloved, follow not that which is evil,.... Follow not evil in general, it being hateful to God, contrary to his nature and will, and bad in itself, as well as pernicious in its consequences; and particularly follow not, or do not imitate the particular evil or evils in Diotrephes; as his pride, ambition, love of preeminence, and tyrannical government in the church, and especially his hard heartedness, cruelty, and inhospitality to the poor saints; and so the Arabic version reads, "do not imitate him in evil"; the examples of persons in office and authority have great”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 8: Augustine — Exposition on Psalms — PSALM XL.[2] (part 6): And what shall they who precede do? Let them not be proud, let them not "exalt themselves;" let them not deceive those who follow them. How may they deceive those who follow them? By promising them salvation in themselves. What then ought those who follow to do? "The just shall see, and fear: and shall trust in the Lord;" not in those who go before them. But indeed they fix their eyes on those who go before them, and follow and imitate them; but they do so, because they consider from Whom they have received the grace to go ”
- Galatians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Galatians 6:4: Prove his own work - Let him examine himself and his conduct by the words and example of Christ; and if he find that they bear this touchstone, then he shall have rejoicing in himself alone, feeling that he resembles his Lord and Master, and not in another - not derive his consolation from comparing himself with another who may be weaker, or less instructed than himself. The only rule for a Christian is the word of Christ; the only pattern for his imitation is the example of Christ. He should not compare himself with others; they are not his standard. Christ hath ”
- 2 Thessalonians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 2 Thessalonians 3:7: how ye ought to follow us--how ye ought to live so as to "imitate (so the Greek for 'follow') us" (compare Notes, see on Co1 11:1; Th1 1:6).”
- 1 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Corinthians 4:16: be ye followers of me--literally, "imitators," namely, in my ways, which be in Christ (Co1 4:17; Co1 11:1), not in my crosses (Co1 4:8-13; Act 26:29; Gal 4:12).”