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Paul's Call To Imitate Christ In Acts

The Apostle Paul frequently exhorted believers to imitate Christ, a call he often framed through his own example. In 1 Corinthians 11:1, Paul explicitly states, "Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ" [2, 3]. This instruction is not an isolated command but reflects a broader theological principle within his epistles. Earlier in the same letter, he urges the Corinthians, "Therefore I urge you to imitate me" [4].

Paul's call to imitation is rooted in the understanding that Christ provides the ultimate example for Christian living. John Chrysostom notes that Paul, when addressing the Ephesians, directly tells them, "Be ye imitators of God" (Ephesians 5:1), without interposing himself. However, when speaking to those he considered "weak persons," as in Corinth, Paul includes himself as an intermediary example, signifying that imitating Christ is possible even through following a human model who himself imitates Christ [10]. Chrysostom further explains that the difference between Paul and the Corinthians was not as great as the difference between Christ and Paul, yet Paul still imitated Christ [10].

The imitation of Christ encompasses various aspects of Christian life. It involves self-denial, as Christ set an example of this (Matthew 4:8-10; John 6:38; Romans 15:3; Philippians 2:6-8) [5]. This self-denial is presented as a test of devotion and a necessary component for following Christ, particularly in the "warfare of saints" and their ultimate triumph (Luke 9:23-24; 2 Timothy 2:4; 1 Corinthians 9:25-27) [5]. Ministers, in particular, are called to exercise self-denial (2 Corinthians 6:4-5) [5].

The concept of imitation also extends to practical virtues such as kindness, tenderheartedness, and forgiveness, mirroring God's forgiveness in Christ (Ephesians 4:32-5:2) [7]. John Chrysostom emphasizes that past events, like Christ's love and self-sacrifice, provide a powerful and convincing foundation for such exhortations [7].

Paul's apostleship itself was "not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father" (Galatians 1:1) [11]. This divine calling underscores his authority to present himself as an example. He saw himself as a "servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the Good News of God" (Romans 1:1) [1].

The call to imitate Christ is not merely an ethical guideline but is deeply connected to the believer's identity in Christ. Through baptism, believers are "clothed with Christ" (Galatians 3:27), signifying a profound union that should manifest in their conduct [6]. This union implies a transformation where believers are to "put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness" (Ephesians 4:24; Colossians 3:10) [6].

The emphasis on imitation also served to address issues within the Corinthian church, such as divisions and improper conduct during the Lord's Supper. John Calvin, in his Institutes of the Christian Religion, discusses how those who approach the Lord's Supper "without any spark of faith, without any zeal for charity," do not discern the Lord's body, thereby profaning it [8]. Paul's call to imitate Christ, particularly in love and unity, would directly counter such behavior.

The early church fathers also stressed the importance of imitating Christ. Clement of Rome, though not issuing orders as a great person, exhorted fellow disciples to unity, patience, and long-suffering, reflecting a Christ-like disposition [9]. Another early Christian writer urged, "Dost thou wish to be a Christian? Imitate Christ in everything" [12]. This broad understanding highlights that the imitation of Christ is a fundamental and pervasive theme in Christian thought, extending from the apostolic era through patristic theology.

Sources

  1. Romans “Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the Good News of God, -- Romans 1:1”
  2. 1 Corinthians “1 Corinthians 11:1 (NASB) — Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.”
  3. I Corinthians “I Corinthians 11:1 (BSB) — You are to imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.”
  4. I Corinthians “I Corinthians 4:16 (BSB) — Therefore I urge you to imitate me.”
  5. 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 ”
  6. Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “Galatians 3:27 cross-references: Job 29:14, Isaiah 61:10, Matthew 28:19, Mark 16:15, Luke 15:22, Acts 2:38, Acts 8:16, Acts 8:36, Acts 9:18, Acts 16:15, Acts 16:31, Romans 3:22, Romans 6:3, Romans 13:14, 1 Corinthians 10:2, 1 Corinthians 12:13, Ephesians 4:24, Colossians 2:10, Colossians 3:10, 1 Peter 3:21”
  7. CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on Galatians–Colossians–Thessalonians: Homily XVII. Ephesians iv. 32 and v. 1, 2 “And be ye kind one to another, tender hearted, forgiving each other, even as God also in Christ forgave you. Be ye therefore imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, even as Christ also loved you, and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for an odor of a sweet smell.” The events which are past have greater force than those which are yet to come, and appear to be both more wonderful and more convincing. And hence accordingly Paul founds his exhortatio”
  8. CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 99: and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body” ( 1 Cor. 11:27 , 29 ). For men of this description, who without any spark of faith, without any zeal for charity, rush forward like swine to seize the Lord’s Supper, do not at all discern the Lord’s body. For, inasmuch as they do not believe that body to be their life, they put every possible affront upon it, stripping it of all its dignity, and profane and contaminate it by so receiving; inasmuch as while alienated and estranged from their brethren, they dare to mi”
  9. Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 1: Clement, Polycarp, Ignatius, Barnabas, Papias, Justin Martyr, Irenaeus — CHAP. III.--EXHORTATIONS TO UNITY.: I do not issue orders to you, as if I were some great person. For though I am bound for the name[of Christ], I am not yet perfect in Jesus Christ. For now I begin to be a disciple, and I speak to you as fellow-disciples with me. For it was needful for me to have been stirred up by you in faith, exhortation, patience, and long-suffering. But inasmuch as love suffers me not to be silent in regard to you, I have therefore taken[6] upon me first to exhort you that ye would all ru”
  10. CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on 1 & 2 Corinthians: a great one.’ For the difference between me and you is not so great as between Christ and me: and yet I have imitated Him.” On the other hand, writing to the Ephesians, he interposes no mention of himself, but leads them all straight to the one point, “Be ye imitators of God,” is his word. ( Ephes. v. 1 .) But in this place, since his discourse was addressed to weak persons, he puts himself in by the way. And besides, too, he signifies that it is possible even thus to imitate Christ. For he who copies the perfect impression of the seal, copies th”
  11. CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 85: not venture to nominate any one certainly, but brought forward two, that the Lord might declare by lot which of them he wished to succeed ( Acts 1:23 ). In this way we ought to understand Paul’s declaration, that he was made an apostle, “not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father” ( Gal. 1:1 ). The former—viz. not of men —he had in common with all the pious ministers of the word, for no one could duly perform the office unless called by God. The other was proper and peculiar to him. And while he glories in ”
  12. Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 8: Twelve Patriarchs, Excerpts, Epistles, Apocrypha, Decretals — CHAP. VI.--DIVINITY OF VIRGINITY.: The womb of a holy virgin(29) carried our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God; and the body 57 which our Lord wore, and in which He carried on the conflict in this world, He put on from a holy virgin. From this, therefore, understand the greatness and dignity of virginity. Dost thou wish to be a Christian ? Imitate Christ in everything. John, the ambassador, he who came before our Lord, he "than whom there was not a greater among those born of women," [1] the holy messenger of our Lord, wa”
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