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1 Corinthians 11:1

1 Corinthians 11:1 in Multiple Translations

You are to imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.

Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

Be ye imitators of me, even as I also am of Christ.

So take me for your example, even as I take Christ for mine.

You should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.

Be yee followers of mee, euen as I am of Christ.

Followers of me become ye, as I also [am] of Christ.

Be imitators of me, even as I also am of Christ.

Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

Be ye followers of me, as I also am of Christ.

Follow my example, just like I try to follow Christ’s example.

So you have to try to live the way I live, and do the same sorts of things that I do, just like I try to live the way that Jesus Christ lived.

Study Highlights

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Berean Amplified Bible — 1 Corinthians 11:1

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1 Corinthians 11:1 Interlinear (Deep Study)

BIB
GRK μιμηται μου γινεσθε καθως καγω χριστου
μιμηται mimētēs G3402 imitator Noun-NPM
μου egō G1473 I/we Pron-1GS
γινεσθε ginomai G1096 to be Verb-PNM-2P
καθως kathōs G2531 as/just as Adv
καγω kagō G2504 and I Pron-1NS-K
χριστου Christos G5547 Christ Noun-GSM
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Greek Word Reference — 1 Corinthians 11:1

μιμηται mimētēs G3402 "imitator" Noun-NPM
An imitator is someone who follows another's example, as seen in 1 Corinthians 4:16 and Ephesians 5:1, where Paul encourages believers to imitate him and God.
Definition: μιμητής, -οῦ, ὁ (μιμέομαι), in NT always (like the verb) in good sense, an imitator: 1Co.4:16 11:1, Eph.5:1, 1Th.1:6 2:14, Heb.6:12.† (AS)
Usage: Occurs in 7 NT verses. KJV: follower See also: 1 Corinthians 4:16; 1 Thessalonians 1:6; 1 Peter 3:13.
μου egō G1473 "I/we" Pron-1GS
This is a pronoun meaning I or me, used by the speaker to refer to themselves. It is often used in the Bible to emphasize the speaker's identity.
Definition: ἐγώ, genitive, etc., ἐμοῦ, ἐμοί, ἐμέ (enclitic μου, μοι, με), pl. ἡμεῖς, -ῶν, -ῖν, -ᾶς, of person(s) pron. I. __(a) The nom. is usually emphatic, when expressed as subjc, as in Mat.3:11, Mrk.1:8, Luk.3:16, al. But often there is no apparent emphasis, as Mat.10:16, Jhn.10:17; ἰδοὺ ἐ. (= Heb. הִנֵּנִי, cf. 1Ki.3:8), Act.9:10; ἐ. (like Heb. אֲנִי), I am, Jhn.1:23 (LXX), Act.7:32 (LXX). __(b) The enclitic forms (see supr.) are used with nouns, adjectives, verbs, adverbs, where there is no emphasis: ἐν τ. πατρί μου, Jhn.14:20; μου τ. λόγους, Mat.7:24; ὀπίσω μου, Mat.3:11; ἰσχυρότερός μου, ib.; λέγει μοι, Rev.5:5; also with the prep. πρός, as Mrk.9:19, al. The full forms (ἐμοῦ, etc.) are used with the other prepositions, as δι᾽ ἐμοῦ, ἐν ἐμοί, εἰς ἐμέ, etc., also for emphasis, as Luk.10:16, Jhn.7:23, Mrk.14:7, al. __(with) The genitive μου and ἡμῶν are often used for the poss. pronouns ἐμός, ἡμέτερος: τ. λαόν μου, Mat.2:6; μου τῂ ἀπιστιᾳ, Mrk.9:24. __(d) τί ἐμοὶ καὶ σοί ( = Heb. מַה־לִי וָלָךְ, Jdg.11:12, al.), i.e. what have we in common: Mat.8:29, Mrk.1:24, 5:7, Luk.8:28, Jhn.2:4; τί γάρ μοι, 1Co.5:2. __(e) The interchange of ἐγώ and ἡμεῖς, common in π., appears in Pauline Epp. (see M, Pr., 86f., M, Th., 131f.). __(f) κἀγώ (= καὶ ἐγώ), and I, even I, I also: Mat.2:8, Luk.2:48, Jhn.6:56, Rom.3:7, 1Co.7:40, al.; κἀγώ . . . καί, both . . . and, Jhn.7:28. (AS)
Usage: Occurs in 1872 NT verses. KJV: I, me See also: 1 Corinthians 1:2; 1 Corinthians 16:24; 1 Peter 1:3.
γινεσθε ginomai G1096 "to be" Verb-PNM-2P
A versatile word meaning to be, become, or come into being, used in John 1:15 and 1 Corinthians 15:37.
Definition: γίνομαι, Ion. and κοινή for Att. γίγν- (M. Pr., 47; Bl., §6, 8 Mayser, 166 f.), [in LXX chiefly for היה ;] __1. of persons, things occurrences, to come into being, be born, arise, come on: Jhn.1:15 8:58, 1Co.15:37; a first appearance in public, Mrk.1:4, Jhn.1:6, al.; before ἐκ (of birth), Rom.1:3, Gal.4:4; διά, Jhn.1:3; βροντή, Jhn.12:29; σεισμός, Rev.6:12; γογγυσμός, Act.6:1; χαρά, Act.8:8, many other similar exx.; ἡμέρα, Luk.22:66, al.; ὀψέ, Mrk.11:19; πρωΐα, Mat.27:1; νύξ, Act.27:27. __2. Of events, to come to pass, take place, happen: Mat.5:18, Mrk.5:14, Luk.1:20 2:15, Act.4:21, 2Ti.2:18, al.; μὴ γένοιτο [LXX for חָלִילָה, Jhn.22:29, al.], far be it, God forbid: Rom.3:4 (ICC, in l.), 1Co.6:15 and frequently in Pl.; καὶ ἐγένετο, ἐγένετο δέ ([in LXX for וַיְהִי ;] see Burton, 142 f.; M, Pr., 16f.; Dalman, Words, 32 f.; Robertson, Gr., 1042 f.), with indic, Mat.7:28, Luk.1:8, al.; before καί and indic., Luk.8:1, Act.5:7, al.; with accusative and inf., Mrk.2:23, Luk.3:21, al.; ὡς δὲ ἐγένετο, before τοῦ with inf., Act.10:25; with dative of person(s), to befall one: with inf., Act.20:16; with accusative and inf., Act.22:6; with adv., εὖ, Eph.6:3; τ́ ἐγένετο αὐτῷ (Field, Notes, 115), Act.7:40 (LXX); before εἰς, Act.28:6. __3. to be made, done, performed, observed, enacted, ordained, etc.: Mat.6:10 19:8, Mrk.2:27 11:23, Act.19:26, al.; before διά with genitive, Mrk.6:2, Act.2:43; ὑπό, Luk.13:17; ἐκ, Luk.4:23; ἐν, 1Co.9:15; ἀπογραφή, Luk.2:2; ἀνάκρισις Act.25:26; ἄφεσις, Heb.9:22; ὁ νόμος, Gal.3:17; τὸ πάσχα, Mat.26:2. __4. to become, be made, come to be: with pred., Mat.4:3, Luk.4:3, Jhn.2:9, 1Co.13:11, al.; before ὡς, ὡσεί, Mat.10:25, Mrk.9:26; εἰς (M, Pr., 71f.), Mrk.12:1o, al.; with genitive Rev.11:15; id., of age, Luk.2:42; with dative, γ. ἀνδρί ([LXX for הָיָה לְאִישׁ, Rut.1:12, al. ;] see Field, Notes, 156), Rom.7:3, 4; before ἐν, Act.22:17, Rev.1:10, al.; ἐπάνω, Luk.19:19; μετά, with genitive, Mrk.16:[10], Act.9:19; before εἰς, ἐπί (Field, Notes, 135), κατά (ib., 62), with accusative of place, Act.20:16 21:35 27:7, al.; before ἐκ, Mrk.9:7, Luk.3:22, 2Th.2:7, al. Aoristic pf. γέγονα (M, Pr., 52, 145f.; Field, Notes, 1f.), Mat.25:6, Luk.10:36, al. Aor. ἐγενήθη (for ἐγένετο, M, Pr., 139f.; Mayser, 379), Mat.11:23, al. (Cf. απο-, δια-, επι-, παρα-, συμ-, παρα-, προ-.) (AS)
Usage: Occurs in 637 NT verses. KJV: arise, be assembled, be(-come, -fall, -have self), be brought (to pass), (be) come (to pass), continue, be divided, draw, be ended, fall, be finished, follow, be found, be fulfilled, + God forbid, grow, happen, have, be kept, be made, be married, be ordained to be, partake, pass, be performed, be published, require, seem, be showed, X soon as it was, sound, be taken, be turned, use, wax, will, would, be wrought See also: 1 Corinthians 1:30; Acts 5:5; 1 Peter 1:15.
καθως kathōs G2531 "as/just as" Adv
As or just as something is, like in Luke 1:2 and John 5:23, showing a comparison or similarity.
Definition: καθώς, (i.e. καθ᾽ ὡς), Hellenistic for καθά, which see, καθάπερ, καθό, καθότι (Mayser, 485; Eutherford, NPhr., 495; Bl., §78, 1), according as, even as, just as, as: Luk.1:2 (see: καθά), 24:39, Jhn.5:23, Act.7:48, 1Co.8:2, Gal.3:6, al.; before οὕτως, Luk.11:30, Jhn.3:14, 2Co.1:5, Col.3:13, 1Jn.2:6, al.; before καί, Jhn.15:9, 1Co.15:49, 1Jn.2:18, al.; οὕτως . . . κ., Luk.24:24; id. with ellipsis of οὕτως, Mat.21:6, Mrk.16:7, Rom.1:13, al.; with other elliptical constructions, Jhn.6:58 17:21, 22 Act.15:8, 1Th.2:13, 1Ti.1:3, 1Jn.3:2, 3 12; καθὼς γέγραπται (Deiss., BS, 249), Mat.26:24, Mrk.9:13, Rom.1:17, al.; introducing subst. clause as object of verb (as in Heb.), Mat.21:6, Mrk.11:6, Luk.5:14, al.; after verbs of speaking, Act.15:14; of proportion and degree, Mrk.4:33, 1Co.12:11, 18 al.; of time (Neh.5:6, 2Ma.1:31), Act.7:17. (AS)
Usage: Occurs in 180 NT verses. KJV: according to, (according, even) as, how, when See also: 1 Corinthians 1:6; Galatians 3:6; 1 Peter 4:10.
καγω kagō G2504 "and I" Pron-1NS-K
And I, or me, is a phrase used to include oneself in a statement. It is used by Jesus and other biblical figures to express their thoughts and feelings.
Definition: κἀγώ see: ἐγώ. ἐγώ, genitive, etc., ἐμοῦ, ἐμοί, ἐμέ (enclitic μου, μοι, με), pl. ἡμεῖς, -ῶν, -ῖν, -ᾶς, of person(s) pron. I. __(a) The nom. is usually emphatic, when expressed as subjc, as in Mat.3:11, Mrk.1:8, Luk.3:16, al. But often there is no apparent emphasis, as Mat.10:16, Jhn.10:17; ἰδοὺ ἐ. (= Heb. הִנֵּנִי, cf. 1Ki.3:8), Act.9:10; ἐ. (like Heb. אֲנִי), I am, Jhn.1:23 (LXX), Act.7:32 (LXX). __(b) The enclitic forms (see supr.) are used with nouns, adjectives, verbs, adverbs, where there is no emphasis: ἐν τ. πατρί μου, Jhn.14:20; μου τ. λόγους, Mat.7:24; ὀπίσω μου, Mat.3:11; ἰσχυρότερός μου, ib.; λέγει μοι, Rev.5:5; also with the prep. πρός, as Mrk.9:19, al. The full forms (ἐμοῦ, etc.) are used with the other prepositions, as δι᾽ ἐμοῦ, ἐν ἐμοί, εἰς ἐμέ, etc., also for emphasis, as Luk.10:16, Jhn.7:23, Mrk.14:7, al. __(with) The genitive μου and ἡμῶν are often used for the poss. pronouns ἐμός, ἡμέτερος: τ. λαόν μου, Mat.2:6; μου τῂ ἀπιστιᾳ, Mrk.9:24. __(d) τί ἐμοὶ καὶ σοί ( = Heb. מַה־לִי וָלָךְ, Jdg.11:12, al.), i.e. what have we in common: Mat.8:29, Mrk.1:24, 5:7, Luk.8:28, Jhn.2:4; τί γάρ μοι, 1Co.5:2. __(e) The interchange of ἐγώ and ἡμεῖς, common in π., appears in Pauline Epp. (see M, Pr., 86f., M, Th., 131f.). __(f) κἀγώ (= καὶ ἐγώ), and I, even I, I also: Mat.2:8, Luk.2:48, Jhn.6:56, Rom.3:7, 1Co.7:40, al.; κἀγώ . . . καί, both . . . and, Jhn.7:28. (AS)
Usage: Occurs in 67 NT verses. KJV: (and, even, even so, so) I (also, in like wise), both me, me also See also: 1 Corinthians 2:1; John 10:27; Hebrews 8:9.
χριστου Christos G5547 "Christ" Noun-GSM
Christ means anointed, referring to Jesus as the Messiah, as seen in Luke 2:11 and John 1:41.
Definition: χριστός (Χρ-), -ή, -όν (χρίω), [in LXX for מָשִׁיחַ and cogn. forms ;] __1. 1. as adj., __(a) of things, anointing, to be used as ointment (Æsch., Eur., al.; τ. ἔλαιον τὸ χ., Lev.21:10); __(b) of persons, anointed (ὁ ἰερεὺς ὁ χ., Lev.4:5; οἱ χ. ἰευρεῖς, 2Ma.1:10): ὁ χ. τοῦ κυρίου or Θεοῦ (1Ki.2:10, Psa.2:2, al.), of the Messiah (Aram., מְשִׁיחָא; cf. Dalman, Words, 289 ff.), Luk.2:11, 26 Jhn.1:41, Act.2:36 4:26, al. __2. As subst., ὁ Χριστός, the Messiah, the Christ: Mat.2:4, Mrk.8:29, Luk.2:11, Jhn.1:20, Act.2:31, Rom.7:4, al.; Ἰησοῦς, Mrk.1:1, Jhn.1:17, Act.2:38, al.; Χ. Ἰησοῦς, Mat.1:18, WH, mg. Act.5:42, Rom.6:3, al.; Χ. κύριος, Luk.2:11; Ἰησοῦς Χ. ὁ κύριος, Act.15:26, Rom.1:7, al. (AS)
Usage: Occurs in 525 NT verses. KJV: Christ See also: 1 Corinthians 1:1; 1 Timothy 1:1; 1 Peter 1:1.

Study Notes — 1 Corinthians 11:1

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Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1 Philippians 3:17 Join one another in following my example, brothers, and carefully observe those who walk according to the pattern we set for you.
2 1 Thessalonians 1:6 And you became imitators of us and of the Lord when you welcomed the message with the joy of the Holy Spirit, in spite of your great suffering.
3 1 Corinthians 4:16 Therefore I urge you to imitate me.
4 Ephesians 5:1–2 Be imitators of God, therefore, as beloved children, and walk in love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant sacrificial offering to God.
5 Hebrews 6:12 Then you will not be sluggish, but will imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.
6 Philippians 2:4–5 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus:
7 2 Thessalonians 3:9 Not that we lack this right, but we wanted to offer ourselves as an example for you to imitate.
8 Romans 15:2–3 Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. For even Christ did not please Himself, but as it is written: “The insults of those who insult You have fallen on Me.”
9 1 Corinthians 10:33 as I also try to please everyone in all I do. For I am not seeking my own good, but the good of many, that they may be saved.

1 Corinthians 11:1 Summary

[This verse means that we should try to be like Jesus, and one way to do that is by following the example of people who are already trying to be like Him, like the Apostle Paul. By imitating Christ and those who follow Him, we can learn to love and serve others in a more selfless way, as Jesus taught in Matthew 20:28. As we imitate Christ, we become more like Him, and our lives reflect His love and character to those around us, as seen in 2 Corinthians 3:18.]

Frequently Asked Questions

What does it mean to imitate Christ?

Imitating Christ means following His example of love, humility, and obedience, as seen in Philippians 2:5-8, and applying these qualities to our daily lives, just as the Apostle Paul did.

Why does Paul instruct the Corinthians to imitate him?

Paul instructs the Corinthians to imitate him because he is imitating Christ, and as a spiritual leader, he wants them to follow his example of faith and obedience, as he writes in 1 Corinthians 4:16.

Is imitating someone else going against being unique and individual?

Imitating someone in a biblical sense means following their example of faith and character, not losing one's individuality, as we are all called to be conformed to the image of Christ, according to Romans 8:29.

How can we know if we are truly imitating Christ?

We can know if we are truly imitating Christ by examining our actions, attitudes, and motivations, and comparing them to the teachings and example of Jesus, as recorded in the Gospels, such as Matthew 5:1-48.

Reflection Questions

  1. In what ways can I intentionally imitate Christ in my daily life, and what changes might I need to make to do so?
  2. How does my life reflect the character and love of Christ to those around me?
  3. What are some specific areas where I struggle to imitate Christ, and what steps can I take to improve in those areas?
  4. How can I balance the desire to imitate Christ with the need to be authentic and genuine in my own personality and experiences?

Gill's Exposition on 1 Corinthians 11:1

Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. c] These words more properly close the preceding chapter, than begin a new one, and refer to the rules therein laid down, and which the apostle

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 1 Corinthians 11:1

Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. Rather belonging to 1 Corinthians 10:1-33.

Matthew Poole's Commentary on 1 Corinthians 11:1

1 CHAPTER 11 Paul exhorteth the Corinthians to follow him, as he did Christ: 1. He praiseth them for observing the rules he had given them. 2. And forbiddeth men to pray or prophesy with heads covered, and women with heads uncovered; the covering of the head being a token of subjection. He blameth them for abuses in their religious assemblies, particularly for their divisions, and profanation of the Lord’ s supper. He remindeth them of the first institution thereof, and showeth the danger of partaking of it unworthily. Interpreters judge, that these words do properly belong to the foregoing chapter, in the last verse of which he had propounded his own example to them; but whether they be applied to that chapter or this, is not much material. They teach us, that the examples of the apostles are part of our rule; yet the modesty of the apostle is remarkable, who requires of his people no further to follow him than as he followed Christ: nor indeed ought any man to require more of those that are under his charge, than to follow him so far forth as he imitates the Lord Jesus Christ.

Trapp's Commentary on 1 Corinthians 11:1

1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. Ver. 1. Be ye followers of me] This verse properly belongs to the former chapter. The distinguishing of the books of Scripture into chapters is not very ancient. But that of verses was devised and done by Robert Stephens, Pio quidem at tumultuario studio, as Scultetus saith well, with a good intent, but with no great skill, as appears here and in various other places. The apostles, 1 Corinthians 10:33, had showed his own practice: here he calls upon them to do accordingly. As the ox follows the herd, so will I follow good men. Etiamsi errant, saith Cicero, although they do amiss. Sicut bos armenta, sic ego bones vires. (Cic. ad Attic.) This was more than St Paul desires. Be ye followers of me, saith he; but only so far as I am of Christ, not an inch further. Christians are not bound, as Latimer saith, to be the saints’ apes; labouring to be like them in everything. It is Christ’ s peculiar honour to be imitated in all morals absolutely.

Ellicott's Commentary on 1 Corinthians 11:1

XI. (1) Be ye followers of me.—See concluding Note on 1 Corinthians 10.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on 1 Corinthians 11:1

CHAPTER XI. The apostle reprehends the Corinthians for several irregularities in their manner of conducting public worship; the men praying or prophesying with their heads covered, and the women with their heads uncovered, contrary to custom, propriety, and decency, 1-6. Reasons why they should act differently, 7-16. They are also reproved for their divisions and heresies, 17-19. And for the irregular manner in which they celebrated the Lord's Supper, 20-22. The proper manner of celebrating this holy rite laid down by the apostle, 23-26. Directions for a profitable receiving of the Lord's Supper, and avoiding the dangerous consequences of communicating unworthily, 27-34. NOTES ON CHAP. XI. Verse 1. Be ye followers of me] This verse certainly belongs to the preceding chapter, and is here out of all proper place and connection.

Cambridge Bible on 1 Corinthians 11:1

Ch. 1 Corinthians 11:1. This verse belongs to the former chapter, and concludes the argument, as in ch. 1 Corinthians 4:16.

Barnes' Notes on 1 Corinthians 11:1

Be ye followers of me - Imitate my example in the matter now under discussion.

Whedon's Commentary on 1 Corinthians 11:1

1. Followers—This verse belongs to the close of the last chapter, and should be read in continuation.

Sermons on 1 Corinthians 11:1

SermonDescription
Paul Washer (Biblical Manhood) -Morning Brunch by Paul Washer In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of being a godly example to our children. He shares his desire for his son to see him on his knees, weeping with joy about Jes
Francis Chan Think Hard, Stay Humble: The Life of the Mind and the Peril of Pride by Francis Chan In this sermon, the speaker addresses the audience's awareness of the suffering and struggles faced by their brothers and sisters around the world. He emphasizes the importance of
Hans R. Waldvogel Following Jesus: The Straight Gate by Hans R. Waldvogel In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of being a follower of Jesus Christ. He highlights that Jesus is the only way to the Father and without Him, no one can be re
Art Katz K-053 Come Up and Be There by Art Katz In this sermon, the preacher reflects on the power and wealth of the world compared to the power and reality found in the Word of God. He shares a personal experience of a ten-day
Art Katz The Law and the Commandments by Art Katz In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of reconnecting with the authentic root of one's life in God before delivering a message. He compares this to athletes who war
K.P. Yohannan (Pdf Book) Head Coverings by K.P. Yohannan K.P. Yohannan emphasizes the significance of head coverings in worship, drawing from his childhood experiences and biblical teachings, particularly from 1 Corinthians 11. He explai
Denny Kenaston Biblical Principles on the Headship Veiling by Denny Kenaston In this sermon, Brother Denny discusses the importance of veiling and having long hair for women according to God's design. He emphasizes that even though societal norms may change

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