Greek Word Reference — 1 Corinthians 4:16
To plead with or comfort someone, as Jesus did with his disciples in Matthew 26:53 when he told them to have faith. This word can also mean to invoke or call on someone for help or guidance.
Definition: παρακαλέω, -ῶ, [in LXX chiefly for נחם ni., pi. ;] __1. to call to one, call for, summon: Act.28:20 (R, mg.; R, txt., entreat); hence (of the gods: Dem., Xen., al.), to invoke, call on, beseech, entreat: τ. πατέρα μου, Mat.26:53; τ. κύριον, 2Co.12:8; in late writers (Polyb., Diod., al.; rarely in LXX; in π., see Deiss., LAE, 176.14), also of men: absol., Phm 9; with accusative, Mat.8:5, Mrk.1:40, Act.16:9, al.; with inf., Mrk.5:17, Luk.8:41, Act.8:31, al.; before ἵνα (see M, Pr., 205, 208), Mt 14"36, Mrk.5:18, Luk.8:31, al. __2. to admonish, exhort: absol., Luk.3:18, Rom.12:8, 2Ti.4:2, al.; with accusative, Act.15:32, 1Th.2:11, Heb.3:13, al.; id. before inf., Act.11:23, Rom.12:1, Php.4:2, 1Th.4:10, al.; before ἵνα (see M, Pr., l.with), 1Co.1:10, 2Co.8:6, 1Th.4:1, al. __3. to cheer, encourage, comfort (Plut., LXX: Jb 43, Isa.35:3, Sir.43:24, al.): with accusative, 2Co.1:6, Eph.6:22, Col.2:2, al.; id. before ἐν, 1Th.4:18; διά, 2Co.1:4; pass., Mat.5:4, Luk.16:25, Act.20:12. SYN.: παραμυθέω (cf. M, Th., 25). (AS)
Usage: Occurs in 104 NT verses. KJV: beseech, call for, (be of good) comfort, desire, (give) exhort(-ation), intreat, pray See also: 1 Corinthians 1:10; Acts 20:12; 1 Peter 2:11.
This word means therefore or then, showing a consequence. It appears in Matthew 3:10 and Romans 5:9 to connect ideas and events.
Definition: οὖν, particle expressing consequence or simple sequence (never standing first in a sentence), wherefore, therefore, then: Mat.3:10, Luk.3:9, Jhn.8:38, Act.1:21, Rom.5:9, al.; in exhortations, Mat.3:8, Luk.11:35, Act.3:19, Rom.6:12, al.; in questions, Mat.13:28, Mrk.15:12, Jhn.8:[5], Rom.6:1, al.; continuing a narrative or resuming it after a digression, Mat.1:17, Luk.3:18, Jhn.1:22 2:18 (and very frequently in this Gospel), Act.26:22, al.; ἄρα οὖν (see: ἄρα); ἐπεὶ οὖν, Heb.2:14; οὖν with ptcp. (= ἐπεὶ οὖν), Act.2:30, Rom.5:1, al.; ἐὰν οὖν (where οὖν rather in sense belongs to the apodosis), Mat.5:23, Luk.4:7, Jhn.6:62, Rom.2:26, al.; ὡς οὖν, Jhn.4:1, al. (AS)
Usage: Occurs in 515 NT verses. KJV: and (so, truly), but, now (then), so (likewise then), then, therefore, verily, wherefore See also: 1 Corinthians 3:5; Acts 23:15; 1 Peter 2:1.
This Greek word means 'you' and is used to address someone directly, like in John 1:30 and Matthew 26:64. It's a way to emphasize or contrast the person being spoken to. The KJV Bible translates it as 'thou'.
Definition: σύ, pron. of 2nd of person(s), thou, you, genitive, σοῦ, dative, σοί, accusative, σέ, pl., ὑμεῖς, -ῶν, -ῖν, -ᾶς (enclitic in oblique cases sing., except after prep. (BL, §48, 3), though πρὸς σέ occurs in Mat.25:39). Nom. for emphasis or contrast: Jhn.1:30, 4:10, 5:33, 39, 44, Act.4:7, Eph.5:32; so also perhaps σὺ εἶπας, Mat.26:64, al. (M, Pr., 86); before voc., Mat.2:6, Luk.1:76, Jhn.17:5, al.; sometimes without emphasis (M, Pr., 85f.), as also in cl., but esp. as rendering of Heb. phrase, e.g. υἱός μου εἶ σύ (בְּנִי־אַתָּה, Psa.2:7), Act.13:33. The genitive (σοῦ, ὑμῶν) is sometimes placed bef. the noun: Luk.7:48, 12:30, al.; so also the enclitic σοῦ, Mat.9:6; on τί ἐμοὶ κ. σοί, see: ἐγώ. (AS)
Usage: Occurs in 2041 NT verses. KJV: thou See also: 1 Corinthians 1:3; 1 Corinthians 15:3; 1 Peter 1:2.
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.
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.
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.
Context — Paul’s Fatherly Warning
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) |
| 1 |
1 Corinthians 11:1 |
You are to imitate me, just as I imitate Christ. |
| 2 |
2 Thessalonians 3:9 |
Not that we lack this right, but we wanted to offer ourselves as an example for you to imitate. |
| 3 |
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. |
| 4 |
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. |
| 5 |
Philippians 4:9 |
Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me, put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. |
| 6 |
Hebrews 13:7 |
Remember your leaders who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. |
| 7 |
John 10:4–5 |
When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will flee from him because they do not recognize his voice.” |
| 8 |
1 Peter 5:3 |
not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. |
1 Corinthians 4:16 Summary
This verse means that Paul is asking the Corinthians to follow his example and live their lives in a way that is similar to his. He is not asking them to copy him perfectly, but to learn from his dedication to Christ and his way of living, as seen in 1 Corinthians 4:15. By imitating Paul, the Corinthians can learn how to live a life that is pleasing to God, just like Paul did, as seen in 2 Timothy 4:7-8. This is similar to what we are called to do in Ephesians 5:1, where we are called to be imitators of God, and in 1 Thessalonians 1:6, where the Thessalonians are said to have become imitators of the Lord and of Paul.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to imitate someone in a spiritual context?
Imitating someone in a spiritual context means to follow their example and apply the principles they live by to our own lives, as seen in 1 Corinthians 4:16 where Paul urges the Corinthians to imitate him, and also in Ephesians 5:1 where we are called to be imitators of God.
Why would Paul ask the Corinthians to imitate him?
Paul asks the Corinthians to imitate him because he has been a faithful example of living a life dedicated to Christ, as he mentions in 1 Corinthians 4:15 that he became their father through the gospel, and he wants them to learn from his way of life in Christ Jesus.
Is imitating someone else in the Bible limited to Paul?
No, imitating others in the Bible is not limited to Paul, for example, in 1 Thessalonians 1:6, the Thessalonians are said to have become imitators of the Lord and of Paul, and in 1 Peter 3:13, believers are encouraged to follow the example of Christ in their suffering.
How can we apply the concept of imitating someone to our own lives?
We can apply the concept of imitating someone to our own lives by finding mature believers who are following Christ and learning from their example, as Paul did with Timothy, whom he sent to remind the Corinthians of his way of life in Christ Jesus, as seen in 1 Corinthians 4:17.
Reflection Questions
- What are some specific ways that I can imitate Paul's example in my own life, such as his dedication to prayer or his love for the lost?
- How can I balance the idea of imitating someone with the need to have a personal relationship with Christ, as seen in John 15:4-5?
- In what ways can I be an example to others, as Paul was to the Corinthians, and how can I make sure that my example is worthy of being imitated?
- What are some potential pitfalls or dangers of imitating someone, and how can I avoid them in my own life, as warned in Matthew 23:1-12?
Gill's Exposition on 1 Corinthians 4:16
Wherefore, I beseech you,.... Though he might have used the power and authority of a father, yet he chose rather to entreat and beseech them; saying, be ye followers of me; for who should children follow, but their parents?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 1 Corinthians 4:16
Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me. Be ye followers of me - literally, imitators; namely, in my ways, which be in Christ (1 Corinthians 4:17; 1 Corinthians 11:1); not in my crosses (1
Matthew Poole's Commentary on 1 Corinthians 4:16
I might as a father command you, but I beseech you, be ye followers of me, in preserving the unity and promoting the holiness of the church. He expounds this, : Be ye followers of me, as I am of Christ. Holiness of life and conversation is necessary to a true minister of Christ; for their people ought not only to be their hearers, but their followers; they are ensamples to the flock, , and ought to be examples of believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity, ; in all things showing themselves patterns of good works; in doctrine showing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, & c., . Those who teach well and live ill, are no good ministers of Christ; they cannot say unto people: Be ye followers of me.
Trapp's Commentary on 1 Corinthians 4:16
16 Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me. Ver. 16. Be ye followers of me] As dear children. A bove maiori discit arare minor. From the larger bull the smaller ones are taught to plough, (Ovid.) Constantine’ s children resembled their father exactly, they put him wholly on, saith Eusebius, and were, as it were, very he, ολονενεδυσαντοτονΚονσταντινον.
Ellicott's Commentary on 1 Corinthians 4:16
(16) Wherefore.—Because I stand in this relation I call you to preserve, as it were, in a moral sense, that family likeness which would naturally accompany such a relationship (Galatians 4:12; Ephesians 5:1; Philippians 3:17).
Adam Clarke's Commentary on 1 Corinthians 4:16
Verse 16. Wherefore, I beseech you, be ye followers of me.] It should rather be translated, Be ye imitators of me; μιμηται, 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 eternity, seeking not his own glory, emolument, or ease: those sowers of sedition among them were actuated by different motives. Here then the apostle compares himself with them: follow and imitate me, as I follow and imitate Christ: do not imitate them who, from their worldly pursuits, show themselves to be actuated with a worldly spirit.
Cambridge Bible on 1 Corinthians 4:16
16. be ye followers of me] Literally, imitators. Vulgate, imitatores. St Paul’s was no spurious humility, such as has too often taken the place of real gospel humility in the Christian Church. He could venture to refer to his own example, where his conscience told him he had honestly striven to carry out his Master’s commands.
Barnes' Notes on 1 Corinthians 4:16
Wherefore - Since I am your spiritual father. Be ye followers of me - Imitate me; copy my example; listen to my admonitions.
Whedon's Commentary on 1 Corinthians 4:16
16. Followers—Imitators, as of a model. Christianity is new; and what fashion of character it requires us to shape ourselves to needs not only an inspired instruction but a living pattern. It was a greatness in St.
Sermons on 1 Corinthians 4:16
| Sermon | Description |
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Principles Behind the Woman's Headcovering
by Emanuel Esh
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In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of genuine worship and living out our faith in practical ways. He encourages believers to have a heart of adoration and praise |
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Make Your Life Count 5
by George Verwer
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In this sermon, A.W. Tozer emphasizes the importance of spreading the gospel and evangelizing to the regions beyond. He quotes Paul in 1 Corinthians 4:9, highlighting the sacrifice |
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Npg Summer Session 81 Tape 2 - Union Life Women’s Week
by Norman Grubb
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In this sermon, the speaker discusses the concept of the complete position in the Bible and the process of the Spirit of God. He emphasizes the importance of pressing towards the m |
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Power for the Christian Life
by George Verwer
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In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of young college men receiving a specific message. He highlights the need for discipline, warfare, self-denial, and unity amon |
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Accepting the Truth and Living It Out
by Miki Hardy
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In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of accepting the message of the cross and living it out in our lives. He shares his own experience of feeling fed up and miser |
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Follow Me Pt2
by Phil Beach Jr.
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Phil Beach Jr. emphasizes the call for Christians to live lives worthy of being role models, urging believers to reflect on whether their actions and decisions align with the teach |
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Follow Me Pt1
by Phil Beach Jr.
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Phil Beach Jr. emphasizes the importance of living a life that reflects Christ, urging believers to consider whether they can confidently invite others to follow their example. He |