Episode 196 - "Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ!" 1 Corinthians 10:33-11:1

1 Cor. 10:33 just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.

1Cor. 11:1 Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.

I made the decision to write this week's episode reviewing the last verse we covered last week and including the first verse of the next chapter. There are multiple reasons why I did this. One reason is to show the importance of interpreting chapter 11, verse 1 in light of its preceding text. The other reason is that I found the rest of chapter 11 to generate as many or more questions in my mind as it answered, and I felt that I needed more time to work on this. Furthermore, it’s a section of Scripture that leads to contentious debate. My desire is to interpret it with integrity to what Paul intended and extrapolate a principle or principles that are valuable for our worship today. I simply did not have the time to do that this week. I would encourage you to read through chapter 11 and consider what Paul is saying. If it were taken at face value and not disregarded as something culturally bound to his day and time, would it be valuable for us today?

It appears to me that those involved in inserting verse and chapter breaks may have slipped on this one. As I read the context, it seems that Paul’s statement, “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ,” is the conclusion of the preceding section. It doesn’t seem to fit well with what follows in chapter 11, and to take it as a statement all by itself risks making Paul look self-righteous and arrogant.

Paul's words emphasized the need to exercise one’s liberty in Christ in a discerning manner that seeks to glorify God and build up other weaker people in the faith rather than give an offense to drive them away from the gospel of Christ. Clearly, Paul’s obsession in his life is to lead others to saving faith in Jesus Christ.

Therefore, Paul’s instruction to “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ” is not a claim to have achieved the righteousness of Jesus through his own actions. He’s explaining both his priorities (that others may be saved) and his plan to accomplish that (by imitating Christ).

We are welcome to respond to Paul’s invitation as well. Let’s follow Christ with the priority of leading others into a relationship with Jesus.