Who Are You Copying? - 1 Corinthians 4

 Paul’s Appeal and Warning

14 I am writing this not to shame you but to warn you as my dear children. 15 Even if you had ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. 16 Therefore I urge you to imitate me. 17 For this reason I have sent to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church.

Paul becomes more pastoral to the Corinthians starting in verse 14. He calls them "dear children", a phrase of intimacy.  Paul says even if they have 10,000 guardians, they only have one father.  The term for "guardians" is best interpreted as "teaching assistant".  The guardians (teaching assistants) escorted boys and girls back and forth from school and oversaw their conduct (Guzik).  Paul considered himself a father because he brought the gospel to the Corinthians.  Though it didn't give him power over them it was a special relationship.  

Then, Paul says to "imitate" him.  The word comes from the Greek word "mimeo", which is where we get our term "mimeograph". A mimeograph makes copies.  He could have easily have said, "copy me as I try to copy Christ!".  Paul was not saying this because he was perfect, but because he was committed to follow Jesus' way of life despite his imperfection.  Paul tried to copy Jesus' life, and then Timothy tried to copy Paul's way of life.  This is not to say we are not trying to copy Jesus' way of life.  We don't follow any human being, and yet we can be mentored and discipled by others who have been living out the Christian faith longer than us.  Finally, Paul says this agrees with what he teaches in all the churches.  Paul didn't give one message to one church and another to the next church.  Paul's message and teaching were the same.  His message was how we come to Christ by grace through faith, and then how we follow Christ and imitate his way of life through the Spirit. 

18 Some of you have become arrogant, as if I were not coming to you. 19 But I will come to you very soon, if the Lord is willing, and then I will find out not only how these arrogant people are talking, but what power they have. 20 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power. 21 What do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a rod of discipline, or shall I come in love and with a gentle spirit?

Apparently some in the Corinthian church were doubting Paul's sincerity, since he had not yet visited them yet.  They also were prideful in thinking that Paul might have been afraid to visit them.  In asserting themselves in this way, they were acting as if they were all powerful.  In essence Paul gives them a choice.  Guzik says, 

"Paul leaves the ball in their court. Which Paul did they want to come – the Paul with the rod of correction (used by shepherds to smack disobedient sheep), or the Paul with the spirit of gentleness? There is no doubt Paul would prefer to come in gentleness, but he’ll leave that decision up to the Corinthian Christians."

Could you honestly say that you are trying to imitate Jesus' way of life? What parts of Jesus' life are hardest to copy?  Who has taught and/or imitated for you how to be a Christ follower?  If someone were to observe you on a given day would they conclude you are a disciple of Christ?