Thematic Bible: Example

Therefore, holy brothers [and sisters], who have been called [by God] to share in heaven, think about Jesus, the Apostle and Head Priest, whom we have confessed [as Savior]. Verse Concepts

Now I Paul, who am humble [when speaking] face to face with you, but bold when I am away from you, urge you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ [Note: This means either Paul was imitating Christ's behavior or that the Corinthians were to do so]: Verse Concepts

Accept my reins [on your life], and learn about me, because I am gentle and humble, and [in my service] you will experience rest in your spirits. Verse Concepts

Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone wants to be my follower, he should deny self [i.e., of always having its own way] and lift up his cross [of responsibility] and [then he can] become my follower. Verse Concepts

For I have set an example for you, so that you should do as I have done for you. Verse Concepts

May God [who is the source] of steadfastness and encouragement, give you [a sense of] like-mindedness among yourselves, in harmony with [the example of] Christ Jesus, Verse Concepts

You should think about things the way Christ Jesus did. Verse Concepts

Tolerate one another's [weaknesses] and forgive each other if anyone [of you] has a complaint against someone else. You should forgive people just as the Lord forgave you. Verse Concepts

We should fix our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and completer of the [or, "our"] faith. [Note: Jesus is here pictured as the one who completely fulfills the life of faith, or who provides us with the ability to live such a life]. [And] because He could look forward to joy, He endured the cross, despising its shame, and has sat down at the right side of God's throne. Verse Concepts

[After all], this is what you were called to do, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you would follow in His steps. Verse Concepts

For you, yourselves, know how you ought to follow our example, for we did not live in idleness when we were among you; Verse Concepts

I have demonstrated before you a [good] example in all [these] things, so that you [too] will work hard to help those who are [physically] weak. [Also] remember the words of the Lord Jesus who Himself said, 'It is a greater blessing [for you] to give [to people's needs] than to receive [help yourselves].' " Verse Concepts

You should hold on firmly to the pattern of sound teaching that you have heard from me, while [maintaining your] faith and love in [harmony with] Christ Jesus. Verse Concepts

Brothers, you people should join together in imitating me, and take note of those who are following my example. Verse Concepts

So, I urge you to imitate my lifestyle. Verse Concepts

Yet I wish that everyone were like me [i.e., with the ability to remain single. See 9:5]. However, each person has his own special gift from God; one has this gift [i.e., being content to remain single. See Matt. 19:12], and another has the other gift [i.e., feeling the need to marry and have a family]. Verse Concepts

You people should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ. Verse Concepts

You people should do those things which you have learned and received and heard from me, and seen in me, and [then] the God [who gives] peace will be with you. Verse Concepts

Therefore, dearly loved ones, since you know about these things ahead of time, be on your guard so that you are not led astray by the error of lawless people, and [thus] fall from your own stability [i.e., your safe or secure position in Christ]. Verse Concepts

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Look carefully [at how you are living] so that no one falls away from God's unearned favor, and that no "poisonous plant sprouts up" to cause trouble and corrupt many people [Note: This is an analogy from Deut. 29:16-18 being used as a warning against the evil influence of wicked people], Verse Concepts

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So, we should do our best to enter into that state of rest, so that no one fails [to do so] by following the same example of disobedience [i.e., as seen in the Israelites. See verses 2, 6]. Verse Concepts

I [also] remember the sincere faith you have in your heart, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am convinced, lives in you [too]. Verse Concepts

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Remember your leaders who told you God's message. [Note: This probably refers to former preachers who had since died]. Consider the outcome of the way they lived and imitate their faith. Verse Concepts

Do not allow anyone to look down on you because you are [so] young, but you should be an example to those who believe [in Christ] in your speech, in your conduct, in your love, in your faith [and] in your purity. Verse Concepts

Do not act as dictators over the people you are assigned to care for, but [rather] serve as examples of how they ought to live. Verse Concepts

In everything [you do], you should show that you are a [proper] example of doing good deeds. In your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that the person who opposes [us] will have to be ashamed for not having anything bad to say about us.

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And you became imitators of us and of the Lord. [And even though] you suffered much affliction, you welcomed the message with joy [given to you] by the Holy Spirit, and so became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. [Note: These two provinces make up present-day Greece]. For the Lord's message sounded forth from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith toward God [also] spread everywhere [else], so that we do not have to say anything [about you].

Brothers, take the [Old Testament] prophets, who spoke in the name [i.e., by the authority] of the Lord, as your examples of suffering and patience. Notice that we consider those who endured [suffering with patience] to be blessed [by God]. You people have heard of Job's patience and have seen what the Lord finally did [for him]. The Lord is very compassionate and merciful.

My dearly loved ones, I urge you, as a people who are foreigners and strangers [in this world], do not give in to sinful desires, which wage war against the soul. You should live such good lives before [unconverted] Gentiles, so that even though they accuse you of being evildoers, by seeing your good deeds, they will [be led to] honor God [for you] on the day He visits us again [i.e., to bring judgment]. Submit yourselves to every authority set up by people for the Lord's sake. [Submit to] a king as the [highest] authority, read more.
or to governors who are appointed by him to punish wrongdoers, and to commend those who do right. For it is God's will that, by doing good, you should put to silence the ignorant [talk and actions] of foolish people. As servants of God, you should live as free people, but do not use this freedom to cover up your wrongdoing. Show [proper] respect for everyone. Love your [Christian] brothers [and sisters]. Have an awe-inspiring respect for God. Show honor to the king. Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters and show them respect, not just the ones who are good [to you] and treat you well, but also to those who are harsh toward you. For those of you who put up with such suffering unjustly, because of your close relationship to God, are to be commended. But it is no credit to you if you put up with a beating you deserve. But if you patiently tolerate suffering for doing good, this is pleasing to God. [After all], this is what you were called to do, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you would follow in His steps. [For] He neither sinned nor used deceitful words. When He was spoken to with harsh insults, He did not reply in the same way. When He was made to suffer, He did not threaten [His tormentors], but instead entrusted Himself to God, [whom He knew] would make a righteous judgment [in the matter]. Jesus took upon Himself our sins [when] His body was placed upon the cross so that we, [through] dying to [i.e., giving up] the sinful life, would live for righteousness. You were healed [from your sins] by His being brutally treated. For you people were wandering away like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

For this is the way holy women in ancient times decorated themselves. Their hope was in God and they were known for being in subjection to their own husbands. Sarah obeyed her husband Abraham, even referring to him [in respectful terms such] as "sir." You [wives] are her [spiritual] descendants if you also do what is right and are not fearful [that things in life will turn out badly].

By [having] faith, Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain did. [And] because of his faith he was commended by God for being righteous, when God expressed approval of his offerings. By means of his faith, Abel still speaks [to us], even though he is dead. Verse Concepts

Brothers, take the [Old Testament] prophets, who spoke in the name [i.e., by the authority] of the Lord, as your examples of suffering and patience. Verse Concepts

For I have set an example for you, so that you should do as I have done for you. Verse Concepts

[After all], this is what you were called to do, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you would follow in His steps. Verse Concepts

[We did this], not because we did not have a right [to support], but so we could become an example for you to imitate. Verse Concepts

Do not allow anyone to look down on you because you are [so] young, but you should be an example to those who believe [in Christ] in your speech, in your conduct, in your love, in your faith [and] in your purity. Verse Concepts

In everything [you do], you should show that you are a [proper] example of doing good deeds. In your teaching show integrity, dignity, Verse Concepts

I have demonstrated before you a [good] example in all [these] things, so that you [too] will work hard to help those who are [physically] weak. [Also] remember the words of the Lord Jesus who Himself said, 'It is a greater blessing [for you] to give [to people's needs] than to receive [help yourselves].' " Verse Concepts

You should hold on firmly to the pattern of sound teaching that you have heard from me, while [maintaining your] faith and love in [harmony with] Christ Jesus. Verse Concepts

However, even though I was the worst, I obtained mercy so that the patience of Jesus Christ could be shown toward the worst [of sinners] as an example for those people who would later believe in Him in order to [receive] never ending life. Verse Concepts

Brothers, you people should join together in imitating me, and take note of those who are following my example. Verse Concepts

So, I urge you to imitate my lifestyle. Verse Concepts

You people should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ. Verse Concepts

You people should do those things which you have learned and received and heard from me, and seen in me, and [then] the God [who gives] peace will be with you. Verse Concepts

Yet I wish that everyone were like me [i.e., with the ability to remain single. See 9:5]. However, each person has his own special gift from God; one has this gift [i.e., being content to remain single. See Matt. 19:12], and another has the other gift [i.e., feeling the need to marry and have a family]. and 9:5]. Now to those people who are not married [Note: This probably refers to all unmarried people, and not just to widowers, as some think], or who are widows, I say it is [a] good [idea] for them to remain like me [i.e., single. See verse

For you, yourselves, know how you ought to follow our example, for we did not live in idleness when we were among you; neither did we eat anyone's food without paying for it. But by hard labor and toil, we worked night and day so as not to be a burden to any of you. [We did this], not because we did not have a right [to support], but so we could become an example for you to imitate. read more.
For even when we were with you, we gave you this order: If any person does not [want to] work, he should not [get to] eat.

Therefore, you must [attempt to] be complete, just as your heavenly Father is [already] complete. Verse Concepts

And you masters should treat your slaves the same way; do not threaten them, knowing that God, who is both their Master and yours, is in heaven and He does not respect any particular person [over another]. Verse Concepts

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You people should be merciful just like your Father is merciful. Verse Concepts

And when he had said this he took bread, gave thanks to God for it in front of everyone, then broke it and began to eat. Then they were all encouraged and they themselves took something to eat also.

Now think about how Jesus endured such opposition against Himself from sinners, so that you do not grow weary and become discouraged [yourself]. Verse Concepts