Section 305
4Imitation is not divorced from the recognition of authority: the imitation of God is the children’s imitation of their Father; the imitation of Christ is the disciples’ imitation of their Lord; the imitation of Paul is the converts’ imitation of their apostle. See W. Michaelis, TDNT 4, pp. 666-73 (s.v. μɩμέομαɩ ϰτλ); E. Schweizer, Lordship and Discipleship, E.T. (London, 1960); H. D. Betz, Nachfolge und Nachahmung Jesu Christi im Neuen Testament (Tübingen, 1967).
5Cf. Targ. Ps.–Jon. Lev. 22:28, “As our Father is compassionate in heaven, so you must be compassionate on earth,” and, more generally, the recurrent theme of the “holiness code” in Leviticus: “You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy” (Lev. 19:2, etc.).
6Following Christ’s example is a theme that pervades the NT; cf. Matt. 10:24 par. Luke 6:40; Mark 8:34 and parallels; John 15:12; Heb. 12:2; 1 Pet. 2:21; 1 John 2:6; Rev. 14:4.
7The verb commonly used is the compound παϱαδίδωμɩ (as here). In Gal. 1:4 the simple verb is used: τοῦ δóντος ἑαυτòν ὑπὲϱ τῶν άμαϱτɩῶν ἡμῶν.
8Compare the treatment of Ps. 40:6-8 in Heb. 10:5-10, where animal sacrifices are set aside and the sacrifice of Christ is the fulfilment of his undertaking: “Lo, I have come to do thy will, O God.”