Additional Notes §22
§22 Imitation of Paul (Phil. 3:17)
There are many itinerant teachers whose example it would be unsafe to follow. Paul recommends his own example and that of others who, like him, adhere to the way of Christ.
3:17 / If Paul’s precept is not clear enough, let his example be followed. The “imitation of Paul” is a remarkable and recurring theme in his letters. He taught his converts by precept, spoken and written, how they ought to live; but a living example could be more telling than many words. If they desire to see Christian life in action, Paul directs their attention to his own conduct, as he does here: “join in imitating me.”
For a man like Paul to take this line meant that he had to be exceptionally careful about his conduct, lest his example be a spiritual stumbling block to others or even, without his intending it, lead them into sin. He urged his converts to be equally careful: “Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God—even as I try to please everybody in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved. Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ” (1 Cor. 10:32–11:1).
These last words are crucial: it was not that Paul wished to set his own life up as an ethical standard; he presented Christ as the absolute standard, in action and teaching alike. He himself was to be imitated only insofar as he imitated Christ, but the imitation of Christ was an exercise he cultivated daily. He knew that many of his converts would imitate him in any case, and he knew that, if his example led them astray, he would have to answer for it on the Day of Christ. Hence the care with which he practiced unremitting self-discipline, so that, “after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified” (1 Cor. 9:27). See also 4:9 below.
Nor was it only his own example that he recommended. There were others who followed the same way of life and shared the same attitudes and principles: Timothy and Epaphroditus have been mentioned in this regard in 2:19–30. Men and women of their quality also presented examples that might be followed with confidence.
3:17 / Take note of: Gk. skopeite, “look,” “watch.” In Rom. 16:17 this verb is used in the sense “watch and avoid”; here it is used in the sense “watch and follow.”
According to the pattern we gave you: lit., “as you have us for an example.” In Greek “us” (hēmas) occupies an emphatic position as the last word in the sentence; it is probably implied that a different example is set by others—namely, those against whom a warning is issued in vv. 18, 19.
See W. P. DeBoer, The Imitation of Paul.