Kay

Craig,
Some more food for thought – In English Bible translations, “follow,” “imitate” or “follow my example” comes from the Greek “mimetai” or “mimetes” which means “to mimic” or “imitate” or an “imitator”. : “Be followers of me, even as I also am of Christ” (1Cor 11:1). “Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me” (1Cor 4:16). “Brethren, be followers together of me,…” (Phil 3:17). “And ye became followers of us and of the Lord,…” (1Thes. 1:6). “For yourselves know how you ought to follow us:…. but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us” (2Thes 3:7,9).

Paul did not want anyone to “follow *him*”. In every case where Bible translations tell us to “follow” Paul, the Greek meaning is, “Follow my example or imitate me as I follow Christ’s example and imitate Him.”

Let’s say you and I have been good friends for years and one day you read in the Bible that you are to keep the Sabbath day holy. The next time you see me, you show that to me. If I am convinced and do likewise, I will follow your example or imitate you. That does not mean that I am “following” you or “going after” you.

That’s what Paul was saying when he said, “Imitate me, even as I also imitate Christ” (1Cor 11:1). Paul did not once tell anyone to get behind him as he went about his agenda. He asked people to imitate the ‘good examples’ of himself and others.

Other verses on “follow” when it means “to imitate”, are: Ephesians 5:1; 1 Thessalonians 2:14; Hebrews 6:12; 13:7; 1 Peter 3:13; and 3 John 11.

I am also one who has commented here about parental responsibility. Dave’s comment is a close summary of my belief on that as well. I’ll not rehash, except to reiterate that adult wives are not children.

Husbands and wives both bear responsibility for caring for one another. The greatest “un-role” example of this that I know of personally, is a young friend who’s husband has been in vegatative state for a number of years now. She, as his wife, lives love responsibly – seeing that he has the best care, in the best facility she can afford.