“Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.” – 1 Corinthians 11:1 (KJV)
Many people are surprised when they first read Paul’s words here. How can Paul tell us to follow him? Shouldn’t we just follow Jesus directly?
The answer lies in understanding God’s design for this dispensation of grace.
Why Follow Paul?
Paul is not placing himself above Christ. Instead, he is showing us the divinely appointed order of revelation for today. The glorified, risen Christ from heaven revealed to Paul the mystery—truths that had been “hid in God” from before the world began (Ephesians 3:2–9; Colossians 1:25–26).
This means:
• If you want to follow Christ today, you must follow Him as He is revealed through Paul’s gospel (Romans 2:16; Romans 16:25).
• Jesus in His earthly ministry was sent “only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matthew 15:24). But now, through Paul, Christ speaks directly to Gentiles in this age of grace (Romans 11:13).
Rightly Dividing the Word (2 Timothy 2:15)
• Israel was told to observe the Law of Moses (Exodus 19:5–6), but Paul says we are “not under the law, but under grace” (Romans 6:14).
• Israel looked for an earthly kingdom (Acts 1:6), but Paul tells us our citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:20).
• Israel’s apostles were promised 12 thrones in Jerusalem (Matthew 19:28), but Paul reveals our hope is to reign with Christ in the heavenlies (2 Timothy 2:12).
The Pattern for Us
Paul calls himself a pattern for those who would believe afterward (1 Timothy 1:16). If we ignore Paul, we miss God’s instructions for the Body of Christ today.
Conclusion:
To truly follow Christ in this present dispensation, we must follow Paul—because Christ is following a different program today than He was during His earthly ministry. Paul is not competing with Christ; he is the channel through whom the risen Lord reveals His will for us now.
“Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 11:1)
When you read your Bible, ask: “What did Christ reveal through Paul for us today?” That’s where clarity and assurance come.
Question for you: Have you experienced more peace and understanding when you started studying Paul’s epistles?
