“I do not write these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children. For if you were to have countless tutors in Christ, yet you would not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. Therefore I exhort you, be imitators of me.”

Paul was not opposed to shaming the Corinthians for suing one another (1 Cor. 6:5) or for their ignorance of basic doctrine regarding the resurrection (1 Cor. 15:34), for such behavior was repugnant and inexcusable. But his present line of teaching was not meant to shame, but to admonish them. One might wrestle with splitting hairs here—it seems the problem of divisions in Corinth was at least understandable and needed correcting—but it did not require shaming.

Paul loved the Corinthian believers with a deep affection, like a father for his children, errant though they were. We would do well to pray for similar feelings toward sinning Christians today. To the Galatian believers, he directed this kind of attitude: “Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted” (Gal. 6:1). This came from a desire to help, rather than tear down, sinning brothers or sisters in Christ. We must resist the urge toward judgmentalism, for we could easily be tempted, and falling is not outside of the reach of any of us!

Notice the distinction between serving as a “tutor” versus serving as a “father.” Paul only used this word three times in his writing, the other two being in Galatians and referring to the Law. Here it seems he acknowledged there are many who can teach and explain biblical truth in order to impart knowledge, but there are others who teach biblical truth in order to train for life. There is a difference. The first could be called biblical technicians, the second spiritual parents. Biblical technicians focus on a formal conformity to what is taught, while spiritual parents focus on relational training for spiritual life.

Until now, Paul had downplayed his role as figurehead for one of the Corinthian divisions. He, Apollos, and Cephas were all on the same level. Christ and Him crucified is and always should be the main focus for believers. Paul did have a unique and special relationship with them: he is their spiritual father, in the sense that he was the one who preached the gospel to them, through which they were saved! Without him they would not have become children of faith. Therefore, like children imitating their father, they should imitate him as he modeled for them the imitation of Christ (see 1 Cor. 11:1).

Lord, help me demonstrate for others what it looks like to imitate Christ.