Why does the Holy Spirit tell believers to follow Paul instead of following Jesus?
The Holy Spirit had Paul tell believers to follow him because Paul shared the same human makeup, failures, weaknesses, and fears. He entered pagan cities trembling but went anyway, providing a relatable example of taking the Gospel to a hostile world and burning with desire for others’ salvation.
Les explains that the Holy Spirit prompted Paul to tell the believing world to follow him rather than to follow Jesus because Paul was of the same human makeup as all believers. Paul had the same failures, weaknesses, and fears. When he went into strange pagan cities, he did not go with a bold facade that showed no fear; he trembled in his boots, not knowing what kind of response he would get. Yet he went anyway, and that is what believers must do. Taking the Gospel out to a belligerent world is a fearsome thing, but this is what Paul means by “be ye followers of Me.” Believers are to burn with that same desire to see more people come to a knowledge of salvation. The context then returns to 1 Corinthians, chapter 11, verse 1, where Paul says, “be ye followers of Me,” and notes that Paul writes to Gentiles.
Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.
More Questions
Which verses tell believers to be followers of Paul?
Three verses in a row say the same thing — 'be ye followers of me' — found in 1 Corinthians 4, Philippians 3, and 1 Corinthians 11.
How should I respond when someone says they follow Jesus instead of Paul?
Some people object to following Paul by saying they follow Jesus, but the Bible says to follow Paul in Philippians 3:17.
How does Les answer people who say they only follow Jesus and not Paul?
When people object that they follow Jesus and go by what Jesus said, the Bible actually directs them to follow Paul's example, as Philippians 3 shows.
What does it mean to be a follower of Paul?
When Paul says 'be ye followers of me,' he means that we should burn with the same desire to see more people come to a knowledge of salvation.
What does Philippians 3 tell believers to do about following Paul's example?
In Philippians chapter 3 Paul tells believers to be followers together of him and to mark those who walk as an example, so that believers would walk in his footsteps as he followed Christ.