No — Paul was not telling believers to follow him instead of Jesus; he was calling them to follow his example as he followed the risen Christ.
Paul could say "be ye followers of me" because he was the one who brought the Corinthians the gospel message — that Christ died, was buried, and rose again. He immediately adds, "even as I also am of Christ" (1 Corinthians 11:1). Les Feldick explains that Paul is a human example with the same weaknesses as believers, so following Paul directs believers to Christ, not away from Him.
1 Corinthians 4:16 — Paul directly commands believers: "Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me."
1 Corinthians 11:1 — Paul qualifies the command with "even as I also am of Christ."
Philippians 3:17 — Paul extends the appeal to a shared example that the church can mark and follow.
Paul wrote to the Corinthian believers, "Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me" (1 Corinthians 4:16). In the next chapter he repeats the same appeal: "Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ" (1 Corinthians 11:1). To the Philippians he said, "Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample" (Philippians 3:17). The basis of Paul's appeal is the gospel message he delivered: "For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). Scripture records Paul's repeated instruction for believers to imitate his example, while also showing that Paul anchored that example in Christ's death and resurrection.
Les Feldick says these "follow me" verses appear three times in Paul's letters — 1 Corinthians 4, Philippians 3, and 1 Corinthians 11. Paul is not setting himself up as the Savior or as some God; rather, he says, "As I follow the resurrected, ascended Lord, you follow me." The Holy Spirit prompted Paul to tell the believing world to follow him because Paul is made of the same human make-up as we are — the same failures, weaknesses, and fears. Les also points out that Paul was the one who first brought the gospel into Corinth, and that everything Jesus said in His earthly ministry was said before the cross. Paul's gospel came from the ascended Lord in glory, making Paul's writings the "meat of our doctrine." For Les, following Paul means following his example of proclaiming the crucified and risen Lord — it never means replacing Jesus Christ.
No. Les Feldick stresses that Paul "isn't setting himself up as the Savior of the world" and "isn't setting himself up as some God, never." Paul's appeal is, "As I follow the resurrected, ascended Lord, you follow me." Following Paul is a way of following Christ, not an alternative to Him.
Les says the Holy Spirit prompted Paul to tell the believing world to follow him because Paul is of the "same human make-up" — he has the same failures, the same weaknesses, the same fears. Les also sees a timing reason: everything Jesus said in His earthly ministry was before the cross, while Paul received his gospel from the Lord in glory after the work of the cross was finished. So Paul's teaching speaks directly to believers in the present age.
Les connects the command to Paul's own conduct. Paul entered Corinth as the first to bring the gospel, delivering that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again according to the Scriptures. He repeated the command in 1 Corinthians 11 while writing to Gentiles, and Les applies it to evangelism: Paul went into pagan cities trembling with fear but went anyway, and "be ye followers of me" includes burning with the same desire to see people come to a knowledge of salvation.
Some in Corinth claimed "we follow Paul," others "we follow Apollos," and still others "we follow Christ." Les explains the divisions were personality-based, not doctrinal. Paul gained his converts through the Holy Spirit's working, while Apollos was magnetic and charismatic. Paul rejected these divisions outright.
Paul Brought the Gospel to Corinth
Paul was the first to bring the gospel to Corinth, having received it from the ascended Lord in glory, and he delivered that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again according to the Scriptures.
Follow Me as I Follow Christ
Paul repeats "be ye followers of me" in 1 Corinthians 4, Philippians 3, and 1 Corinthians 11, and he is not setting himself up as God — he simply says, "As I follow the resurrected, ascended Lord, you follow me."
A Human Example
Paul tells the church to follow his example because he is made of the same human stuff — with the same failures, weaknesses, and fears — making his example attainable for believers.
Divisions Over Personalities
The Corinthian believers divided into factions claiming Paul, Apollos, and Christ, but Paul rejects those divisions.
Paul's Post-Resurrection Gospel
Everything Jesus said in His earthly ministry was before the cross, whereas Paul received his message from the Lord in glory after the cross, making Paul's writings where the meat of doctrine lies.
Paul's Converts From the Spirit
Paul did not draw people by appearance or speech; he gained converts through the Holy Spirit, and the divisions were personality-based, not doctrinal.
A Beseeching Appeal
In 1 Corinthians 4:16 Paul says, "Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me," which Les notes is contrary to what most people think.
Following Paul in Evangelism
Paul went into pagan cities afraid and trembling but went anyway; "be ye followers of me" calls believers to the same desire to see people saved.
1 Corinthians 4:16: Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.
Paul's direct command that believers be followers of him — the central verse of the question.
1 Corinthians 11:1: Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.
Paul immediately qualifies the command by anchoring it to Christ's own example.
Philippians 3:17: Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.
Paul expands the call to include other believers who follow the same pattern.
1 Corinthians 15:3-4: For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
The gospel Paul delivered is why he can tell believers to follow him — he brought the message of Christ's death, burial, and resurrection.
No. Paul wrote "be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ" (1 Corinthians 11:1). Les Feldick says Paul was not setting himself up as the Savior or as God; he was simply following the resurrected, ascended Lord and inviting others to follow his example.
Les Feldick points out that Jesus' earthly ministry words were spoken before the cross. Paul received his gospel from the risen Lord in glory, so his writings address believers after the cross — where, Les says, the meat of our doctrine lies.
For Les, it means following Paul's pattern of taking the gospel to a belligerent world even when we are afraid. Paul trembled in his boots before entering pagan cities but went anyway, and he called believers to burn with the same desire to see people come to salvation.
Watch the Teaching: What the Bible Really Says About Salvation — 1 Corinthians 15 Explained