Paul is not really saying,
Follow me, because I have it all together.There is a particular thing here that he is doing that he wants them to follow. Namely, he himself is receiving the Word of the Lord.You received the Word as you saw me receiving the Word of the Lord,and that is how it should be for all of us. Those who teach the Bible should be its most eager students. Thank the Lord that I do not stand before you and say,I have arrived.My best example to you is as one who is seeking to grow through the Word. What I preach to you, I place myself under—so that we together are an example to others: not that we are so great, but that we are seeking to draw nearer to God as we receive the Word of God—the whole counsel of God—everything taught in the Bible, that we receive in obedient faith.And that is just as important for parents as it is for pastors. Maybe it is even more important for parents than it is for pastors, because your children know you better than you are able to know me. My children know me pretty well. And again, we are not setting ourselves up as those who never sin, but we ought to be able to say to our children,
Richard D. PhillipsWatch my life, and I’m living out of the Word of God. I believe it. It has authority in my life. You can bring it to my attention, and I will prayerfully give heed…That example is so important.1
6 And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit,