The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:9)

The Example Of Paul

Putting oneself up as an example for others to follow is an intimidating exercise in self-control. The apostle Paul, on multiple occasions, tells his readers to imitate him as he seeks to imitate Christ. He goes a step further with the Philippian letter to exhort his brethren to do four things that directly come from his life as a Christian. He wants the brethren to follow his teaching and to put into practice what he gave them in the teaching of Jesus Christ. Everything they heard from him and everything they saw in him was on the table for discussion. Paul opened his life wide, inviting the saints to examine his teaching and his life to see Christ living in him.

The apostle did not suggest that he was a perfect example of someone who never failed. Paul struggled as all men do in the battle between the flesh and the spirit. What Paul did was to make every effort to present himself as an example for others. He lived his life for the glory of God, but he also recognized the power of example. His aim in life was first to please God and His divine will. He then wanted his effort toward righteous living to serve as a model for others to follow. Paul had the authority of an apostle to enforce his teachings on others, but he would rather they follow his example. The words of the gospel he gave the Philippians came from God. The things that they learned from him, he wanted them to do as God willed. He taught them the gospel. They must obey the words of the gospel because it was from God.

The saints in Philippi received Paul’s teachings as the word of God. Paul wanted them to be accountable for accepting the teaching in their lives. They had received the gospel from Paul as the authority of the word of God. This made them responsible for accepting the word as truth without deviation. One of the core principles of teaching is to receive the word as authority from the mouth of God. Paul did not want any confusion or division over what he taught as the gospel of Jesus Christ. The saints had received Paul’s teachings as authoritative, and Paul did not want them to dismiss the power of the message.

Paul reminded the disciples in Philippi that what they heard from him was from God. He had shared the gospel with them with the expectation of the saints being doers of the word, not merely hearers of the word. Hearing alone does not accomplish the will of the Father. The things that they heard from Paul required them to do. God gave His word to men to share the good news of Jesus Christ with the world. Paul was accountable for what he taught. He knew the gravity of his preaching rested upon preaching the whole counsel of God. What the saints had heard required the preaching to affirm his word as truth. Hearing the word was part of the disciples receiving what Paul taught and then changing their lives accordingly.

Finally, Paul wanted the brethren to look at his life and follow his example. The apostle wanted the saints to be of the same mind and join in following his model of righteousness. Many Christians were walking contrary to the gospel of Christ, becoming enemies of the cross. They were more concerned about their reputations, pride, self-worth, and popularity than preaching the pure gospel. Paul opened his life, telling the disciples to do what they saw in his life. That requires great courage to present oneself as an example of Christ and to exhort others to emulate that life as a pattern of righteousness. The things that they saw in Paul would become the foundation for their own lives.

It takes courage to invite the world to follow the life pattern that exemplifies the personal example before others. Whatever the saints had learned from Paul, received from the apostle, heard in his teaching, and saw in his life; Paul wanted the brethren to pattern their lives after him as he patterned his life after Christ. The apostle had found the God of peace as his role model. Following the example of Paul was following the example of Christ. It was never a perfect model, but that is what Paul strove for. The example of the one can change the lives of the many. There is no greater challenge than to follow the example of Paul and exhort others to see the same in their own lives.