What distinctiveness does Paul feel about himself that makes him worthy of imitation? And does he really direct this imitation to himself?
Paul writes to the Corinthians: “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ” (1 Cor 11:1; see 1 Thes 1:6). This provides a key to what it means to imitate Paul; in the final analysis, it is the imitation of Christ. Matthew underlines this for his community when he recalls the words of Jesus: “Do not be called ‘Rabbi.’ You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers… Do not be called ‘Master’; you have but one master, the Messiah” (Mt 23:8, 10).
What does Paul think of the imitation of Christ? Does he have in mind the imitation of the earthly Jesus? From his letters, Paul tells us so little about the earthly life of Jesus that it is difficult to see how he could have presented him before his converts as a model. But Paul certainly knew Jesus Christ. He defends his ministry as an apostle because he has seen Jesus the Lord (1 Cor 9:1). Jesus has appeared to him (1 Cor 15:8). He has seen the risen and glorious Jesus: the Easter Christ, the Messiah, the Son of God.
