Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

IMITATION

The conscious or unconscious adoption of the attitudes, beliefs, or behavior of others. The biblical motif of imitation finds expression in language such as “to imitate,” “to become like,” “to follow after,” and is often implicit in terminology like “disciples,” “type,” and “example.”

The OT develops this theme negatively. Although exhorted not “to imitate the detestable ways of the nations” (Deut. 18:9; cf. 6:14; Exod. 23:24; Lev. 18:3), Israel aspires “to be like the nations, the tribes of the countries” (Ezek. 20:32; cf. Deut. 12:30; 1 Sam. 8:20), and thus incurs God’s judgment (2 Kgs. 17:15; Ezek. 25:8). This negative aspect is also present in the NT (Rom. 12:2).

In the NT imitation is informed by the Greco-Roman context, where students were expected to imitate their teachers in philosophy, morality, and conduct (cf. Seneca Ep. 6.5-6; Quintilian Inst. orat. 2.1-15; Philostratus Vit. Ap. 1.19), and also by the heroic exemplars of the Maccabean literature, who urged the devout of Israel to imitate their example of faithfulness to the point of martyrdom (1 Macc. 13:1-9; 2 Macc. 6:27-28; 7:24-29; 4 Macc. 9:23). It is the person and mission of Jesus, however, which provide the definitive character of imitation for the writers of the NT.

Discipleship and imitation are inseparable. The call of Jesus to “follow me” (Matt. 4:19; Mark 10:21; Luke 5:27; John 1:43) demanded a life-long determination on the part of his disciples to pattern their values, beliefs, and behavior after their Master. For the Twelve this involved commitment to service (Mark 10:41-45; Luke 10:29-37), hardship (Mark 8:34-38), and renunciation (Matt. 19:27-29; John 12:26). For Paul too, imitation had a cruciform character (1 Cor. 11:1; cf. Phil. 2:5-8).

As a biblical motif, “the imitation of Christ” has played an important role in the life of the Church, particularly through the popular works of Thomas à Kempis (The Imitation of Christ) and Charles Sheldon (In His Steps).

Moyer Hubbard

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

IMITATION

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)