IMITATE To mimic; to do what is seen to be done by another; sometimes it approximates “be obedient.” Paul’s uses can be divided into three groups:
(1) To call attention to a comparison even when no conscious mimicking is in mind. The Thessalonians shared suffering at the hands of their compatriots comparable to that experienced by the earliest Judean Christians (1 Thess. 2:14). First Thessalonians 1:6 perhaps belongs here.
(2) To follow an example (Phil. 3:17; 2 Thess. 3:7, 9 where Paul’s example of self-support is in view). Obedience may also be in mind as references to tradition (2 Thess. 3:6) and command (3:10) demonstrate.
(3) An equivalent to “be obedient.” Paul exhorted the Corinthians to follow him not primarily by following his personal example but by following his “ways in Christ” which he taught “everywhere in every church” (1 Cor. 4:16–17). The Corinthians were to follow Paul’s example by heeding his counsel to do all for the glory of God without causing offense (1 Cor. 11:1; cp. 10:23–33). In Eph. 5:1 the command to be imitators is again linked with the previous series of commands, especially that of forgiveness (4:25–32). The image of children obedient to parents is common where the thought of imitation as obedience is primary (1 Cor. 4:14–16; Eph. 5:1).
Hebrews urges imitation of the faithfulness and patient endurance of those who inherited the promises (6:12) and the faithfulness of church leaders (13:7). The command of 3 John 11 is general, though specific examples of good (Demetrius) and bad (Diotrephes) are in view.
from vines
IMITATE, IMITATOR
A. Verb.
mimeomai (μιμέομαι, 3401), “a mimic, an actor” (Eng., “mime,” etc.), is always translated “to imitate” in the RV, for KJV, “to follow,”
(a) of imitating the conduct of missionaries, 2 Thess. 3:7, 9; the faith of spiritual guides, Heb. 13:7;
(b) that which is good, 3 John 11. The verb is always used in exhortations, and always in the continuous tense, suggesting a constant habit or practice. See FOLLOW.
B. Nouns.
1. mimetes (μιμητής, 3402), akin to A, “an imitator,” so the RV for KJV, “follower,” is always used in a good sense in the NT. V 2, p 320 In 1 Cor. 4:16; 11:1; Eph. 5:1; Heb. 6:12, it is used in exhortations, accompanied by the verb ginomai, “to be, become,” and in the continuous tense (see A) except in Heb. 6:12, where the aorist or momentary tense indicates a decisive act with permanent results; in 1 Thess. 1:6; 2:14, the accompanying verb is in the aorist tense, referring to the definite act of conversion in the past. These instances, coupled with the continuous tenses referred to, teach that what we became at conversion we must diligently continue to be thereafter. See FOLLOW, Note (4).¶
2. summimetes (συμμιμητής, 4831) denotes “a fellow imitator” (sun, “with,” and No. 1), Phil. 3:17, RV, “imitators together” (KJV, “followers together”).
Vine, W. E., Unger, M. F., & White, W. (1996). Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words. Nashville, TN: T. Nelson.
