Philippians Chapter 3 verse 17 Holy Bible
Brethren, be ye imitators together of me, and mark them that so walk even as ye have us for an ensample.
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Brothers, take me as your example, and take note of those who are walking after the example we have given.
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Be imitators [all] together of me, brethren, and fix your eyes on those walking thus as you have us for a model;
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Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.
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Brothers, be imitators together of me, and note those who walk this way, even as you have us for an example.
read chapter 3 in WEB
become followers together of me, brethren, and observe those thus walking, according as ye have us -- a pattern;
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Pulpit Commentary
Pulpit CommentaryVerse 17. - Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample; rather, as R.V., imitators together. They are to unite, one and all, in imitating him. In 1 Corinthians 11:1 he gives the ground of this advice, "As I also am of Christ." Mark, here in order to imitate; elsewhere (as Romans 16:17) in order to avoid. He changes the singular number to the plural, modestly shrinking from proposing himself alone as their example. But "ensample" is still singular, because they all (Timothy, Epaphroditus, etc.) present the same image, all imitating Christ. Observe the change of metaphor: hitherto the Christian life has been compared to a race; now he speaks of walking; literally, walking about (περιπατεῖν), moving hither and thither in the daily path of life.
Ellicott's Commentary
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(17-21) In these verses St. Paul turns from the party of Pharisaic perfection to the opposite party of Antinomian profligacy, claiming, no doubt, to walk in the way of Christian liberty which he preached. The co-existence of these two parties was, it may be remarked, a feature of the Gnosticism already beginning to show itself in the Church. He deals with this perversion of liberty into licentiousness in exactly the same spirit as in Romans 6, but with greater brevity; with less of argument and more of grave condemnation. It stands, indeed, he says, self-condemned, by the very fact of our present citizenship in heaven, and our growth towards the future perfection of likeness to Christ in glory.(17) Followers together of me.--The word is peculiar. It signifies unite in following me. In accordance with the genius of the whole Epistle, St. Paul offers his example as a help not only to rectitude but to unity. For the simple phrase "followers of me," see 1Corinthians 4:16; 1Corinthians 11:1; 1Thessalonians 1:6; 2Thessalonians 3:9. In 1Corinthians 11:1, a passage dealing with the right restraints of Christian liberty, we have the ground on which the exhortation is based, "Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ." In that consciousness, knowing the peculiar power of example, both for teaching and for encouragement, St. Paul will not allow even humility to prevent his bringing it to bear upon them. Yet even then we note how gladly he escapes from "followers of me" to the "having us for an example." . . .
