Therefore I urge you to imitate me.
It is not that we don’t have the right to support, but we did it to make ourselves an example to you so that you would imitate us.
Join in imitating me, brothers and sisters, and pay careful attention to those who live according to the example you have in us.
Imitate me, as I also imitate Christ.
and you yourselves became imitators of us and of the Lord when, in spite of severe persecution, you welcomed the message with joy from the Holy Spirit.
Remember your leaders who have spoken God’s word to you. As you carefully observe the outcome of their lives, imitate their faith.
Do what you have learned and received and heard from me, and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.
not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.