As the word then shows, this verse brings to a conclusion Paul’s brief appeal to his status as the readers’ spiritual father. I urge you may also be translated as “I beg you” (Good News Bible) or “I ask you very strongly.” Be imitators of me as children should imitate their father, or pupils imitate their teacher.

We do not know what Paul meant by the action of imitating him. Perhaps he was thinking most directly of the humiliations mentioned in verses 11-13, which contrasted with the proud claims of some of the Corinthian Christians. Paul similarly appeals to his own way of life as an example in 1 Thes 2.1-9, an earlier letter; see also 1 Thes 1.6. However, the reference to “my ways” in 1 Cor 4.17 is taken by some commentators to mean a rather fixed set of ethical rules; see the comments on 4.17. This is probably what Paul is referring to in this verse. The phrase be imitators of me may also be expressed as “that you follow my example” or “… the example which I have set for you.”

Quoted with permission from Ellingworth, Paul and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians, 2nd edition. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1985/1994. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .