Philippians 3:17
in Philippians 3Join one another in following my example, brothers, and carefully observe those who walk according to the pattern we set for you.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Brethren, be ye imitators together of me, and mark them that so walk even as ye have us for an ensample.
KJV
Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.
⋯
This verse in Philippians 3
Commentary
8 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Brethren, be followers together of me - That is, live as I do. A minister of the gospel, a parent, or a Christian of any age or condition, ought so to live that he can refer to his own example, and exhort others to imitate the course of life which he had led. Paul could do this without ostentation or impropriety.
This site's exposition
followers together of me
Paul dares to offer himself as a pattern, be followers together of me, sunmimetai, joint-imitators alongside one another rather than each imitating Paul in isolation. Mark them which walk so, skopeite, the same root as the mark, skopos, of verse 14, asks the church to watch for others who run the same race by the same rule. The command only makes sense because Paul's own life, laid out across the chapter, has just been shown as itself an imitation of Christ's descent and pursuit.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
"Brethren, be ye imitators of me, and mark them which so walk even as ye have us for an ensample." He had said above, "beware of dogs," from such he had led them away; he brings them near to these whom they ought to imitate. If any one, saith he, wishes to imitate me, if any one wishes to walk the same road, let him take heed to them; though I am not present, ye know the manner of my walk, that is, my conduct in life. For not by words only did he teach, but by deeds too; as in the chorus, and the army, the rest must imitate the leader of the chorus or the army, and thus advance in good order. For it is possible that the order may be dissolved by sedition. The Apostles therefore were a type, and kept throughout a certain archetypal model. Consider how entirely accurate their life was, so that they are proposed as an archetype and example, and as living laws. For what was said in their writings, they manifested to all in their actions. This is the best teaching; thus he will be able to carry on his disciple. But if he indeed speaks as a philosopher, yet in his actions doth the contrary, he is no longer a teacher. For mere verbal philosophy is easy even for the disciple: but there is need of that teaching and leading which comes of deeds. For this both makes the teacher to be reverenced, and prepares the disciple to yield obedience. How so? When one sees him delivering philosophy in words, he will say he commands impossibilities; that they are impossibilities, he himself is the first to show, who does not practice them. But if he sees his virtue fully carried out in action, he will no longer be able to speak thus. Yet although the life of our teacher be careless, let us take heed to ourselves, and let us listen to the words of the prophet; "They shall be all taught of God." (Isa. liv. […]
The Medieval Church2 voices
Then when he says, join in imitating me, he urges them to imitate him and others, but to avoid the wicked: first, he makes his point; secondly, he gives the reason (3:18). He says, therefore: Because I regard these things as dung, that I may …
Above he said: "beware of dogs," and thus distanced the Philippians from them. Now he draws them near to those who lead a good life; for this is what "mark" means, that is, pay attention to them and, seeing in them the original pattern, imitate …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Brethren, be followers together of me,....
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
followers--Greek, "imitators together." of me--as I am an imitator of Christ (1Co 11:1): Imitate me no farther than as I imitate Christ. Or as BENGEL "My fellow imitators of God" or "Christ"; "imitators of Christ together with me" (see on Php 2:22;
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase+unbalanced-parens
1 more voice on this verse
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
Brethren, be followers - of me - In the things of Christ let me be your line, and my writings preaching, and conduct, your rule. And mark them - Σκοπειτε. Still alluding to the line in the stadium, keep your eye steadily fixed on those who walk - live, as ye have us - myself, Timothy, and Epaphroditus, for an ensample.
The words behind it
13 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Συμμιμηταί | summimetai | Imitators together | G4831 → | |
| μου | mou | of me | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| γίνεσθε, | ginesthe | do be, | G1096 → | 667 times |
| ἀδελφοί, | adelphoi | brothers, | G80 → | 343 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| σκοπεῖτε | skopeite | do observe | G4648 → | |
| τοὺς | tous | those | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| οὕτω | houto | thus | G3779 → | |
| περιπατοῦντας | peripatountas | walking | G4043 → | |
| καθὼς | kathos | even as | G2531 → | 182 times |
| ἔχετε | echete | you have | G2192 → | 707 times |
| τύπον | tupon | [for] a pattern | G5179 → | |
| ἡμᾶς. | hemas | us. | G3165 → | 1936 times |
ΣυμμιμηταίImitators together
summimetaiG4831 →
μουof me
mouG3165 →1936 times
γίνεσθε,do be,
ginestheG1096 →667 times
ἀδελφοί,brothers,
adelphoiG80 →343 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
σκοπεῖτεdo observe
skopeiteG4648 →
τοὺςthose
tousG3588 →19766 times
οὕτωthus
houtoG3779 →
περιπατοῦνταςwalking
peripatountasG4043 →
καθὼςeven as
kathosG2531 →182 times
ἔχετεyou have
echeteG2192 →707 times
τύπον[for] a pattern
tuponG5179 →
ἡμᾶς.us.
hemasG3165 →1936 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
1 Timothy 4:12Let no one despise your youth, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.
it leads to
- Titus 2:7
In everything, show yourself to be an example by doing good works. In your teaching show integrity, dignity,
- 2 Timothy 2:22
Flee from youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, together with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
- 2 Timothy 2:15
Make every effort to present yourself approved to God, an unashamed workman who accurately handles the word of truth.
- 1 Peter 5:3
not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.
- 2 Peter 1:5–8
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge;
- Titus 2:7
Through
Philippians 4:9Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me, put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
it leads to
- James 1:22
Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Otherwise, you are deceiving yourselves.
- James 1:22
Through
Hebrews 13:7Remember your leaders who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.
it leads to
- 1 Thessalonians 5:12–13
But we ask you, brothers, to acknowledge those who work diligently among you, who preside over you in the Lord and give you instruction.
- Hebrews 13:17
Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they watch over your souls as those who must give an account. To this end, allow them to lead with joy and not with grief, for…
- 1 Thessalonians 5:12–13
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies1
About Philippians
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); J. B. Lightfoot, Saint Paul's Epistle to the Philippians; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on Philippians 12; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Philippians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Philippians.