John Calvin Commentary 1 Corinthians 11:1

"Be ye imitators of me, even as I also am of Christ." — 1 Corinthians 11:1 (ASV)

Imitators of me. From this, it appears how absurdly chapters are divided, since this sentence is separated from what precedes it—to which it ought to have been connected—and is joined to what follows, with which it has no connection. Let us, therefore, view this as the end of the preceding chapter. Paul had there presented his own example to confirm his doctrine. Now, so that the Corinthians might understand that this would be fitting for them, he exhorts them to imitate what he had done, even as he had imitated Christ.

Here, two things are to be observed: first, that he prescribes nothing to others that he had not first practiced himself; and second, that he directs himself and others to Christ as the only pattern of right action. For while it is the role of a good teacher to instruct nothing in words that he is not prepared to practice in action, he must not, at the same time, be so austere as to immediately require from others everything that he does himself, as is the way of the superstitious.

For they also impose upon others everything that they favor, and want their own example to be considered an absolute rule. The world is also, naturally, inclined to misguided imitation (κακοζηλίαν) and, like apes, strives to copy whatever it sees done by influential people.

We see, however, how many evils have been introduced into the Church by this absurd desire to imitate all the actions of the saints, without exception. Let us, therefore, maintain all the more carefully this doctrine of Paul: that we are to follow people, provided they take Christ as their primary model (πρωτότυπον), so that the examples of the saints may not tend to lead us away from Christ, but rather to direct us to Him.