Christ is represented as the ' image '—si'«i»— which Christians are to resemble (Ro 829, 1 co 16-19, 2 Co 3I8, Col 310). But those passages also which represent Christ as the image of God must be taken no less into account ; for Christ's claim to an uncondi- tional personal authority is expressly based upon the fact that ~' ' * " ■' ' ■'"' resentation— '" """
115, He 13- lis connexion men- i ' children of God,'
t ' (Mt 69' 45,
; filial relation i f the example of (
Besides the terms already considered, whicn give more or less formal expression to the Christian idea of exampleship, there are many more, which — some of them in the most elementary and untechnical terms— no less definitely express the same thought. The very idea of discipleship in our Lord's teaching involved the idea of the personal exampleship of the Master (see esp. Mt 102-'. 25, Lk 1426. 27. 33, Jn 1333 158). The same thought is expressed in Eph 420 'Ye have not so learned Christ.' In He 620 Jesus is called our ' Forerunner.' His temptations are typical (He 29-18 4I6), and He is our example in the enduring of temptation (He 3if- 123ir-). True believers have the 'mind of Christ' (1 Co 216, Ph 25, of. Eo 86- 27 122). Christ is the 'life,' and as such is the 'light' of men (Jn 14.9.14.18, ct. 319 8I2 96 1235. 36. 4B, 1 Jn 11-3). He is Himself 'the way,' etc. (Jn 146). Believers are to 'put on ' Christ (Eo 131-', Gal 327, Eph 424, Col 310). The Christian's 'walk' is to be according to Christ (see esp. Jn 1235, 1 Jn 17 26, Eph 62- 8, Col 26). Finally,— for an ex- haustive study of the linguistic usage is not intended, — many of the most characteristic expressions of the thought of example- ship in Christianity are effected without the use of any peculiar terms. The word 'as,' or something else equally simple and direct, often best serves the purpose (e.g. Mt 648, 1 p 1I6, Eph 432 52, 1 Jn 32 47-21).
B. The Doctrine. —i. The example op Christ.— i. In the teaching of Jesus no truth is more essential than that God the Father Himself is the original and absolute example for all per- sonal life. The Law is holy, for it is the expres- sion of the will of God. But the letter apart from God's immediate personal will is dead. As Jesus expounds the Law, the disciples learn to look through the particular commandment to the per- sonal will of the living God. It is not enough to keep the commandment in the most scrupulous f.ashidii, as if it wen^ something standing apart and .(oiipli'lo in itself (Ml .T-'"). We have to do directly .'illi (hhI (liiiisclf. His will and per.sonal nature III.' ..HI s,,!,. :ai.l .Hl.si.hit.' standard (Mt f,**-'^). In ,iii-\\.T t.i thi' young ndor who asked what good iliiiij li.' shimli'l do in order to have eternal life, Ii -11 r.hiM's 1,1 be regarded as one who might |.i..|...-.' .^11 novel good — some good other than
li,.i wliiih is already known from God. Apart 11.. Ill C.il (here is ni> o.xid (Mt IQi"- "). To love I i...l is thr lirst iiiiiiinan.linent ; and the coming of His kin-.I.iin and the .L.iiig of His will should be man's lirst concern (Mt -J^^ &«-^).
But Jesus does more than point to God as the absolute standard for personal life. He comes to make God known. It is not enough to know that God is the standard, so long as God's nature is un- known. So Je.sus was sent as the ].iTfi'il ii\cla tion of the Father (Jn H'J- 1"). Notllml C..! v,a-, hitherto unknown: what the Jews \\ ..i -lup|i.d they knew (Jn 422). Jesus came to cumpletu the revelation of God. He gives a perfect interpreta- tion of the mind and will of God, and in His own Person perfectly exemplifies that mind and will. He is conscious of perfect accord with the will of the Father (Mt 12'" 51"- ", Jn 5" i^ G""* 8=» 14^')- His words and acts He has learned from the Father, even from the Father's example (Jn 8™ 517. 19), xhis principle determines His whole treat-
iiient of the Musait- Law. The inevitable limita- tions of mere statutes He overcomes by an appeal to the Divine example and order (as in the case of the law of the Sabbath and the law of marriage, Jn 5", Mt 19'''', in the latter ease appealing also to Scripture as well as to fact). And because He knows God as the Son knows the Father — immedi- ately and perfectly (Jn 7-" S-""' lO''', Mt 11='), and because He perfectly fullils the will of God, Jesus demands an unconditional following, which sluill consist, not in copying the outward form, but in the most inward appropriation of the ruling principle of His life (Mt 7='"=" 28™ 10==-'^ ll'^- ^ 20'-^--'' 1624.25 20=2 26»» S's-^^ 19=1, Jn IS^-i" S'" 12»- »»•■"-* 1312-17 154-7 1721-23 2122). He does not set Himself forth as a substitute for the Father, but as the One who knows God and teaches us to know Him. He is the Light of Life, the Way, the Truth, the Life, the visible manifestation of God ( Jn 8'- 14«- »)• Christ's claim to absolute authority (wliich e.x-