In the Bible, the concept of "examples" serves as a significant teaching tool, illustrating both positive and negative behaviors for believers to emulate or avoid. The Scriptures provide numerous instances where individuals, communities, and even Christ Himself are presented as examples to guide the faithful in their spiritual journey.

Old Testament Examples

1. Abraham's Faith: Abraham is often cited as an exemplar of faith and obedience. In Genesis 15:6, it is written, "Abram believed the LORD, and it was credited to him as righteousness." His willingness to leave his homeland and later to sacrifice his son Isaac (Genesis 22) demonstrates a profound trust in God's promises.

2. Joseph's Integrity: Joseph's life is a testament to integrity and forgiveness. Despite being sold into slavery by his brothers, he rose to power in Egypt and later forgave them, saying, "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good" (Genesis 50:20).

3. David's Repentance: King David, though a man after God's own heart, sinned grievously. His repentance, as recorded in Psalm 51, serves as a model for seeking God's mercy and forgiveness.

4. The Israelites' Disobedience: The Israelites' repeated disobedience and lack of faith during their wilderness journey serve as a cautionary example. In 1 Corinthians 10:11, Paul writes, "These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us."

New Testament Examples

1. Jesus Christ: The ultimate example for Christians is Jesus Christ. His life, teachings, and sacrificial death provide the perfect model of love, humility, and obedience to God's will. In John 13:15, Jesus says, "I have set you an example so that you should do as I have done for you."

2. The Apostles: The apostles, particularly Paul, often presented themselves as examples to the early church. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 11:1, "Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ."

3. The Early Church: The communal life of the early believers, as described in Acts 2:42-47, serves as an example of fellowship, generosity, and devotion to the apostles' teaching.

4. Timothy and Titus: Paul exhorts Timothy and Titus to be examples to the believers in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity (1 Timothy 4:12; Titus 2:7-8).

Principles of Imitation

The Bible encourages believers to learn from the examples set before them, both positive and negative. Hebrews 13:7 urges, "Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith." The call to imitate is not merely about copying actions but embodying the underlying faith and virtues.

Warnings Against Negative Examples

Scripture also warns against following negative examples. Jude 1:7 references Sodom and Gomorrah as examples of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire due to immorality. Similarly, the Pharisees are often highlighted as examples of hypocrisy and legalism to be avoided (Matthew 23).

Conclusion

The Bible's use of examples serves as a powerful tool for instruction, providing believers with concrete illustrations of how to live a life pleasing to God. Through the lives of biblical figures, both their triumphs and failures, believers are equipped to navigate their own spiritual journeys with wisdom and discernment.3793. ochlos -- a crowd, multitude, the common people
... [Of the 174 NT examples of 3793 (),118 are and 56 are plural. Of the 118,
"63 are in an oblique case, 55 in nominative singular. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3793.htm - 8k

1111. gogguzo -- to mutter, murmur
... murmur. [Examples of onomatopoetic words in (mimicking particular sounds)
include: , , and (see , 1, 160).]. Word Origin onomatop. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1111.htm - 7k

5179b. tupos -- the mark (of a blow), an impression, stamp (made ...
... Word Origin from tupto Definition the mark (of a blow), an impression, stamp (made
by a die) NASB Word Usage example (3), examples (2), form (2), images (1 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5179b.htm - 5k

4102. pistis -- faith, faithfulness
... principle of faith in them," etc. For examples see: Mt 9:2,22,29; Lk 17:19;
Phil 2:17; 2 Pet 1:5, etc.]. Faith (4102) involves but it ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4102.htm - 18k

The Examples of the Saints
... The Treasury of Sacred Song. Book First CXCVI THE EXAMPLES OF THE SAINTS. Give
me the wings of faith, to rise Within the veil, and see. ...
/.../palgrave/the treasury of sacred song/cxcvi the examples of the.htm

Examples of the Saints.
... Chapter IX."Examples of the saints. Wherefore, let us yield obedience to
His excellent and glorious will; and imploring His mercy ...
/.../chapter ix examples of the saints.htm

Examples of the Saints.
... The First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians. Chapter IX."Examples
of the Saints. Wherefore, let us yield obedience to His ...
/.../keith/the epistles of clement/chapter ix examples of the saints.htm

The Duties of Youth, and Examples Suitable to that Age...
... Book I. Chapter XVII. The duties of youth, and examples suitable to that age? The
duties of youth, and examples suitable to that age, are next put forth. 65. ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter xvii the duties of.htm

Examples from among the Heathen, as Well as from the Church, to ...
... Chapter XIII."Examples from Among the Heathen, as Well as from the Church,
to Enforce the Foregoing Exhortation. To this my exhortation ...
/.../tertullian/on exhortation to chastity/chapter xiii examples from among the.htm

Song 14. Examples of Early Piety.
... Divine Songs Song 14. Examples of early piety. Examples of early piety.
8,6,8,6. What blest examples do I find. Writ in the Word of Truth,. ...
/.../watts/divine and moral songs/song 14 examples of early.htm

Song 14. Examples of Early Piety.
... Song 14. Examples of early piety. 1 What blest examples do I find Writ in the Word
of Truth, Of children that began to mind Religion in their youth. ...
/.../watts/divine songs for children/song 14 examples of early.htm

Examples of Such Love.
... Chapter LV."Examples of such love. To bring forward some examples from
among the heathen: Many kings and princes, in times of ...
/.../chapter lv examples of such love.htm

Examples of Such Love.
... The First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians. Chapter LV."Examples
of Such Love. To bring forward some examples [4293] from ...
/.../keith/the epistles of clement/chapter lv examples of such love.htm

The Examples of Christ and the Saints.
... Hymns, Book II HYMN 140 The examples of Christ and the saints. CM The examples
of Christ and the saints. Give me the wings of faith to rise. ...
/.../watts/the psalms and hymns of isaac watts/hymn 140 the examples of.htm

Examples (8 Occurrences)
...Examples (8 Occurrences). ... (BBE). 1 Corinthians 10:6 Now these things were our examples,
to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. ...
/e/examples.htm - 8k

Potter (14 Occurrences)
... These jars are the oldest examples of the potter's article It is inconceivable that
in the country of Babel, Egypt's great rival in civilization, the ceramic ...
/p/potter.htm - 28k

Glass (12 Occurrences)
... A representation of glass-blowing on monuments of the Old Empire, as formerly supposed,
is now regarded as doubtful, but undoubted examples of glazed pottery ...
/g/glass.htm - 21k

Pottery (11 Occurrences)
... These jars are the oldest examples of the potter's article It is inconceivable that
in the country of Babel, Egypt's great rival in civilization, the ceramic ...
/p/pottery.htm - 27k

Weights (14 Occurrences)
... We have no undoubted examples of either, but judging by the dimensions of their
square building-bricks, which are regarded as being two-thirds of a cubit on a ...
/w/weights.htm - 21k

Weaving (4 Occurrences)
... Such passages as Exodus 35:35 Isaiah 19:9, and examples of ancient weaving, lead
us to believe that in Bible times contemporaneous with the primitive loom were ...
/w/weaving.htm - 17k

Measures (50 Occurrences)
... We have no undoubted examples of either, but judging by the dimensions of their
square building-bricks, which are regarded as being two-thirds of a cubit on a ...
/m/measures.htm - 35k

Friendship (13 Occurrences)
... Literature abounds in concrete examples of friendship of either kind noted above,
and of profoundly philosophic as well as sentimental and poetic expositions ...
/f/friendship.htm - 13k

Dictionaries
... In pre-alphabetic times the dictionaries include, besides the syllabaries of which
there were many examples in Assyria, Babylonia, Egypt, Cyprus, etc., and the ...
/d/dictionaries.htm - 38k

Millstone (9 Occurrences)
... more fit for cooking. Numerous examples of both mill and mortar have been
found in ancient excavations. Bliss and Macalister in ...
/m/millstone.htm - 15k

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