I Thessalonians 1:6-7 ~ The Condition of the Thessalonians

Excerpt:

"You yourselves became imitators or followers of us and of the Lord. In Paul's day the mime or mimic was an actor. Not somebody who answered verbally according to the script. But they would act out a message for people to receive without saying a word. So Paul is saying as that expression of Christ is in us, you begin to follow that expression because the same Christ is in you. In order for you to be following Christ accurately you must be living like we are - the same expression. Paul's ministry is different but his message was, 'Become like us, one with us. As you see Christ express Himself through us, so imitate us.' So they became expressions of Christ just like Paul."