Bible Dictionary
FOLLOWER
A follower is an imitator, especially one who adopts the faith and conduct of a worthy example. The New Testament calls believers to imitate Christ, apostles, and faithful Christians.
Definition
A follower is one who imitates or follows the example of another. In the New Testament sense represented here, the term is used positively for becoming an imitator of a worthy person, especially in faith and conduct.
Biblical Usage
The King James Version uses “followers” where the Revised Version commonly reads “imitators.” Believers are urged to imitate Christ, the apostles, and faithful Christians, and to become joint imitators of a godly example. The emphasis is on reproducing faithful conduct rather than merely accompanying someone.
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>fol'-o-er (mimetes):</p><p>"Followers" is in the King James Version the translation of mimetes, "to imitate" (in the New Testament in the good sense of becoming imitators, or following an example), rendered by the Revised Version (British and American) "imitators" (1Co 4:16; 11:1; Eph 5:1; 1Th 1:6; 2:14; Heb 6:12); summimetai, "joint imitators" (Php 3:17); in 1Pe 3:13, the King James Version "followers of that which is good," the word, according to a better text, is zelotis, the Revised Version (British and American) "if ye be zealous of that which is good."</p>