'Ultimate Guide to Bible Emulations: Transform Your Faith Today'
Posted on 29 June 2026
Bible Emulations
To emulate is to imitate, and in the context of the Bible, emulations refers to a form of jealous competition or ambition driven by envy. The term is used in the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible in two different ways: one negative and one positive. In Galatians 5:19–21, it is listed among the works of the flesh, along with idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, and variance. This negative form of emulation is characterized by covetousness and can lead to a state of hatred and envy.
In Romans 11:14, Paul uses a form of the word emulations to refer to a beneficial jealousy that he hopes will provoke his Jewish brothers to seek God. Paul was sent by God as a missionary to the Gentiles, and he believed that as his Jewish brothers witnessed Gentiles entering into a covenant relationship with God, they would be provoked to jealousy and realize their error in not accepting Jesus as their Messiah. In this case, emulations would have a positive outcome.
As Christians, our goal is to emulate Jesus as He emulated the Father. Paul repeatedly instructed new believers to imitate him as he imitated Christ. Sinful emulations, on the other hand, are related to covetousness, strife, and negative emotions. When we desire to emulate the wicked or harbor jealousy towards others, we cannot live in love and humility as God commands.
Emulating someone means imitating them because we admire certain qualities or behaviors they possess. It is important for us as Christians to strive to emulate Jesus in our lives. This involves imitating His character and following His teachings. By doing so, we can grow closer to God and become more like Him.
Sinful emulations, however, are driven by negative emotions such as envy and jealousy. These emotions can lead us astray from God's plan for our lives and hinder our ability to love others. It is important for us to guard our hearts against these sinful emotions and instead focus on imitating Christ, who exemplified love, humility, and selflessness.
When we allow jealousy and envy to take root in our hearts, it can lead to harmful actions and attitudes. In the Bible, we see examples of how emulations resulted in negative consequences. Joseph's brothers were driven by emulations, which ultimately led them to mistreat him. Gehazi's downfall was also a result of emulations. Additionally, the lies told by Ananias and Sapphira were likely motivated by their desire to attain the same honor as Barnabas in the church.
Emulating others should not be driven by a desire for personal gain or recognition. Instead, it should be rooted in a genuine admiration for someone's character or behavior. We should seek to emulate those who exhibit godly qualities and strive to imitate Christ above all else.
Why This Matters
Understanding the concept of emulations is important for Christians because it helps us discern between healthy emulation and sinful emulation. Healthy emulation involves admiring and imitating godly qualities in others, whereas sinful emulation is driven by envy and jealousy. By recognizing the difference, we can guard our hearts against jealousy and strive to live in love and humility as God commands.
Think About It
- Are there any areas in your life where you find yourself being envious or jealous of others? How can you redirect your focus towards admiring and imitating godly qualities instead?
- Who are some individuals in your life or from history that you admire for their godly character? How can you strive to emulate their qualities in your own life?
- Reflect on the example of Jesus Christ. What are some specific qualities or behaviors that you can strive to emulate in your daily life?
By reflecting on these questions and actively seeking to emulate Christ, we can grow in our faith and become more like Him.
