25 Hierarchical Order in Christianity

1 Corinthians 11:1-2 Be ye followers of me even as I am also am of Christ. Now I praise you because you remember me in everything and hold firmly to the traditions, just as I delivered them to you.

The Corinthians had expressed to Paul, either in their letter or via their spokesmen (cf, 1:11; 16:17), that they remained devoted to Paul and to the teachings, the central doctrines of the faith, which he had communicated to them (cf. 11:23; 15:1, 3). For this Paul commended them: I praise you. He uses this praise to soften the blow for the rebuke that follows. He also uses a play on the words, tradition and delivered. He wants the Corinthians and us to realize that these concepts he teaches are from God and he is the hand-deliverer without any modification.