Note 7 at 1 Cor. 11:1: As already explained in note 7 at 1 Corinthians 4:16, p. 879, Paul was not contradicting himself by telling the believers to follow his example. He is advocating them following him in a specific area (1 Cor. 10:33) and he further qualifies this by adding, "even as I also am of Christ." He is saying that as much as his actions line up with Christ then they should follow him.

He then begins immediately to teach that the head of every man is Christ (v. 3), not Paul. This should leave no doubt that Paul was not teaching a blind obedience to himself as is so common among cult leaders.