# Imitation of Christ in The Imitation of Christ

> Theme guide for The Imitation of Christ by Thomas à Kempis.

The central theme is the call to conform one's entire life to the example and mind of Christ, emphasizing that true wisdom and salvation come from following His life and teachings rather than from intellectual knowledge.

## Where it surfaces

- [The Imitation of Christ](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_imitation_of_christ_se/chapters/the-imitation-of-christ): The central theme of the chapter, urging the reader to follow Christ's life and teachings as the path to truth and eternal life.
- [Book I: Admonitions Profitable for the Spiritual Life](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_imitation_of_christ_se/chapters/book-i-admonitions-profitable-for-the-spiritual-life): The chapter opens with the direct call to follow Christ's example and despise the world's vanities.
- [Of the Imitation of Christ, and of Contempt of the World and All Its Vanities](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_imitation_of_christ_se/chapters/i): The central theme: following Christ's life and character to gain true illumination and avoid blindness of heart.
- [XII: Of the Royal Way of the Holy Cross](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_imitation_of_christ_se/chapters/xii): Believers are called to follow Christ's example by taking up their cross and conforming to His sufferings.
- [Of the obedience of one in lowly subjection after the example of Jesus Christ](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_imitation_of_christ_se/chapters/xiii): Christ's own subjection to humanity is held up as the model for the disciple's obedience.
- [That Temporal Miseries Are to Be Borne Patiently After the Example of Christ](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_imitation_of_christ_se/chapters/xviii): The chapter directly exhorts the reader to imitate Christ's patience in bearing temporal miseries.
- [LVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_imitation_of_christ_se/chapters/lvi): The entire chapter is a direct call to imitate Christ by denying self and taking up the cross.
- [Of the dignity of this Sacrament, and of the office of the priest](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_imitation_of_christ_se/chapters/v): The priest is called to diligently follow Christ's footsteps, bear ills meekly, and mourn for sins, embodying Christ's example.
- [Of the Oblation of Christ upon the Cross, and of Resignation of Self](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_imitation_of_christ_se/chapters/viii): The chapter directly calls the disciple to imitate Christ's self-offering on the Cross as the model for daily self-resignation.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_imitation_of_christ_se/themes/imitation_of_christ
- Themes index: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_imitation_of_christ_se/themes