1 Corinthians 16:13
in 1 Corinthians 16Be on the alert. Stand firm in the faith. Be men of courage. Be strong.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.
KJV
Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.
⋯
This verse in 1 Corinthians 16
Commentary
15 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Watch ye - The exhortation in this and the following verse is given evidently in view of the special dangers and temptations which surrounded them. The word used here (Γρηγορεῖτε Grēgoreite) means, to keep awake, to be vigilant, etc.; and this may, perhaps, be a military metaphor derived from the duty of those who are stationed as sentinels to guard a camp, or to observe the motions of an enemy. The term is frequently used in the New Testament, and the duty frequently enjoined; Mat 24:41-42; Mat 25:13; Mar 13:35; Luk 21:36; Act 20:31; 1Th 5:6; 2Ti 4:
This site's exposition
stand fast in the faith
on 1 Corinthians 16:13-14
Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong: four military commands in a row, the sentinel's vigilance, the soldier's ground, the man's courage, andrizesthe, and the strength that is received rather than mustered, and the bench hears the letter's whole burden compressed into a drill sergeant's cadence for a church that had been childish (3:1), unstable, and weak. Then verse 14 gives the four commands their law: let all your things be done with charity, agape governing even the militancy, chapter 13 riding shotgun on chapter 16. The exposition keeps the pair together as Paul does, courage without love hardening into the party spirit the letter began against, love without courage dissolving into the tolerance of chapter 5, the two verses being the letter's own two hands.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers5 voices
They were to be watchful, in case they were secretly attacked in their faith. They were to stand firm, being bold in confessing what they had been taught. They were to be strong in both word and deed, because it is the right combination of …
And in another place: "Watch ye, and pray, and stand fast in the faith. Quit you like men, and be strong. Let all things be done with charity."
And while she spoke to me, two men appeared and raised her on their shoulders, and they went to where the chair was in the east. With joyful countenance did she depart; and as she went, she said to me, "Behave like a man, Hermas."
A commentator
Didymus the BlindPAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH · Written before 398.
proposed
Paul tells them to be courageous and strong, like an athlete or soldier of Christ, doing everything with love toward God and each other.
Afterwards indicating that not in the teachers but in themselves they ought to have their hopes of salvation, he saith, "Watch ye, stand fast in the faith." Not in the wisdom which is without: for there it is not possible to stand, but to be borne along; even as "in the faith" ye may "stand." "Quit you like men, be strong." "Let all that ye do be done in love." Now in saying these things, he seems indeed to advise; but he is reprimanding them as indolent. Wherefore he saith, "Watch," as though they slept; "Stand," as though they were rocking to and fro: "Quit you like men," as though they were playing the coward: "Let all that ye do be done in love," as though they were in dissensions. And the first caution refers to the deceivers, viz., "Watch," "stand:" the next, to those who plot against us, "Quit you like men:" the third, to those who make parties and endeavor to distract, "Let all that ye do be done in love;" which thing is "the bond of perfectness," and the root and fountain of all blessings. But what means, "All things in love?" "Whether any one rebuke," saith he, "or rule or be ruled, or learn or teach, let all be in love:" since in fact all the things which have been mentioned arose from neglect of it. For if this had not been neglected, they would not have been puffed up, they would not have said, "I am of Paul, and I of Apollos." If this had existed, they would not have gone to law before heathens, or rather they would not have gone to law at all. If this had existed, that notorious person would not have taken his father's wife: they would not have despised the weak brethren; there would have been no factions among them; they would not have been vain-glorious about their gifts. Therefore it is that he saith, "Let all things be done in love."
8 more voices on this verse
The Church Fathers1 voice
A commentator
Ignatius of AntiochEpistle of Pseudo-Ignatius to the Tarsians · Written before 108.
proposed
From Syria even unto Rome I fight with beasts not that I am devoured by brute beasts, for these, as ye know, by the will of God, spared Daniel, but by beasts in the shape of men, in whom the merciless wild beast himself lies hid, and pricks and wounds me day by day. But none of these hardships "move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself," in such a way as to love it better than the Lord.
The Medieval Church2 voices
Toward the end of the epistle he again persuades; he shows that one must not rely only on teachers, but also attend to oneself. "Be watchful," since there are deceivers. He said this because they were, as it were, sleeping. But not in outward wisdom; …
After he instructed them about what they ought to do with respect to those who were absent, he then instructs them how to conduct themselves with those who are present. Concerning the first, he does two things. First, he shows how they should conduct themselves …
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
Watch ye - Against all your seen and unseen enemies. Stand fast in the faith - Seeing and trusting him that is invisible. Acquit yourselves like men - With courage and patience.
Note, A Christian should be fixed in the faith of the gospel, and never desert nor renounce it. It is by this faith alone that he will be able to keep his ground in an hour of temptation; it is by faith that we stand ( 2 Cor. i. 24 ); it is by this that we must overcome the world ( 1 John
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
Watch ye,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
He shows that they ought to make their hopes of salvation to depend not on Apollos or any other teacher; that it rests with themselves. "Watch ye": for ye are slumbering. "Stand": for ye are like men tottering.
Watch ye - You have many enemies; be continually on your guard; be always circumspect: - 1. Watch against evil; 2. Watch for opportunities to receive good; 3. Watch for opportunities to do good; 4. Watch over each other in love; 5. Watch, that none may draw you aside from the belief and unity of the Gospel. Stand fast in the faith - Hold in conscientious credence what you have already received as the truth of God; for it is the Gospel by which ye shall be saved, and by which ye are now put into a state of salvation: see 1Co 15:1, 1Co 15:2. Quit you like men - Be not like children tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrine; let your understanding receive the truth; let your judgment determine on the absolute necessity of retaining it; and give up life rather than give up the testimony of God. Be strong - Put forth all the vigor and energy which God has given you in maintaining and propagating the truth, and your spiritual strength will increase by usage. The terms in this verse are all military: Watch ye, γρηγορειτε, watch, and be continually on your guard, lest you be surprised by your enemies; keep your scouts out, and all your sentinels at their posts, lest your enemies steal a march upon you. See that the place you are in be properly defended; and that each be alert to perform his duty. Stand fast in the faith - Στηκετε εν τῃ πιστει· Keep in your ranks; do not be disorderly; be determined to keep your ranks unbroken; keep close together. On your unity your preservation depends; if the enemy succeed in breaking your ranks, and dividing one part of this sacred army from another, your rout will be inevitable. Quit yourselves like men - Ανδριζεσθε· When you are attacked, do not flinch; maintain your ground; resist; press forward; strike home; keep compact; conquer. Be strong - Κραταιουαθε. […]
The words behind it
7 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Γρηγορεῖτε, | gregoreite | do watch, | G1127 → | |
| στήκετε | stekete | do stand firm | G4739 → | |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| τῇ | tea | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| πίστει, | pistei | faith, | G4102 → | 242 times |
| ἀνδρίζεσθε, | andrizesthe | do act like men, | G407 → | |
| κραταιοῦσθε. | krataiousthe | do be strong. | G2901 → |
Γρηγορεῖτε,do watch,
gregoreiteG1127 →
στήκετεdo stand firm
steketeG4739 →
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
τῇthe
teaG3588 →19766 times
πίστει,faith,
pisteiG4102 →242 times
ἀνδρίζεσθε,do act like men,
andrizestheG407 →
κραταιοῦσθε.do be strong.
krataioustheG2901 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
1 Corinthians 15:58Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast and immovable. Always excel in the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
it leads to
- Galatians 6:9
Let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
- 2 Chronicles 15:7
But as for you, be strong; do not be discouraged, for your work will be rewarded.”
- Hebrews 6:10
For God is not unjust. He will not forget your work and the love you have shown for His name as you have ministered to the saints and continue to do so.
- Philippians 2:16
as you hold forth the word of life, in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain.
- Galatians 6:9
Through
Joshua 1:9Have I not commanded you to be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
it leads to
- Genesis 28:15
Look, I am with you, and I will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what…
- Jeremiah 1:7–8
But the LORD told me: “Do not say, ‘I am only a child.’ For to everyone I send you, you must go, and all that I command you, you must speak.
- Psalms 27:1–2
The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— whom shall I dread?
- Genesis 28:15
Through
Ephesians 6:10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.
it leads to
- Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.
- Philippians 4:13
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About 1 Corinthians
This page draws on 16 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Alexander Maclaren, Expositions of Holy Scripture, Corinthians; Ambrosiaster, COMMENTARY ON PAUL'S EPISTLES; Charles Hodge, An Exposition of the First Epistle to the Corinthians; Didymus the Blind, PAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH; Fabian of Rome, Commentary (church-history corpus); Ignatius of Antioch, Epistle of Pseudo-Ignatius to the Tarsians; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on 1 Corinthians 44; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Shepherd of Hermas, Shepherd of Hermas, Vision 1; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 1 Corinthians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 1 Corinthians.