1 Corinthians 16:13
Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.
Study Note
Study Note
'Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong' — Paul's closing military exhortations echo the Deuteronomic farewell of Moses (Deuteronomy 31:6–7) and the commissioning of Joshua, applying soldier-of-God language to the Corinthian congregation. The four imperatives cluster around the theme of resolute perseverance in the face of the doctrinal confusion and moral laxity that the entire letter has addressed. The fifth imperative — 'let all your things be done with charity' (verse 14) — grounds martial strength in love, preventing the virtue-language from devolving into sectarian aggression, and echoing the great hymn of chapter 13.
Other Translations
Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.
Watch ye, stand in the faith; be men, be strong;
Be on the watch, unmoved in the faith, and be strong like men.
Cross References
Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which …
Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses …
Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for …
Whosoever he be that doth rebel against thy commandment, and will not hearken unto thy words in all that thou …
Be strong, and quit yourselves like men, O ye Philistines, that ye be not servants unto the Hebrews, as they …
Be of good courage, and let us play the men for our people, and for the cities of our God: …
I go the way of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and shew thyself a man;
Be of good courage, and let us behave ourselves valiantly for our people, and for the cities of our God: …
Take heed now; for the Lord hath chosen thee to build an house for the sanctuary: be strong, and do …
Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.