What does it mean to be brave and be strong in 1 Corinthians 16:13?

After these details the apostle gives a few pithy words of exhortation: "Watch, stand in the faith, play the man, be strong.* Let all your doings be in love." (Vers. 13, 14.) They are words eminently suited to the state of things at Corinth, besides being wholesome for all saints in all times and places. Carelessness had marked them as a company, and therefore were they now called to vigilance. They had allowed speculations to work even on foundation truths of revelation, and so they needed to cleave firmly to the deposit of faith. They had been walking after the manner of man (κατὰ ἄνθρωπον), and had shrunk from reproach and suffering, feebly dreading the world's opinions; they are urged, therefore, to quit themselves in a manly way (ἀνδρίζεσθε), and to be strong. They had need also, and above all, that whatever they did might be done lovingly. It is the final application of that which 1 Cor. 13 had opened out — the blessed energy of the divine nature, which lives and delights in the good of others; and it is the fitting preface to his next topic.

(Vv. 13, 14). The Corinthian saints were not to be dependent upon the servants of the Lord. Hence, whether the servants come, or refrain from coming, the Corinthian saints are exhorted, first, to be vigilant. An ever active adversary demands constant vigilance. Secondly, they are to stand fast in the faith. The inroads of false teaching can only be met by standing fast in the whole circle of truth. Thirdly, to watch against the adversary and stand fast in the faith demands that they quit themselves like men. Alas, many at Corinth had been acting in a carnal way, proving that spiritually they were but babes when they should have been full-grown. Fourthly, quitting themselves like men would demand that they be strong, and this means, as the Apostle says in another epistle, that they are to “be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 2:1). Fifthly, spiritual strength expresses itself in love; the Apostle therefore adds, “Let all things ye do be done in love” (N.Tn.). Alas, how many things may be done in connection with the assembly of God which may be perfectly right, and yet with a motive that is entirely wrong because love is lacking.

The condition at Corinth required each exhortation of verse 13, and who today is not in such need also? "Watch ye": for laxity and love of ease finds us too frequently unprepared to meet the subtle attacks of the enemy. "Stand fast in the faith": for that firmness of decision to stand upon the clear principles of the truth of God, may all too easily give place to compromise and retreat. "Quit you like men": for man was originally made in the image of God, and therefore put in the place of representing God in a hostile world: let us not lightly esteem such dignity and honor. "Be strong": for whatever our natural weakness, strength is certainly available in Christ, and it is the only strength that can overcome the pride, fleshliness, and Satanic deception that was raising its ugly head at Corinth, and is no less active today.

Verse 13. "Watch ye," etc. Other helpers might be wanting, but the Lord is ever with His people. To themselves, therefore, they must look as in His sight, and learn in His strength to bear worthily the name by which they are called. The fourfold admonition contained in this verse addresses itself to those points in the character of the Corinthian saints which have already been reviewed. He had chidden them for desiring to reign here below as kings, and had shown them, by their own example, how such unseasonable ease tends only to dishonour. Let them no longer luxuriate in truth, but use it as a girdle to sustain them on their watch. 2. They had moved away, to a certain extent, from the hope of the gospel, and the very foundation of their faith had been shaken, through listening to the fallacies of those among them who denied the resurrection of the dead. Let them cease from vain disputings, and abide in that which they had heard from the beginning. Let the words of God give rest to their minds as well as hearts. "The faith" is here, as often elsewhere, expressive rather of the doctrine held, than of the quality which leads men to embrace it. The apostle's parting boast was, that he had "kept the faith;" and he would have his children emulate his zeal, that they might also share his crown.9 They had shown but little spiritual manliness when they allowed themselves to be so outwitted by their adversary, and pushed down from their proper excellency as partakers of Christ, as to be again "carnal" in their ways. It was unmanly to yield to the enemy the ground they were anointed to defend. It was unmanly to consult their present ease, and be contending eagerly for earthly gain, instead of walking in the path the Master trod. It was unmanly also, with such manifold endowments as they had received, to make so puerile a use of them. Let them be babes indeed in malice, but in fortitude and wisdom be as men. They had once seemed strong, when he who had begotten them was weak; but illusions were now yielding to the force of truth.1 There would be left in them but little strength, when they viewed themselves attentively in the mirror of his words. This he knew, and seeks therefore to reassure them by a fit word of encouragement. Let them find strength where he had found it — not in their own profession of the faith, but in the grace which is in Christ Jesus. Self-confidence had proved their feebleness; in returning and resting in the Lord, they should find a renewing of their strength.

We may notice also the order of this exhortation, and the natural succession of its parts. Only they who watch will stand fast in the faith; it is the steadfast and confirmed believer who alone can "play the man" for Christ; and, finally, it is the growing and right-hearted saint who gathers strength with knowledge, and becomes emboldened to do valiantly for truth, being strengthened with all might to suffer joyfully according to the glorious power of God.2

In 1 Corinthians 16 we have a lovely and practical illustration of our subject. Verse 13 says, “Quit you like men, be strong.” Here we have one fine feature of the Christian character — that manly strength which is so desirable. But this, if taken by itself, might easily degenerate into a rough, rude, high-handed way of dealing with others, the very opposite of what we find in our divine Exemplar. Hence the Spirit in the apostle forms a loop of blue, and by means of a golden tach links on to this manly strength another feature which is so needful — love. “Let all your things be done with love.” Most precious combination! Strength and love. Love and strength. If you untie this heavenly loop you will either have a high, haughty, inconsiderate style, or a soft, pliable, enfeebled mode of acting which will sacrifice everything for peace and quietness.

We live in the last days of the church's history on earth, and the times are difficult, yet we have far more abundant sources of encouragement than ever Jeremiah had. The resurrection world was not full in view of his faith as It is of ours. The victory through our Lord Jesus Christ is given to us as it never was to him. We may well watch and quit ourselves like men in this our day. The Corinthian saints were all too frequently quitting themselves like children, playing with the spiritual gifts entrusted to them as with new toys and using them to show themselves off, the meanwhile often quarrelling amongst themselves. The same tendencies are in our own hearts. Let us watch against them, and quit ourselves like men — men of faith to whom the resurrection world is more real than the poor passing world that is — and let us not sacrifice love in so doing.

"Let all your things be done with charity" or "in love" is the apostolic word; and this directly follows the word "be strong." The tendency of the strong man of the world is to carry his firmness and strength to the point of brutality. If we quit ourselves like spiritual men and are marked by spiritual strength, we shall always act in love and be characterized by the grace that love begets. There are no exceptions to this rule, for all our things are to be done in love. We are no more at liberty to sacrifice love in the display of strength in ecclesiastic matters than in our ordinary and private affairs. This the epistle itself shows, since amongst the all things to be done in love was the excommunication of the erring brother, as directed in 1 Corinthians 5. Indeed, if comparison at all be permitted, we are less at liberty there, for in matters ecclesiastical we act, at least professedly, in the name of the Lord, that is, as His representatives.

He commends Timothy to them. They need not have any fear with regard to him. He did the work of the Lord as Paul himself did. No one was, therefore, to despise him, as, on account of his youth, evidently they might be tempted to, but set him forward in peace, that he might go to the apostle who was waiting for him, — an additional proof of his own esteem for him who fulfilled his name as one who honored God. Next, as to Apollos, we see that the use of his name which had been made in Corinth had in no wise lessened the apostle's confidence in him. He had begged him much to go to them with the brethren. On the other hand, it was not in the mind of Apollos to go then, but he would come when he had opportunity. The motives we can only conjecture, although it is quite possible to do this on account of Apollos' former work amongst them and the parties which existed. We see that he had his own course also, independent of the apostle, who does not in the least exhort him with apostolic authority, but leaves him in freedom to his own responsibility. He bids them all stand fast in the faith, quit themselves like men, be strong; but this strength was to be manifested in loving service. Such was that, no doubt, of the household of Stephanas, which, as the first fruits of Achaia, had taken the lead too in a devotedness of this kind. The saints were to recognize those who ministered to them, and to be subject in love, not only to these, but to every one who could show himself a helper in the work and a true laborer. Stephanas himself, with Fortunatus and Achaicus had come to him, supplying what he says had been lacking upon their part. This does not refer to more than spiritual refreshment, as we see from 2 Cor. 11:10.

What a remarkable salutation! Stealthily threshing wheat to hide it from the enemy looked not like valour. To the human eye, there was everything that betrayed depression of spirit. But God's "mighty men "have ever been such as were arrant cowards in themselves, men distrustful of their own strength and wisdom in coping with the enemy - "out of weakness made strong." None are "mighty men of valour," but those to whom it has been said, "Jehovah is with thee," When God calls a person by a name, He makes that person what the name imports. But He takes the most abject man of an abject tribe, to make him His "mighty man of valour." "Ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called," 1 Cor. 1:26-29. God works not ordinarily by such: the credit would then be given to our wisdom, our influence, and the like, and it is written, "No flesh shall glory in his presence." He takes "the foolish things of the world to confound the wise, and the weak things of the world to confound the mighty, and base things of the world and things which are despised, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are.:: Is Timothy exhorted to "fight the good fight of faith? it is as one "strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus." To every Christian it may be said, as Paul writes to those at Corinth, "Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong"; but again, we are told to be "strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might."

Now, what are we to learn from this? Surely that we are to long to be men. Of course, it is not now a question of sex in this matter, a sister may be a man of God (2 John 10). And in Romans 16 where we get a list of God's mighty men (corresponding to the mighty men of David's army, 2 Sam. 23), we find that a large number of them are women. Therefore, it is not a matter of sex, but of spiritual strength and of growth. Every child of God should desire to grow and be strong for the Lord, for it is written, "Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong."

I give you another point as I close this section. I feel that it is entirely relevant to our own position today. Have you ever heard it cried out, "let all things be done by charity". We ought to be tolerant, so we are told. 1st Corinthians 16 verse 14 says, "let all things be done with charity". Correct; but in 1st Corinthians 16 verse 13 it says, "watch you. Stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong". We don't hear that side quite so frequently. Tolerance, love - yes - but faithfulness, standing by the scriptural manifestation of Christ, cost what it might, this is the divine order. It will bring suffering, but it is the pathway that He trod and God will support us in it.