1 Corinthians 16 · Verse 13

1 Corinthians 16:13

Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.
1 Corinthians 16:13, King James Version

1 Corinthians 16:13 in other translations

BSBBe on the alert. Stand firm in the faith. Be men of courage. Be strong.
WEBWatch! Stand firm in the faith! Be courageous! Be strong!
ASVWatch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.
YLTWatch ye, stand in the faith; be men, be strong;
DARBYBe vigilant; stand fast in the faith; quit yourselves like men; be strong.
BBEBe on the watch, unmoved in the faith, and be strong like men.
WebsterWatch ye, stand fast in the faith, acquit yourselves like men, be strong.

What does 1 Corinthians 16:13 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
13. 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. "Quit you like men; be strong": for ye are effeminate (1Co 16:14). "Let all your things be done with charity" (1Co 8:1; 13:1): not with strifes as at present [Chrysostom]. "In the faith" which was assailed by some (1Co 15:1, 2, 12-17).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 13. Watch ye. The exhortation in, this and the following verse is given evidently in view of the peculiar dangers and temptations which surrounded them. The word here used (γρηγορειτε) 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, Mt 24:41,42, 25:13, Mk 13:35, Lk 21:36, Acts 20:31, 1Thes 5:6, 2Ti 4:5. The sense here is, that they were to watch, or be vigilant, against all the evils of which he had admonished them--the evils of dissension, of erroneous doctrines, of disorder, of false teachers, etc. They were to watch lest their souls should be ruined, and their salvation endangered; lest the enemies of the truth and of holiness should steal silently upon them, and surprise them. They were to watch with the same vigilance that is required of a sentinel who guards a camp, lest an enemy should come suddenly upon them, and surprise the camp when the army was locked in sleep.

Stand fast in the faith. Be firm in holding and defending the truths of the gospel. Do not yield to any foe, but maintain the truth, and adhere to your confidence in God and to the doctrines of the gospel with unwavering constancy. 1Cor 15:1. Be firm in maintaining what you believe to be true, and in holding on to your personal confidence in God, notwithstanding all the arts, insinuations, and teachings of seducers and the friends of false doctrine.

Quit you like men. ανδριζεσθε, (from ανηρ, a man.) The word occurs nowhere else in the New Testament. In the Seventy it occurs in Josh 1:6,7,9,18, 1Chr 28:20, 2Chr 32:7, Nehh 2:1; and in eighteen other places. See Trommius' Concordance. It occurs also in the classic authors. See Xen. Oec. v. 4. It means, to render one manly or brave; to show one's self a man; that is, not to be a coward, or timid, or alarmed at enemies, but to be bold and brave. We have a similar phrase in common use: "Be a man," or "Show yourself a man;" that is, be not mean, or be not cowardly.

Be strong. Be firm, fixed, steadfast. Comp. Eph 6:10, "Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might."

(a) "Watch ye" 1Pet 5:8 (b) "stand fast" 2Thes 2:15 (c) "like men" 1Cor 14:20 (d) "be strong" Eph 6:10

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 13 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 1Cor 15:1, 1Cor 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. If one company or division be opposed by too great a force of the enemy, strengthen that division, and maintain your position; if an attack is to be made on any part or intrenchment of the foe, summon up all your courage, sustain each other; fear not, for fear will enervate you. Your cause is good; it is the faith, the religion of Jesus; he is your Captain in the field; and, should you even die in the contest, the victory is yours.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Corinthians 16:13-18
A Christian is always in danger, therefore should ever be on the watch. He should be fixed in the faith of the gospel, and never desert or give it up. By this faith alone he will be able to keep his ground in an hour of temptation. Christians should be careful that charity not only reigns in their hearts, but shines in their lives. There is a great difference between Christian firmness and feverish warmth and transport. The apostle gave particular directions as to some who served the cause of Christ among them. Those who serve the saints, those who desire the honour of the churches, and to remove reproaches from them, are to be thought much of, and loved. They should willingly acknowledge the worth of such, and all who laboured with or helped the apostle.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

1 Corinthians 16:13 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

Γρηγορεῖτε,Grēgoreitedo watch,G1127
στήκετεstēketedo stand firmG4739
ἐνeninG1722
τῇtēatheG3588
πίστει,pisteifaith,G4102
ἀνδρίζεσθε,andrizesthedo act like men,G407
κραταιοῦσθε.krataiousthedo be strong.G2901

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 1 Corinthians 16:13

  • Joshua 1:9

    Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

  • Ephesians 6:13-18

    Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. …

  • Ephesians 6:10

    Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

  • 1 Corinthians 15:58

    Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

  • 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

    And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

  • Galatians 5:1

    Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

  • Psalms 27:14

    Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.

  • Philippians 4:13

    I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

  • 2 Thessalonians 2:15

    Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.

  • Joshua 1:6-7

    Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them. Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.

  • Philippians 1:27

    Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

  • Philippians 4:1

    Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Watch.
Mt 24:42-44; 25:13; 26:41; Mr 13:33-37; 14:37,38; Lu 12:35-40; 21:36
Eph 6:18; Col 4:2; 1Th 5:6; 2Ti 4:5; 1Pe 4:7; 5:8; Re 3:2,3; 16:15
stand.
15:1,2,58; 2Co 1:24; Ga 5:1; Php 1:27; 4:1; Col 1:23; 4:12; 1Th 3:8
2Th 2:15
quit.
9:25-27; 14:20; 1Sa 4:9; 2Sa 10:12; 1Ch 19:13; Eph 6:13-17; 1Ti 6:12
2Ti 2:3-5; 4:7; Heb 11:32-34
be.
Jos 1:6,7,9,18; 1Ki 2:2; 1Ch 28:10; Ps 27:14; Isa 35:4; Da 10:19
Da 11:32; Hag 2:4; Zec 8:9,13; 2Co 12:9,10; Eph 6:10; Php 4:13
Col 1:11,12; 2Ti 2:1

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 1 Corinthians 16:12

    As touching our brother Apollos, I greatly desired him to come unto you with the brethren: but his will was not at all to come at this time; but he will come when he shall have convenient time.

  • 1 Corinthians 16:13

    Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.

  • 1 Corinthians 16:14

    Let all your things be done with charity.

Read all of 1 Corinthians 16

1 Corinthians 16:13 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Velad, estad firmes en la fe; portaos varonilmente, y esforzaos.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Veillez, tenez ferme dans la foi; soyez hommes, affermissez-vous.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Wachet, stehet fest im Glauben; seid männlich, seid stark!
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Vigilate, state in fide, viriliter agite, et confortamini.