1Cor 16:13-16 - Real Biblical Manhood

13-16 Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. 14 Let all that you do be done in love. 15 Now I urge you, brothers—you know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints— 16 be subject to such as these, and to every fellow worker and labourer.

Just as not all who are of Israel are true Israel, so not all who are in the visible church are true saints of God. So this command to "stand firm in THE faith, and to act like men and be strong" is addressed, as was the whole epistle, to those who have ears to hear - the true saints, whoever they may be, amongst the whole mass of the members. By way of reminder, this is how Paul addressed the epistle at the outset...

To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours... {1Co 1:2}

Obviously the false teachers and deceivers, and some of the deceived are not included in this number. But how are the true saints to be distinguished? They are known by what they believe and by the fruit that right belief produces, through the Holy Spirit, by the obedience of faith. This is why Paul starts with watchfulness and standing in THE faith. Not standing in faith - any old faith, vague faith, the belief that even demons can have, or the faith that many people have in whatever their own particular God is. John Bright once said of Disraeli, for example, "He is a self-made man, and he worships his creator."

Belief itself - faith itself - means absolutely nothing - nada! It is right belief that saves and sanctifies because it is belief in the truth, which is a Person, Who can be received personally and testified to historically. There is but one gospel - that which was first delivered to the saints by Jesus and the Apostles - that is laid out in Holy Scripture and opened to the hearts of men by the Holy Spirit.

Wherefore, Paul exhorts them to be watchful. He doesn’t say this in order to keep them busy. Nor does he say it merely for effect. There is an enemy out there and in here. He slips in the back door, over the wall, through the cracks. He comes in winsome, smiling, helpful, outwardly good people. He comes with plausible arguments. He hides drops of venom in pots of honey. He may initially look like Jesus even though he is another Jesus. Only watchfulness (and prayer, which is implied in the term) can guard against such. Only the right gospel, the true facts and the Apostolic doctrine (the teaching from the facts) can dispel what is false. The knowledge of the real thing is a strong physic against error.

Paul’s exhortation for the believers to stand strong and acquit themselves as men has nothing to do with machismo. The way a Christian is strong is to know that he is weak, and to stand by the power of He Who is able to make him stand. Any other form of standing is ripe for a fall. When we think that it is we who stand, rather than God Who upholds us, we have lost our way already. Our duty is indeed to stand, as Paul exhorts the Ephesians to do (Eph 6:10-18) - but see how we are to stand, in the whole armour of God, undergirded with all-prayer. We are the jelly inside the metal suit, supplicating God for grace to be found standing. And when we are so found, we have done only our duty, and all thanks are due to God, with no congratulation is due to ourselves. Of course, God Himself is free to commend any as He sees fit - but that is His business and His prerogative - and it will never happen to one who is self-congratulatory, puffed up or strong in any but the strength that God supplies, as captured in Charles Wesley’s hymn, "Soldiers of Christ Arise".



The Biblical man is not full of male bravado, but filled with the masculinity of Christ. The same Christ who could weep for the lost and rebuke the arrogant. The same Christ who had great time at celebrations and displayed great patience for children, yet did not suffer fools gladly, and loathed hypocrites. The same Christ who made woman as a helpmeet for man, under man’s headship, and yet always treated the women he met with dignity, respect and compassion. The same Christ who preached the kingdom of God to all along the way, yet never compromised the truth in order to spare the feelings, or to avoid the wrath, of His hearers. This is acting like a man - standing upon God’s word, ready to give account for the hope that is within, yet with gentleness and respect.

And being a man is acting in love. Paul is formally addressing men here, and not women. Men are the leaders in the congregation, just as God had commanded and ordained. Paul assumes without question that he is addressing men with his admonishments - in the expectation that those leaders will read the letter aloud to all – to both men and women - and then lead all by example, and by demonstrations of loving grace and support for all in their charge. Truth, godly leadership, total dependence upon God and love - these are the ingredients of the formula that Paul lays down for the health of the church. And this is a church in great need of returning to and staying upon the course.

Paul’s exhortation for the Corinthians to hearken to Stephanas and his household is based upon two things, namely - the steadfastness of their commitment and the length of their witness. These are among qualities elsewhere commended in the selection of elders. It’s pretty straightforward really - novices and those who may talk a lot, but as yet bear no lasting fruit and show no love, humility and service to the congregation, ought not to be given much shrift. Listen to the humble, fruitful people who have consistently shown the evidence of Christ in them.

Note the terminology that Paul uses - ..."be subject to such as these"... The Greek word is hupotasso, coming from military terminology referring to the organization of military units under a commander. Remember yet again that the major theme of this epistle is order and self-control, under God’s ordained structure. For this to work there must be submission, and the only way submission works in the church is for it to be something that is offered, rather than something enforced. Note that submission is not blind obedience. It is the willing deference to the authority of those who have demonstrated, and who maintain a devotion to the truth for the service of the saints, in love.

Of course, deference goes beyond just the leadership. We are to consider others as better than ourselves and to subject ourselves to all the saints in love, insofar as they are in the faith, holding fast to the truth.