Act Like Men
1 Corinthians 16:13-14
13 Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.
14 Let all that you do be done in love.
Act Like Men
In modern reformed circles, there exists a much-needed renewed emphasis on biblical masculinity. This is a truth worth being thankful for because it is always appropriate to remind men to be manly. The Apostle Paul exemplifies this when he tells those in Corinth to "act like men" (1 Cor. 16:13). Here, he encourages maturity and courage in those who have been immature and impulsive. Altogether, Paul surrounds his blunt exhortation with several descriptions of what acting like a man looks like. As we will see, the men of God in the Church of God today must still act like men because when they do not, the church suffers, the family suffers, society suffers, and Christ does not receive his due glory. Lastly, we will provide help for God’s men who wonder what it means to “be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, and be strong” (1 Cor. 16:13).
Who is Paul Addressing?
In my studies on this passage, some commentators flatline the imperatives by applying them generally to all Christians, instead of just men. They state that the phrase “act like men” means “be mature,” which is meant for the women to hear and follow too.[1] The problem with this implication is that Paul has already told the Corinthians (women included) to “be mature” and he utilizes explicit language to do it (1 Cor. 14:20). It is true that women need to be watchful, firm in the faith, strong in the Lord, and loving but they do not need to “act like men.” For Paul to tell women to act like men would be absurd based on the corpus of his writings and the Holy Scripture at large (e.g., Ephesians 5:22-33; Gen. 1:27-28; Gen. 2:24-25). So, is Paul writing verse 13 to men or all Christians in Corinth?
Aside from the fact the text says, “act like men,” we are given another strong clue to help determine that Paul is addressing men and only men at this point. When Paul writes “be strong” he is characterizing masculinity. If I may take this liberty, I think of this portion of 1 Corinthians 16:13 as the brother verse (or husband verse) to 1 Peter 3:7. Here, Peter writes, “Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.” Peter reveals that comparatively by nature, women are weak, and men are strong. First Peter 3:7 shows that since husbands are stronger than women that when Paul says “act like men, be strong” that he is indeed talking to men. Women are the weaker vessel, and men are the stronger vessel (1 Peter 3:7; 1 Corinthians 16:13). Now that we have established that Paul addresses the men of Corinth in 1 Corinthians 16:13, let’s examine why this is a significant detail for today’s church, family, and society.
Corinth in Context
First, we must understand that when Paul writes this epistle the Corinthian church is a place with some serious struggles. Paul tells the men of this church to be alert, firm, and strong because that is what men are and that is what the church at Corinth was not. Division and immorality define the Corinthian church. Factions (chs. 1-4), lawsuits (ch. 6), questions about marriage and divorce (chs. 6-7), foods sacrificed to idols (chs. 8-10), the manner of orderly worship (chs. 11-14), and the doctrine of the resurrection (ch. 15) were occasions for unity but instead resulted in division within Corinth. The gross sexual immorality in and around the church resulted in impurity of the highest degree (ch. 5). The church collectively needed to be watchful, firm in the faith, and strong to put off division and immorality and put on unity and purity.[2] So, Paul charges the men of the church to “act like men” and be who the church needs them to be. It is insightful to see that Paul instructs the men of the church on how to conduct themselves regarding the collective weaknesses of the assembly; the women and children need correction too but Paul charges the men to lead the way in these areas. Why is this? As the men of the church go, so goes the church.
If the church is going to be alert, steady, and strong collectively, it will get there because the men of the church, the elders, husbands, fathers, grandfathers, uncles, and sons among God's family will lead the way in Christ. As a friend of mine often says, "The men are the backbone of the church." And if the men of Christ are going to lead the way it must be done in love – meaning that the motive and manner in all "dealings with one another" must express the love of God in the hearts of men.[3]
The Blessing of Men and Manhood
When men take their station in life, it blesses the home, the congregation, and society. God set the man as the head of the wife to bless her and her children (Prov. 31:28-29; Eph. 5:22-33; 6:1-4; 1 Cor. 16:2ff.). God set male elders as head of the church to shepherd her (Titus 1:5-9; 1 Tim. 3:1-7). In the Old Testament, God set male kings over Israel to bless the nation. God set male priests over the Temple to facilitate worship. Isaiah 3 indicates that this is a model that God still blesses and curses even in this modern day (v. 12). And I know, charges of oppression come from the mouths of feminists, liberals, and even some in the church who profess Christ as Savior . . . but the Bible is clear and unapologetic: when husbands, elders, kings, and priests “act like men,” the women and children of their homes, churches, and societies are blessed, not oppressed.
In fact, the Bible says that oppression occurs when men are not on their station as husbands and fathers, leaving the widow and orphan unprotected. (Isaiah 10:1-2). When men do not act in accordance with their being and calling, the home, the church, and society become accursed, disorderly, and chaotic. Children are left defenseless, and women are left striving to play the role of the man, sometimes by necessity and sometimes by rebellion.
We have briefly reviewed how Paul's call to "act like men" is meant to be a Spirit-driven force to straighten out division and impurity within the church. Contrary, when men are not alert, firm in the faith, or strong they have forsaken their manhood, their church, and most of all, their God. Disorder ensues. Likewise, when men take their station in the home, wives are loved in fidelity, boys are forged into men, and girls are lavished with provision and protection; however, when the head of the home is not alert, firm in the faith, or strong, disorder will consume the home. May the men who hear this warning and heed this call take their station to be alert, firm, and strong by first repenting of any sins of forsaking their duty to God. Then, with the help of elders, pastors, deacons, and other wise men among you, find help and accountability to become the man who God created you to be. For now, I offer the following practical advice in the collective effort to "act like men."
Be on the Alert (v. 13)
The King James Version says, “Watch ye.” On this point, Calvin says, “A short exhortation, but of great weight.”[4] Alertness, or watchfulness, is a weighty matter indeed and is not something God’s men should neglect. This duty is a call to warlike posture in the inner and outer man. Like the guard atop the castle wall looking out for the faintest glimmer of an intruding presence, God’s men identify existing and potential threats to the family, church, and society. This man blows the horn to sound the alarm but he also is a member of the calvary who puts on his armor to join the battle (Eph. 6:10-20). He is not the hero but rather serves his people by serving the hero: Christ (1 Tim. 6:15). His weapons are meditation, observation, and intercession.
Meditation
“Now watchfulness of spirit is this—when, free and disentangled from earthly cares, we meditate on the things of God.”[5] The best way to recognize an enemy is to know your ally; a soldier does not shoot a man in a like uniform and a basketball player in the paint dare not block the shot of a man on his team. Know your ally by reading, learning, memorizing, and living his word. Some of you will learn his word more and more because he has called or is calling you to teach it. Then, in the quietness of the morning or at eventide, think on these things (Phil. 4:8-9). Ask yourself, if I was my enemy, where would I attack? Ask yourself, what would God have me do about this? Ask yourself, where is our local church weak and what would God have me do about this? Ruminate on those areas of your heart that were lured or enticed on a given day. Reflect on God's word and what it says about that particular temptation. Listen to sermons and think about them. Read books with your wife and children and talk about them. Put God's word in your heart by thinking of godly thoughts in your mind (Ps. 119:9-11; Rom. 12:2).
Observation
Observation without meditation breeds confusion. A man may observe that his son's countenance has fallen but unless he has meditated upon God's word, he will not know the biblical response to such issues (Gen. 4:6-7). A man may observe the harshness of his son to his wife but unless he has meditated upon God's word, he will not know the biblical response to such issues (Heb. 12:3-11). Once the man of God makes meditating on God his life's rhythm, he will be a keen observer and we men need to improve on our observation skills. First, observe the content of your words, their tone, and your body language, for of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks (Luke 6:45). What does your communication say about your heart? Observe your wife. Look into her eyes, observe her posture, and listen to her speech pattern. Your wife may say her day was "good" but if she is looking away, tense in her shoulders, and hurried in her speech, she may be struggling internally. What about your children? Silence in their bedroom does not equate with the absence of unholiness. Sometimes, the vigor, or lack thereof, within their effort at school, sports, and executing chores can provide great insight into their hearts. Sometimes, they can be trying so hard to please you that the underlying motive of perfectionism or works righteous becomes apparent with a few probing fatherly questions (Gal. 6:3-8). Sometimes, their slothfulness can show folly in their heart or even the presence of a medical issue (like a tired teenager when they hit adolescence). In all these scenarios, the watchful man looks out for his heart, his family, his church, and his society because he makes observations. When those observations deviate from the will of the God of his meditations, this man intercedes.
Intercession
When your observations deviate from your meditations of God’s character, nature, and commands, you can sound the alarm. As a former submariner, when the fire alarm went off, myself and the men around me went from a dead sleep to putting out the fire in moments. I've never seen so many well-placed fire extinguishers on one level deck as when I stood Auxiliary Electrician Aft in the Navy. Now, as a civilian, when a fire happens at work, we are trained to get away and wait for the fire department. The difference between the two divergent trainings is my role. In the Navy, I was a rapid responder, and everyone was expected to contribute to putting the fire out. As a veteran working in the civilian world, my role is to stay alive and not cost my company insurance money because of my untimely death (my interpretation of the policy). God's men are called to be like the former in their homes, churches, and society . . . Their role is to play the man. We rapidly respond because we are called to "act like men." We look unto Jesus who intercedes to save us from sin's penalty (Hebrews 12:1-2). We imitate Jesus by saving our families from physical and spiritual harm, our churches from wolves who teach unsound doctrine, and our society from accruing the wrath of God upon itself. It is a shame when men who are called to be like the rapid responder on a submarine running to put out the fires of their spheres act like civilians who are trained to flee the fire. Such inaction and passivity harm our women, our babies, our churches, and our countrymen (Isaiah 10:1-2; Daniel 9:8; Luke 13:34-35).
Stand Firm in the Faith (v. 13)
Paul’s works are permeated with the encouragement to stand firm (Phil. 1:27; 4:1; Gal. 5:1; 1 Thess. 3:8; 2 Thess. 2:15; 1 Cor. 15:1). The central message of this exhortation is unambiguous: Keep Serving Christ - No Matter the Circumstance! Paul gives this command to churches who need joy, unity, doctrinal correction, holiness, and hope. Do these descriptions not sound like the needs of every man? Our faith is the foundation from which all of life flows (2 Pet. 1:3). Standing firm means never wavering in the faith for friend or foe. Keep praying, keep reading your Bible, keep leading family worship, keep loading up the van to go to church, keep reading good books (and blogs), keep playing sermons on the radio as you ride to work, keep thinking deep thoughts and asking deeper questions, and keep mortifying sin all to the glory of your faith’s object: Christ.
One can present a form of masculinity, alertness, and strength apart from God – just look to the military, first responders, or security guards (all of whom I am thankful for). Sometimes, you can look in the mirror and find this person; but if his form does not proceed from the fountain of faith, this man is not God’s man. God’s men stand firm in their commitment to Christ even when they are up against tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger, or sword (Rom. 8:35). These men look unto Jesus who perfectly did the will of the Father, even up against death on a cross (Heb. 12:2; 1 Pet. 3:18). He stood firm for you, now you stand firm for him. Act like men, and remember, God's men are marked by standing firm in the faith as they use their strength to wrestle sin, Satan, the world, and the flesh.
Be Strong (v. 13)
Men are strong. Even as a man’s physical strength slowly escapes his body, his mind remains and grows even stronger for a time (Prov. 20:29). My first image of a strong man was my father. I’ve had to figure out some things along the way since childhood, but I thank God for my father’s impartation of toughness, tenacity, and intensity into my person; because of this, I’ve always had a keen awareness of my manhood, and the Lord has been faithful to sanctify those traits over the decades. I vividly remember how big my dad’s biceps were during my formative years. I recall handing him bottles to open because I knew he was strong enough to break the cap and quench my thirst. My children do this with me today. Combined with the call to “act like men,” the descriptive “be strong” shows that the first trait of manliness is strength. Paul’s words here serve as, in the words of Calvin, a call to stir up “manly fortitude” within the Corinthian male . . . and in you![6] Pastor John MacArthur provides an excellent survey of “manly fortitude” by looking back at several Old Testament commands that tell God's men to be strong and courageous, which is a good way to translate the phrase “act like men” (Deut. 31:6; 2 Sam. 10:11-12; 1 Chron. 22:11-13; 28:9-10). He concludes his teaching by saying,
The Bible’s repeated call for men to be strong and courageous requires us to put on the virtue of fortitude. We must trust the presence of God, the purpose of God, and the providence of God, and we must be faithful to the duty given us by God. That’s what it means to act like men. Only then will we demonstrate true masculinity.[7]
Now, think back to the father who uncorks an overly tight bottle cap for his boy or girl. It is the father's job to provide food and drink for his children, and this simple uncapping is a display of a man using his strength to perform his duty of provision. A man does this every time he prays for his wife, disciplines his son, clocks in at work, takes out the trash, changes the motor oil, loads up the car, holds open the door, listens to the concern, seeks out the truth, leads family worship, cultivates work ethic at home, chops down the tree, mows the grass, and fends off the bad guy. Men of God use their strength in the home, in the church, and in society to perform their duties for the glory of their King.
Conclusion
When a man, on the foundation of his faith, stands alert, using his strength to accomplish his duty to his family, church, and society, he is obeying the call to “act like men.” Such a man in this capacity, with a motive to glorify God, can also say that he is obeying Paul’s next command: “Let all that you do be done in love" (1 Cor. 16:14). God's men act like God's Son: on the alert, firm in the faith, strong, and loving. These males "act like men."
Notes:
[1] Leon Morris says, “‘act as men (andres)’ may refer to courage (as niv, be men of courage), but more probably it is meant to counter the immaturity so manifest in some of the Corinthians. Paul wants them to act like responsible adults.” See 1 Corinthians: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 7, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1985), 232.
[2] Patrick Schreiner, The Visual Word: Illustrated Outlines of the New Testament Books (Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2021), 60.
[3] John Calvin, Commentary on the Epistles of Paul the Apostle Vol. 1, Calvin’s Commentaries 22 vols., trans. Rev. John Pringle (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1999), 20:76.
[4] Ibid.
[5] Ibid.
[6] Ibid.
[7] John MacArthur, Fortitude, Grace to You, April 22, 2024, https://www.gty.org/library/blog/B240422.
