In 1 Corinthians 16:13–23, Paul is concluding his letter. As in his other letters, he leaves his readers with a word of encouragement. His encouragement to the Corinthians consists of five clear commands (1 Corinthians 16:13–14).
First, he commands them, Be watchful.
As they wait for Christ’s return (1 Corinthians 16:22), they should be on their guard against Satan’s evil schemes. His second command, Stand firm in the faith,
closely corresponds to the first.
In Greek the command to act like men
is written only as a verb: andridsesthe (literally, Be men
). This command closely corresponds to the fourth command, Be strong.
Paul is likely drawing on Psalm 27:14 or Psalm 31:24. In the Greek (Septuagint) translation of these verses, the same two commands are also found in combination.
13 Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.