“Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.”

Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 16:13 tend to spark controversy in our culture. Critics dismiss “act like men” as outdated patriarchy, while others wonder if Scripture really excludes women from courage and strength. But both reactions miss what Paul actually wrote—and what the church has understood for centuries.

The apostle isn’t giving a lesson in gender roles. He’s calling every Christian to spiritual courage.

 

WHAT PAUL ACTUALLY WROTE

The Greek phrase behind “act like men” is andrizesthe and understanding this word unlocks Paul’s meaning. In both biblical and classical Greek, andrizesthe doesn’t mean “behave in a masculine way.” Instead, it means “show courage,” “be brave,” or “display strength in the face of difficulty.”

We see this throughout the Old Testament. When Moses charged Joshua to lead Israel into the Promised Land, he said, “Be strong and courageous” (Deuteronomy 31:6-7). The Greek translation uses the same root word Paul employs here. When David prepared Solomon to build the temple, he urged his son to “be strong and courageous” (1 Chronicles 22:13)—again, the same Greek term.

In each case, the call isn’t about masculinity but about spiritual backbone. Joshua needed courage to face overwhelming enemies. Solomon needed courage to tackle an impossible building project. The Corinthians needed courage to face their own challenges as a church.

Think of it like our phrase “man up”—we don’t mean “become male,” but rather “show some backbone” or “be brave.” Paul’s Greek works the same way.

 

THE COMMAND IN CONTEXT

Paul’s instruction makes even more sense when we see how it fits with his other commands in verse 13. He gives the Corinthians five directives that build on each other:

1. Be watchful—stay spiritually alert
2. Stand firm in the faith—hold to sound doctrine
3. Act like men—show courage
4. Be strong—be strengthened by God
5. Let all be done in love—act from loving motives

Notice the flow: spiritual alertness leads to doctrinal steadfastness, which requires courage, which comes through God’s strength, all motivated by love. “Act like men” sits right in the middle—the bridge between standing firm and being strong. It’s about having the spiritual courage to maintain our convictions even when it’s costly.

Significantly, Paul addresses these commands to the entire Corinthian church. Throughout his letter, he’s been writing to “brothers and sisters” (1 Corinthians 1:10), including both men and women in his audience. If verse 13 suddenly excluded women, Paul would have made that clear. Instead, he calls all believers to the same spiritual courage.

 

THE REFORMED UNDERSTANDING

The Reformed tradition has consistently interpreted this passage as a call to spiritual courage for all Christians.

• John Calvin emphasised that Paul demanded “fortitude and courage” from the Corinthians, focusing on their need for resolve against false teaching and worldly pressure. Calvin saw no gender restriction in the command.
• Charles Hodge, the Princeton theologian, translated the phrase as “quit yourselves like men,” meaning “act with courage and determination.” For Hodge, this was about the spiritual warfare every believer faces against sin and error. Both men and women need this courage.
• Gordon Fee suggests translating the verse simply as “be courageous.” He notes the Corinthians struggled with spiritual immaturity and division—they needed backbone to grow up in their faith and face their challenges head-on.

This consensus makes theological sense. The Christian life requires courage from every believer. We need bravery to stand for biblical truth in a hostile culture, strength to resist compromise when it would be easier to cave, and resolve to love sacrificially when love is costly. These aren’t masculine traits—they’re Christian traits.

 

WHY THIS MATTERS TODAY

Paul’s call to courage speaks directly to contemporary Christians. Our churches need members with spiritual backbone—people willing to pursue biblical faithfulness even when it’s unpopular. Church leaders need courage to make difficult decisions and teach hard truths. Individual believers need bravery to share the gospel and live distinctively Christian lives.

This courage isn’t self-generated machismo. True Christian bravery flows from trusting God’s strength rather than our own. It’s the courage of David facing Goliath—not because David was naturally brave, but because he knew God was with him.

Paul’s final command puts everything in perspective: “Let all that you do be done in love.” Even our courage must be loving courage—brave enough to speak truth, gentle enough to speak it in love.

When we understand 1 Corinthians 16:13 correctly, we discover not a restriction but an invitation. Paul calls every Christian—male and female, young and old—to the spiritual courage that marks mature faith. In a world that often rewards compromise and punishes conviction, the church desperately needs believers willing to “act like men”—to show the kind of brave, loving faithfulness that honours Christ.

That’s a calling worthy of every Christian.

 

‘ACT LIKE MEN’: RELATED FAQs

Why do some Bible translations still use “act like men” if it’s about courage? Most translators recognise “act like men” can mislead modern readers, but they retain it because it’s a traditional rendering and the Greek does use the word aner (man) as its root. However, newer translations increasingly opt for clearer renderings like “be courageous” (ESV footnote), “be brave” (GNT), or “show courage” (Phillips). The key is understanding that even “act like men” in the original context meant “show the courage expected of mature adults.”

• Are there other places in Scripture where similar language appears? Yes, the same Greek root appears in 1 Corinthians 4:21 where Paul asks if he should come “with a rod” or “in love and a spirit of gentleness”—the context implies spiritual strength and authority. The Septuagint (Greek Old Testament) uses this word family throughout when calling God’s people to courage, particularly in military or leadership contexts. Psalm 31:24 uses similar language: “Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord.”
• Did ancient women understand this command differently than modern readers might? Ancient Greek and Roman cultures highly valued courage (andreia) as a virtue for both men and women, though they might express it differently. Greco-Roman literature celebrates brave women like Penelope in Homer’s Odyssey or historical figures like the Spartan mothers. Early church women like Perpetua and Felicity demonstrated exactly the kind of spiritual courage Paul commanded, facing martyrdom with remarkable bravery.

How does this interpretation affect our understanding of biblical manhood and womanhood? This passage doesn’t directly address gender roles since it calls all believers to the same spiritual courage. However, it complements complementarian theology by showing that both men and women need courage to fulfil their respective callings—men need courage to lead sacrificially, women need courage to support and nurture faithfully. The courage itself isn’t gendered, but its applications may vary according to biblical role distinctions.

• Why was Paul specifically concerned about courage in the Corinthian church? The Corinthians faced multiple challenges requiring spiritual backbone: rampant immorality in their city, divisions within their church, false teachers undermining apostolic authority, and cultural pressure to compromise Christian distinctives. They had become spiritually immature and conflict-averse, preferring to ignore problems rather than address them courageously. Paul’s call to courage was precisely what this particular church needed to mature in their faith.
• How do we balance “act like men” with “let all be done in love”? Paul’s final command in verse 13 shows courage without love becomes harsh authoritarianism, while love without courage becomes spineless sentimentality. True Christian courage is always loving courage—brave enough to speak difficult truths, gentle enough to speak them in love. This means confronting sin with compassion, standing for truth with humility, and showing strength through service rather than domination.

What would be the best modern English equivalent of Paul’s original meaning? Contemporary equivalents might include “show some backbone,” “be brave,” “stand strong,” or “have courage.” The British expression “keep a stiff upper lip” captures some of the resolve Paul envisions. Perhaps the closest modern rendering would be “be courageous” or simply “show courage”—direct, clear, and applicable to all believers regardless of gender, age, or background.

 

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