The King James Bible has an interesting phrase that has been removed in many of the modern translations. 1 Cor. 16:13 says, “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.”
Paul is nearing the end of his first letter to the Corinthians (which is actually his second letter to the Corinthians, but that is another matter) and giving them final admonitions and encouragement for the difficult times they face. His advice to the church? Be men!
Quit you like men is an old English phrase translating the Greek ανδριζομαι (andrizomai). It means to behave oneself with the wisdom and courage of a man. In other words, act like a man!
Let’ consider the context. The other phrases also appeal to masculine imagery. Watch ye means refrain from sleep and refers to the night watch, where vigilance and alertness is necessary. Be on the look out.
Stand fast in the faith reminds us not to give an inch. Stand firm in faith and duty, persevere, be constant and consistent, don’t waiver.
Be strong to make, grow, or be strong. It is the same admonition God gave to Joshua when he took over command of the Israelite nation as it entered the promised land. See Josh. 1:6-8.
These are all masculine thoughts but I am most intrigued by the strong reminder to be a man. Can you imagine the pastor of most churches proclaiming that today, especially when 80% of the attendees on a given Sunday are women? I wonder if that has anything to do with the phrase being removed from the modern translations.
This is not the only place the Scriptures record God’s desire to see men active in his work. In Jer. 5:1 God told the prophet to look carefully for a man who would have the courage to execute judgment. In Ezek. 22:30 God mourned that he sought unsuccessfully for a man to stand in the gap to intercede for the people. In Is. 59:16 God wondered why he couldn’t find a man to intercede. In all these the Hebrew language is clear. God wants a male. Masculine. One who will serve him.
God is still looking for a man, even in our feminine-enlightened culture, God needs men who will execute judgement, pray, stand fast, and remain strong.
I ran across this thought-provoking article by an Orthodox priest on the masculinity of ancient Judaism and eastern Christianity, and the decline of western Christianity into feminization. I think it offers helpful commentary on the state of Christianity in America and the desparate need for us to “quit you like men.”
Paul is nearing the end of his first letter to the Corinthians (which is actually his second letter to the Corinthians, but that is another matter) and giving them final admonitions and encouragement for the difficult times they face. His advice to the church? Be men!
Quit you like men is an old English phrase translating the Greek ανδριζομαι (andrizomai). It means to behave oneself with the wisdom and courage of a man. In other words, act like a man!
Let’ consider the context. The other phrases also appeal to masculine imagery. Watch ye means refrain from sleep and refers to the night watch, where vigilance and alertness is necessary. Be on the look out.
Stand fast in the faith reminds us not to give an inch. Stand firm in faith and duty, persevere, be constant and consistent, don’t waiver.
Be strong to make, grow, or be strong. It is the same admonition God gave to Joshua when he took over command of the Israelite nation as it entered the promised land. See Josh. 1:6-8.
These are all masculine thoughts but I am most intrigued by the strong reminder to be a man. Can you imagine the pastor of most churches proclaiming that today, especially when 80% of the attendees on a given Sunday are women? I wonder if that has anything to do with the phrase being removed from the modern translations.
This is not the only place the Scriptures record God’s desire to see men active in his work. In Jer. 5:1 God told the prophet to look carefully for a man who would have the courage to execute judgment. In Ezek. 22:30 God mourned that he sought unsuccessfully for a man to stand in the gap to intercede for the people. In Is. 59:16 God wondered why he couldn’t find a man to intercede. In all these the Hebrew language is clear. God wants a male. Masculine. One who will serve him.
God is still looking for a man, even in our feminine-enlightened culture, God needs men who will execute judgement, pray, stand fast, and remain strong.
I ran across this thought-provoking article by an Orthodox priest on the masculinity of ancient Judaism and eastern Christianity, and the decline of western Christianity into feminization. I think it offers helpful commentary on the state of Christianity in America and the desparate need for us to “quit you like men.”
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