January 10, 2026

Yesterday I discussed the church that met in the house of Stephanas, how they “addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints” (I Corinthians 16:15).

Today, we’ll move back just two verses in this letter, to Paul’s admonition:

“Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit ye like men, be strong. Let all things be done with charity.”

–I Cor 16:13-14

The 1607 King James’ version of the Bible is beautiful, but sometimes that 400-year old translation uses words that leave us confused. But we shouldn’t have trouble with the first two phrases:

I. “Watch Ye”

“Watch ye” is really a multi-faceted jewel that warns us to use our eyes to constantly examine the world around us, and to carefully consider the circumstances that impact our lives. But it also cautions us to keep our spiritual eyes on the shifting sands of the world’s moral values, and protect them from the winds of perversity that threaten to blind us, sweep us off our feet, and even bury us in deep dunes of sin. But apart from the dangers of succumbing to the siren sounds of this world, we are to be alert for the coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Like the ten virtuous virgins, we are to keep ourselves pure, symbolized by having their lanterns filled with the oil of the Holy Spirit, and their wicks trimmed so that they might, at any moment, welcome the return of the Bridegroom. May he set us aflame with boldness to share the truth, knowledge, and grace of the Lord.

“Watch ye” is an admonition that echoes Jesus’ warning:

“Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves”

Matthew 10:16, KJV

We must each learn from the past, for as George Santayana so wisely remarked, “Those who don’t read history are doomed to repeat it.”

The apostle Paul shared this reflection, which seems to discourage our looking back:

“this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3:13-14

Yet Paul did not completely forget the past, for he repeatedly mentioned his origins, and stated categorically that he was “chief of sinners, and “…the least of all the saints.” I’m sure that Paul was thankful for these remembrances, however, both because it reminded him of the enormity of his deliverance from sin through faith in Christ, and provided opportunities to again consecrate himself—to make certain that his feet were solidly planted on the straight and narrow.

Often, in the dark of night, when my spiritual resistance is low, I am reminded of sins I’ve committed, both of omission and commission—unintentional and intentional—and while I may rebuke the enemy for temporarily depressing me in yet another effort to wreck my faith, I’m also reminded that God has a purpose in bringing these matters to mind. So as I pray to be delivered from each spiritual attack, I also thank God for reminding me of the depths to which I had sunk, and for the heights he had lifted me. Aand I am again reminded of the treacherous pitfalls of this world, not to speak of my proclivity to sin.

This leads me to paraphrase Santayana: “He who doesn’t read his own history is doomed to repeat it.”

Paul’s warning to the Corinthians was timely, for they were about to be misled by evil teachers:

“Watch ye….”

II. “Stand fast in the faith”

This is another phrase that, on its face, is easy for even the youngest believer to grasp, yet is rich in meaning.

Paul had already explained this concept in the preceding chapter.

“Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil in the Lord is not in vain.”

I Corinthians 15:58

“Stand fast!” Be steadfast, immovable.

We are not to be shaken or moved by the events around us, nor moved by what happens to us.

III. “Quit you like men”

No, that phrase doesn’t imply that you, or any Christian, should quit when the going gets touch. Quite the contrary. The word is a root the the word “acquit,” which means to conduct ourselves properly.

When the Israelite army, under King Saul, quaked in fear at the daily appearance of the giant, Goliath, young David stood fearlessly before him, and acquitted himself as a man, demanding of Goliath how he dared mock God, and declaring his certain death. Which leads to the next phrase:

IV. “Be strong”

And, again, we can look to the young shepherd poet, the future warrior king of Israel, to young David–who gained godly confidence when he fearlessly slew both bear and lion—and who would use that strength to cast the stone that killed the ogre, Goliath.

And then Paul exhorts:

V. “Let all things be done with charity.”

“Let all things be done with charity,” or, more succinctly, “with love.” Our motives must always be to build up those around us, to protect, encourage, and even lift their burdens, even to do good to those who despitefully use us.

Is there ever an occasion when a Christian might injure or even kill another person? David didn’t hesitate to kill the reprobate, Goliath, who proved his own merciless and evil nature by slaughtering those he opposed, and by mocking the Lord and threatening the very existence of the nation of Israel.

David’s hands were clearly guided by God to take immediate judgment on Goliath and the army he championed.

Look at this seeming contradiction. In the night in which Jesus was betrayed, as he and his disciples were about to leave the upper room for the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus said,

“…he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one. For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end.” And they said, “Lord, behold, here are two swords.” And he said unto them, “It is enough.”

Luke 22:35

Why did Jesus tell his eleven disciples—common laborers who had little knowledge or skill with weapons—to buy swords​? It seems curious that just a few hours later, Jesus admonished Peter for using a sword to cut of the ear of Malchus, a servant of the high priest, and commanded Peter to put away his sword. Jesus’ words to Peter, followed by his miraculous healing of the man’s ear, along with his earlier statement that “…that is written must yet be accomplished in me,” makes clear that Jesus did not want to resist Judas and the multitude that accompanied him when they came to arrest him.

So what was the point in Jesus emphatically stating that they should buy swords, even if it meant selling their garments to buy them? That too was related to up in his words, “… this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, … for the things concerning me have an end.” The point was that, if they were attacked by anyone—malcontents, brigands or thieves—on their way to his arrest, they were to use those swords to fight back, to make certain that nothing interrupted his appointed trial and crucifixion. His passion was the thing yet to be accomplished in him. Once being arrested, however, there was no more need for swords. They haad been needed only for self-defense!

The words of Ecclesiastes provide a beautiful illustration of this seeming paradox:

“To everything there is a season…A time to kill and a time to heal.”

Ecclesiastes 3:3

Jesus gave license to his disciples to defend against anyone who might hinder him from his appointed destiny, and when there was no longer a need for the sword, and his arrest was certain, Jesus turned around and healed the man who was despitefully using him.

I’ve spent a lot of time discussing Paul’s final exhortations in his first letter to the church at Corinth. Some of his words would seem harsh to young Christians in a vile pagan city. And considering how Paul had rebuked the Corinthian Christians earlier in the letter for their sinful behavior, it’s little wonder that some in that church would, during Paul’s absence, begin to mock him.

We learn from Paul’s next letter—the one which we call II Corinthians, that during the interim between the two letters—that false teachers had crept in, evil men who mocked Paul, who questioned his apostleship and the validity of his words, and who sought to poison the Corinthians against him and his authority.

So II Corinthians becomes an apologetic. It’s largely Paul’s defense against these people and their attacks, making II Corinthians perhaps the most defensive book in the Bible.

Ironically, When Paul wrote the second letter, he would find himself required to obey the words that he had written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit at the end of jos first letter. You know the words:

Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.”

And, most importantly,

“Let all your things be done with charity.”

___________________

Copyright 2026, Frank Becker

File: 10 JAN 26, Watch, Stand, Love