Questions
What Does Paul Mean by “Act Like Men” in 1 Corinthians 16:13?
Summary: Paul’s imperative andrizesthe (“act like men” / “be courageous”) is addressed to the entire Corinthian congregation, not just its male members, and in context it calls the whole church to maturity—contrasted with the Corinthians’ recurring childishness—not to a gender-specific masculine virtue.
The phrase in question, “be courageous” or “act like men” (andrizesthe) in 1 Corinthians 16:13, is often cited as evidence that Paul has a specifically masculine vision for Christian life. Read carefully, however, it does not support that conclusion.
The immediate context is a series of four rapid imperatives: “Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.” These are addressed to the entire Corinthian congregation, not to its male members. Paul has been using the Corinthians as a case study of sorts throughout the letter for what happens when a community loses its theological footing. When the church becomes captive to status competitions, factional loyalties, and cultural definitions of wisdom and strength, it has forgotten the claim that Christ has on it. The imperatives in 16:13-14 are a summary call to covenantal fidelity, not a gender-specific instruction.
The gender issue (“act like men”) distracts from what the text is actually doing. The word for “man” in ancient Greek was certainly opposite of “woman.” However, the term was also contrasted with immaturity or childhood. This latter contrast would seem significant given Paul’s sustained concern in this letter with the Corinthians’ immaturity (1 Cor 3:1-3; 13:11; 14:20). What Paul is calling for is maturity and the courage to remain in love when the community is under pressure to fracture. He isn’t advocating for the cultivation of a masculine virtue, but a theological commitment to live as those who belong to Christ. The surrounding context appears to support this line of interpretation as Paul calls the Corinthians to “Let all that you do be done in love” (16:14) after encouraging them to “act like men” (16:13).
Key Takeaways: Andrizesthe in Context
- Greek Term: Andrizesthe contrasts not only with “woman” but with childhood/immaturity—a contrast Paul emphasizes throughout 1 Corinthians (3:1-3; 13:11; 14:20).
- Audience: The four imperatives of 1 Cor 16:13 address the entire Corinthian congregation, not just its male members.
- Immediate Context: Verse 14—“Let all that you do be done in love”—frames the command as a call to covenantal fidelity, not masculine assertion.
- The “So What”: Paul is calling the church to mature fidelity under pressure, not calling men to cultivate a gendered virtue.
About the Author — James Spencer, PhD, is a theologian, author, and host of the Thinking Christian podcast, where he writes and speaks on Christian formation, political theology, and technology. He holds a PhD in Theological Studies from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and completed the Institute for Educational Management at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. He serves as President of the D.L. Moody Center in Northfield, Massachusetts, as adjunct faculty in Wheaton College’s MA in Leadership program, and as an Associate Research Fellow at the Kirby Laing Centre for Public Theology. His writing has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Times, Christianity.com, and Sojourners; he has been quoted in The Telegraph; and he is a regular guest on Stand in the Gap Today with the American Pastors Network. His forthcoming book is Digital Discernment (InterVarsity Press, Fall 2026). Learn more at jamesgspencer.com.