Watch, stand fast in the faith, be men, be strong.
Read Chapter 16
Ambrosiaster
AD 400
They were to be watchful, in case they were secretly attacked in their faith. They were to stand firm, being bold in confessing what they had been taught. They were to be strong in both word and deed, because it is the right combination of these which enables people to mature. Commentary on Paul’s Epistles.
A Christian is a soldier, environed and attacked on all sides by enemies. It is his duty to guard against surprise. He should never abandon the post of faith, nor the fortress of the Church, unless he wish to fall an easy prey to his adversaries. He should fight with courage, and after each attack, carefully repair the breaches made by the enemy, that he may be in a condition to sustain fresh attacks by charity, which is the principle, the soul, the life, and heart of our every action.
Not in the wisdom which is without: for there it is not possible to stand, but to be borne along; even as in the faith ye may stand. Quit you like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love. Now in saying these things, he seems indeed to advise; but he is reprimanding them as indolent. Wherefore he says, Watch, as though they slept; Stand, as though they were rocking to and fro: Quit you like men, as though they were playing the coward: Let all that you do be done in love, as though they were in dissensions. And the first caution refers to the deceivers, viz., Watch, stand: the next, to those who plot against us, Quit you like men: the third, to those who make parties and endeavor to distract, Let all that you do be done in love; which thing is the bond of perfectness, and the root and fountain of all blessings.
But what means, All things in love? Whether any one rebuke, says he, or rule or be ruled, or learn or teach, let all be in love: since in fact all the things which ...
"And while she spoke to me, two men appeared and raised her on their shoulders, and they went to where the chair was in the east. With joyful countenance did she depart; and as she went, she said to me, "Behave like a man,
