Stand firm in the faith…” (1 Cor 16:13, NLT). Paul, in this verse, begins his final exhortation to the Corinthian church. He beseeches his readers to take hold of five final imperatives that would remind them of their unique identity as Christians. These commands are military metaphors that show the staunchness and vigilance with which a believer should live. Before understanding the meaning of “stand firm in the faith,” it is crucial to grasp what it does not mean here. Some translations put this statement as “stand firm in your faith,” referring the faith here to an individual’s personal trust in Jesus. The faith of which Paul writes in this statement is not one’s own (subjective) faith or trust in the Lord. Rather, it refers to the true doctrine about Jesus Christ, which embodies His life, death, and resurrection.

Paul is concerned about the factual content of the Christian faith. Although a believer’s faith is indispensable, the power of salvation does not lie in how one believes but in what one believes. Knowing this great mystery, Paul urges Corinthian believers never to shy away from this great faith, the true doctrine. Be it a threat or enticement; he pleads with them not to alter the truth of the gospel under any circumstances. Paul’s command is undeniably relevant to Christianity today. One’s personal faith is much celebrated and focuses on Christendom above the unique Christian doctrine. Everybody is a believer, but what is believed is unequivocal. To change this, churches should encourage and educate believers to articulate Christian faith accurately to withstand all hostile powers. A believer should always acknowledge that it is not one’s own act of believing that brings salvation, but it is the very power of the gospel. Personal faith can vacillate at times, but the true faith revealed through the story of Jesus is never changed. One’s faith in Jesus can be stronger than others and or weaker than others. However, the salvation one enjoys is no different from others because it is based on Jesus and Him alone. Therefore, while the personal faith is necessary, it is not the faith that believers in Corinth were commanded to stand firm but on the TRUE FAITH, the pure doctrine about Jesus.