1 Corinthians 15:58Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable” (1 Cor 15:58). This exhortation is just and timely. Nothing shakes a man so much as the thought that he labors fruitlessly and in vain.

“Always abounding in the work of the Lord,” that is, in a pure life. He did not say, “doing good,” but “abounding,” meaning that good should be done abundantly and beyond the prescribed limits.

“Knowing that your labor is not in vain before the Lord.” What are you saying? Labor again? Yes, but this labor is counted worthy of crowns and is performed for heaven.

The first labor, after paradise, was a punishment for sins. This labor is the foundation of future rewards. For this reason it might not even be called labor.

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.” Since, he says, you have learned that there will be a resurrection and recompense for the good and the wicked, be steadfast.

For they were wavering in the doctrine of the resurrection. And since they were also neglectful of a good life, as though there would be no resurrection, he says, “always abounding in the work of the Lord.”

Do not merely do this work, but do it abundantly. The work of the Lord, which the Lord loves and which He requires of us, is virtue.

“Knowing that your labor is not in vain before the Lord.” That is, hope that there will be a resurrection, and you will lose nothing from your labors.

How does one “abound always in the work of the Lord” (1 Cor 15:58)? He does so if he increases the gift given to him, contributing to the benefit and progress of those helped by it. Or else, in the work of the Lord, he shows greater zeal than he does in matters of ordinary human care.

Having set forth everything necessary for ordering the teaching of the Church, and having shown what to follow and what to avoid, the Apostle Paul exhorts them to be steadfast in what is good. He calls them always to be prompt and generous in works that bear fruit before the Lord. Those who have heard what was set forth, and rightly hope for reward from the Lord, must not be turned aside by unrighteous words.

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable.” He gives them this command as to those who are wavering. “Always abounding in the work of the Lord.” Labor earnestly to gather the riches of piety. “Knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord,” because the Judge is righteous and weaves crowns for the athletes (2 Tim 4:8), and “will give the wage” to the laborers (Mt 20:8). After this exhortation, the Apostle advises them to care for the service of the saints.

The Apostle ends the chapter with Isaiah’s prophetic words, that one day “death will be swallowed up in victory,” that is, it will be finally conquered. He also uses the words of the Prophet Hosea, that death’s sting will be torn away and Hades deprived of its victory.

After giving thanks to God for the victory over death and sin granted to us through the Lord Jesus Christ, the Apostle turns to the Corinthians with this instruction.

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable,” in Christian faith and life, “always abounding in the work of the Lord,” that is, in the work of salvation, “knowing that your labor is not in vain before the Lord.” For there is a resurrection of the dead, and there is a life to come.

The first fruit of the future transformation of bodies will be the destruction of death. The second will be victory over Hades and the devil.

At the same time, the strength of sin will be destroyed, together with all the instruments or means that once stirred it up or restrained it. Such were, for example, the law of conscience and the revealed law.

This law now pierces even to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and judges the thoughts of the heart (Heb 4:12). Then the righteous will shine like the sun, while sinners will be kept in torments (Mt 13:43).

Therefore only one law will then reign: the law of the righteousness of God. The Prophet Daniel foretold this when he said, “everlasting righteousness shall be brought in” (Dan 9:24).

“Therefore,” ὥστε, “so then,” places these lessons in direct dependence on what immediately precedes. There we have triumph over death, and at the same time an incidental exhortation to conquer sin beforehand. The powers for this have been given in the Lord.

What the Apostle now says is directly connected with this last exhortation. “Be steadfast, immovable.” Since the Apostle does not specify the object, it would not be right to limit steadfastness and immovability only to faith in the resurrection.

Rather, we should suppose that, since thanksgiving was offered above to God for granting victory even over sin, and the whole divine economy of salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ leads to this, steadfastness and immovability here are meant in every respect.