Section 4
the believers to stand firm and not be distracted, shaken, or moved. Such a firm standing was especially necessary during Paul's absence. Paul, the one who could establish the believers, was away from them, but the Judaistic teachers, those who were preaching contrary to God's economy, were at hand. This was the reason that toward the end of chapter one Paul charged the believ ers to stand firm. However, if they were to stand firm, they would have to strive together with one soul. Apart from striving, they would not be able to stand. Therefore, in this case striving is not a thing separate from standing. Rather, striving is the standing in actuality.
If we today only stand but do not strive, even tually we shall be shaken by the opposition or moved by it. It is not adequate simply to encour age others to stand firm. I repeat, in order to stand firm, we must strive and fight. Striving is the way to stand. Actually, to strive is to stand. Another way of putting it is to say that in order to have a defense, we need to be on the offensive. If we do not know how to go on the offensive, we shall not have an adequate defense. If we would defend ourselves, we must take the offensive against Satan. The point here is that defense re quires offense. This is the reason that in 1:27 Paul