I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER, BROTHERS. In the final verse of the previous chapter, Paul mentioned the possibility of himself being rejected. This is not an _unreal fear,_ as the history of Israel shows. The false teacher at Corinth had taught that when you turned to Christ, you became such a_ favorite_ o... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY WERE ALL BAPTIZED AS FOLLOWERS OF MOSES. Scholars see in _being under the cloud_ and _passing safely through the sea_ the double-process of SUBMERSION and EMERGENCE in baptism. Compare note on Acts 8:38-39. In this act, they committed themselves to the leadership of Moses, showed their belief i... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL ATE. The _manna_ (Exodus 16:15) is called "spiritual bread" because it was given to them in a supernormal way, and because it was symbolic of the spiritual bread of Christians (the words of Christ, see note _on_ John 6:51).... [ Continue Reading ]
AND ALL DRANK. Water was given to them in a supernormal way (Exodus 17:6; Numbers 20:11). THAT WENT ALONG WITH THEM. From this rock (Christ) they drank _in spirit,_ while their bodies drank from the water flowing at their feet. The rock that went along with them was _not symbolic_ of Christ, but _wa... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT EVEN THEN. "All" were baptized, "all" ate, "all" drank. But in spite of the blessing from God, most of them did not please God, as Paul goes on to show us in 1 Corinthians 10:7-10.... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL THESE THINGS ARE EXAMPLES FOR US. We clearly see human nature in the things these people did! They turned away from God, and ran after evil. They had been slaves for four centuries in Egypt. They still thought like slaves, and desired the evil things of Egypt. The application is that we have all... [ Continue Reading ]
NOR TO WORSHIP IDOLS. Israel turned to idols in the desert. (Exodus 32:1-6), and worshiped the golden calf. The Corinthians had turned from idols to become Christians (compare 1 Thessalonians 1:9 and note). There was real danger to them from their old ways. TO EAT AND DRINK. At a feast honoring the... [ Continue Reading ]
WE MUST NOT COMMIT SEXUAL IMMORALITY. _Immorality_ is a sex act involving someone other than the lawful spouse. It includes acts between woman and woman; between man and man; and between a man and a woman who are not married to each other. The technical term is "fornication." This was a very common... [ Continue Reading ]
WE MUST NOT PUT THE LORD. [The Latin Vulgate has "Christ."] See Numbers 21:4-6 for this incident. The point is we must not allow our hardships to make us discontent, nor yearn for the sinful pleasures of the old life.... [ Continue Reading ]
YOU MUST NOT COMPLAIN. This happened when the spies reported the size and strength of the inhabitants of Canaan. See Numbers 13:30_ to_ Numbers 14:14. The real problem was that they did not really believe God.... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL THESE THINGS HAPPENED TO THEM AS EXAMPLES. Compare 1 Corinthians 10:6. The story of these things serves as a lesson for all time. We may not sin expecting that because we are God's people, he will not punish us. After he had rescued Israel from Egypt, he still punished those who sinned. FOR WE L... [ Continue Reading ]
WHOEVER. The one who stands with such confidence on the grace of God, that he thinks he can sin and _get away with it,_ is in for a _fall!_ The one who turns inward to his own personal experience and trusts in that, will have little to sustain him in the time of hard testing! The only safe way is to... [ Continue Reading ]
EVERY TEMPTATION. The Corinthians may have thought their temptations were unusually severe. To show they had no excuse for joining in the feasts in the idol's temple to escape persecution, Paul says this is only the kind of temptation that normally comes to people. BUT GOD KEEPS HIS PROMISE. Temptat... [ Continue Reading ]
KEEP AWAY FROM THE WORSHIP OF IDOLS. Drunkenness and immorality were part of the idol's worship. The only way to deal with this was to _keep away_ from it!!!... [ Continue Reading ]
I SPEAK TO YOU AS SENSIBLE PEOPLE. "I want to show you that eating the sacrifice in the idol's temple is real worshiping of the idol.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE CUP OF BLESSING. By this he means the fruit of the grape which is used in the Lord's Supper (Holy Meal). [At this point in time, _any Christian man_ had the AUTHORITY to give thanks to God for the cup and the bread.] Do we not share? We share or participate in all the blessings bought for us by... [ Continue Reading ]
BECAUSE THERE IS ONE BREAD. Paul shows here how vital to the church is the sharing/participating in the Lord's Supper (Holy Meal). This was being _defiled_ by their taking part in the idol's feasts. [Since Jesus built only _one church_ (one spiritual congregation of the saved), the _one bread_ and _... [ Continue Reading ]
CONSIDER THE HEBREW PEOPLE. Part of each sacrifice was eaten by those who served in the temple, and part burnt on the altar to God. By doing this they shared with God, in the sacrifice. The false teacher (who was also a Jew) had advised the Corinthian Christians to eat the idol sacrifices (in the id... [ Continue Reading ]
WHAT DO I MEAN? "Am I saying that an idol is a real "God," or that a sacrifice to an idol is a sacrifice to a real "God?... [ Continue Reading ]
NO! He strongly denies the _reality_ of the idol (see 1 Corinthians 8:4-6). IS OFFERED TO DEMONS. The demons were the spirits of dead men. The "gods" of the Gentiles were mostly dead kings and heroes who had been "_made gods."_ In the minds of those who worshiped them, they were _real!_... [ Continue Reading ]
YOU CANNOT DRINK. In the pagan sacrifices, before the priests poured the wine on the sacrifice, they tasted it themselves and held it out to those who brought the sacrifice, for them to taste it also, and so share in the sacrifice. Sharing in the one prevents sharing in the other! YOU CANNOT EAT. Th... [ Continue Reading ]
OR DO WE WANT TO MAKE THE LORD JEALOUS? As sensible men, they must see the _absurdity,_ as well as _the danger,_ in such double-dealing. Jehovah is a jealous God (Exodus 20:5). He will not share his worshipers with demons!... [ Continue Reading ]
WE ARE ALLOWED TO DO ANYTHING. This was a _slogan_ of the Corinthian church (see note on 1 Corinthians 6:12), YES, BUT. Christian liberty must be limited to make it both kind and helpful. Even though we may be allowed to do something, the effect on others could make it a sin (1 Corinthians 8:1-3; 1... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT FOR THE INTERESTS OF OTHERS. Selfishness will destroy us; unselfishness will make us strong! Compare 1 Corinthians 13:5; Romans 14:7; Romans 15:2; Galatians 6:2; Philippians 2:1-4.... [ Continue Reading ]
ANYTHING SOLD IN THE MEAT MARKET. No one could be suspected of idol worship because he bought meat in the meat market. This was completely separated from the idol's temple and the worship of demons. WITHOUT ASKING ANY QUESTIONS. Do not make yourself worry needlessly.... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR, AS THE SCRIPTURE SAYS. He quotes Psalms 24:1 to show that no demon has any claim on the earth and everything in it! Compare 1 Timothy 4:3-5.... [ Continue Reading ]
IF AN UNBELIEVER. The Christian is not required to _cut himself off_ from society (see 1 Corinthians 5:9-13 and notes). WITHOUT ASKING ANY QUESTIONS. Because of your knowledge that the earth belongs to the Lord (1 Corinthians 10:26).... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT IF _SOMEONE_ TELLS YOU. Then don't eat it; not because the food is _defiled,_ but because of the conscience of the _unbeliever._... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THE OTHER MAN'S CONSCIENCE. "You know that eating such food is not worshiping the idol. But if the unbeliever (or a weak brother) sees you do this when you _know_ it has been sacrificed to the idol, he will think you a hypocrite and you cannot lead him to Christ.... [ Continue Reading ]
IF I THANK GOD? "If I can eat this with a clear conscience, why should I allow someone else to limit my freedom to act?... [ Continue Reading ]
DO IT ALL FOR GOD'S GLORY. This is the answer to the whole question of Christian ethics. (1) Do it with thanks to God; (2) Be helpful to weak brothers; (3) Follow God's rules.... [ Continue Reading ]
AS TO CAUSE NO TROUBLE. Do nothing that would cause a scandal or create prejudice.... [ Continue Reading ]
JUST DO AS I DO. Where no principle of Truth was involved, Paul tried to please everyone! See 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 and notes.... [ Continue Reading ]