1 Corinthians 10:21-22

This lively apostrophe sets in the strongest light the inconsistency of Cor [1537] Christians who conform to idolatry, the untenability of their position. “You cannot drink the Lord's cup and the cup of demons ” the two together! “You cannot partake of the Lord's table and the table of demons!” cf. the τίς μετοχή, κοινωνία, κ. τ. λ.; of. 2 Corinthians 6:14 ff., and other parls. The nouns forming the obj [1538] are anarthrous as being qualitative, the impossibility lying in the kind of the two cups; cf. note on 1 Corinthians 2:5. “The Lord's cup” is that received at His direction and signifying allegiance to Him; in 1 Corinthians 10:16, “the cup of (His) blessing.” Possibly, P. alludes here to Malachi 1:7; Malachi 1:12, where ‘the table” signifies “the altar of Jehovah”; but the expression is borrowed without this identification. In this context table and altar are essentially distinguished; the altar supplies the table (cf. Hebrews 13:10). “S. Coena convivium, non sacrificium; in mensa, non in altari” (Bg [1539]). The τράπεζα includes the ποτήριον and ἄρτος of 1 Corinthians 10:16 together. This passage gives its name of “the Lord's Table” to the Eucharist. “Or (is it that) we provoke the Lord to jealousy?” is this what we mean by eating at both tables? Paul includes himself in this question; such conduct is conceivable in his case, since he had no scruple against the idolothyta on their own account (see 1 Corinthians 10:8; 1 Corinthians 9:1). Deuteronomy 32:21 (neighbouring the previous allusion of 20) sufficiently indicates the result of such insolence: see other O.T. parls. For this argumentative ἢ in Paul's questions, cf. 1 Corinthians 6:9, etc., 1 Corinthians 9:6. If the Cor [1540] are daring Christ's sovereign displeasure by coquetting with idolatry, they must suppose themselves “stronger than He”! As sensible and prudent men they must see the absurdity, as well as the awful peril, of such double-dealing: cf. Deuteronomy 32:6; Deuteronomy 32:28 f. ἰσχυρός (1 Corinthians 1:25) implies inherent, personal strength. Of the δύναμις τ. κυρ. Ἰησοῦ Ρ. had given a solemn impression in ch. 1 Corinthians 5:4 f.; cf. 2 Corinthians 13:3 f.

[1537] Corinth, Corinthian or Corinthians.

[1538] grammatical object.

[1539] Bengel's Gnomon Novi Testamenti.

[1540] Corinth, Corinthian or Corinthians.