_(B) FOOD OFFERED TO IDOLS_ In these Chapter s St. Paul answers another question of the Corinthians—as to the lawfulness of eating food which had been offered in sacrifice to idols. This was a very urgent question. The whole worship of the heathen was sacrificial, and sacrifices were offered by them... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL OUR FATHERS] Though most of the Corinthians were Gentiles, yet the Israelites were their spiritual forefathers; the Christian Church is a continuation of the Jewish. THE CLOUD., THE SEA] see Exodus 13:21; Exodus 14. The cloud denoting the presence of God was over them, the water of the Red Sea o... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT (RV' A') SPIRITUAL ROCK THAT FOLLOWED THEM: AND THAT ROCK WAS CHRIST] The several visible rocks from which water came were symbols of the one invisible Rock who accompanied them and bestowed these blessings. God is often called a Rock in the OT., e.g. Deuteronomy 32:15; Psalms 18:2; Psalms 18:3... [ Continue Reading ]
MANY] RV 'most.' All shared these same blessings, yet most, all, in fact, except Caleb and Joshua, perished in the wilderness. So our sacramental privileges will not save us if we live a careless life.... [ Continue Reading ]
EXAMPLES] to be avoided: cp. Hebrews 3:7 to Hebrews 4:2. THEY.. LUSTED] after the flesh-pots of Egypt (Numbers 11); the Corinthians were mchned to hanker after heathen pleasures.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PEOPLE SAT DOWN, etc.] in honour of the golden calf (Exodus 32:6). PLAY] revelling accompanying the idol-worship.... [ Continue Reading ]
SOME OF THEM COMMITTED] Numbers 25. Fornication was a temptation to the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 6). It was closely associated with idolatry; at Corinth there were a great number of women attached to the temple of Aphrodite (Venus) and devoted to her shameful service.... [ Continue Reading ]
TEMPT CHRIST] (RV 'the Lord'; with AV, see on 1 Corinthians 10:4) i.e. try His patience. DESTROYED OF SERPENTS] Numbers 21:5; Numbers 21:6.... [ Continue Reading ]
MURMUR] as some might at losing their old heathen pleasures. DESTROYED OF THE DESTROYER] i.e. the destroying angel inflicting pestilence (Exodus 12:23; 2 Samuel 24:15; Numbers 16:41).... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR ENSAMPLES] RV 'by way of example.' WRITTEN FOR OUR ADMONITION] not merely as ancient history: cp. Romans 15:4. THE ENDS OF THE WORLD] RV 'of the ages.' Christians are 'the heirs of all the ages,' living in the final dispensation: cp. Hebrews 1:2;... [ Continue Reading ]
SUCH AS IS COMMON TO MAN] RV 'such as man can bear.' GOD _is_ FAITHFUL] He will not fail you (1 Corinthians 1:9); so endure, assured that He will support and finally deliver (MAKE A WAY TO ESCAPE). 14-22. Partaking of the Holy Communion is morally incompatible with partaking of idolatrous feasts. B... [ Continue Reading ]
FLEE, FROM IDOLATRY] do not run into temptation by attending these sacrificial feasts.... [ Continue Reading ]
AS TO WISE MEN] such as the Corinthians prided themselves on being: cp, 1 Corinthians 3:18; 1 Corinthians 4:8; 1 Corinthians 8:10. They could judge how incongruous it was, after having by the Eucharist been made partakers of Christ, to share in idol sacrifices, and so enter into fellowship with evil... [ Continue Reading ]
CUP OF BLESSING] the cup of wine upon which a blessing was pronounced. WE BLESS] i.e. consecrate by thanksgiving and prayer. COMMUNION OF THE BLOOD 'OF CHRIST] In 1 Corinthians 11 St. Paul presents the Eucharist under the aspect of a memorial of Christ's death; here under that of communion with Him;... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR WE _being_ MANY] better, RM 'Seeing that there is one bread, we who are many are one body.' It is a Sacrament of unity in Christ; partakers of the one Bread, broken and distributed to each, we all partake sacramentally of Christ's Body, and are thus 'members incorporate in His mystical Body, the... [ Continue Reading ]
ISRAEL AFTER THE FLESH] the natural Israel. We Christians are the true Israel, who do God's will (Galatians 6:16). PARTAKERS OF (RV 'have communion with') THE ALTAR] i.e. with God, whose share was offered on it: see on 1 Corinthians 9:18. Or, 'communion (with God) in (by) the altar.' 'The altar on w... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT THE IDOL IS ANY THING] no contradiction of 1 Corinthians 8:4; 1 Corinthians 8:7.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY SACRIFICE TO DEVILS (lit. 'demons'), AND NOT TO GOD] an echo of Deuteronomy 32:17. St. Paul means that while particular heathen gods have no real existence, yet idolatrous worship is the invention of evil spirits, who instigate the excesses connected with it. To join in idolatrous feasts is to... [ Continue Reading ]
CANNOT] It is morally impossible; to indulge in the latter makes the former a mere mockery.... [ Continue Reading ]
PROVOKE THE LORD TO JEALOUSY] (from Deuteronomy 32:16; Deuteronomy 32:21. Cp. Exodus 20:5) by dividing an allegiance. ARE WE STRONGER THAN HE?] This was really what the conduct of those who frequented idol-feasts amounted to—a challenge to God. How absurd their conduct when thus analysed! 1 CORINTH... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL THINGS (i.e. things indifferent) ARE LAWFUL] see on 1 Corinthians 6:12; 1 Corinthians 6:13. EDIFY] lit. 'build up' the Christian character.... [ Continue Reading ]
ANOTHER'S _wealt_] RV 'his neighbour's good.' 'Wealth' is old English for 'welfare.'... [ Continue Reading ]
SHAMBLES] the meat market. ASKING NO QUESTION FOR CONSCIENCE SAKE] i.e. so as not to trouble your conscience, or, not stopping to consult conscience. St. Paul does not want to encourage unhealthy scruples.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE EARTH _IS_ THE LORD'S, AND TINE FULNESS THEREOF] i.e. all its contents (Psalms 24:1); said to have been a Jewish grace before meat. RV omits these words at end of 1 Corinthians 10:28.... [ Continue Reading ]
OF ANOTHER] RV 'by another.' Stevens paraphrases the v., 'Such action would have its entire reason in the weakness of the scrupulous man, for, in itself considered, one's liberty is not determined by some one else's conscience, but by his own.'... [ Continue Reading ]
IF I BY GRACE BE A PARTAKER] RM, better, 'If I partake with thankfulness': cp. 1 Timothy 4:3. EVIL SPOKEN OF] Heathens, or weak Christians, would think it grossly inconsistent to thank God for food offered to idols.... [ Continue Reading ]
DO ALL TO THE GLORY OF GOD] The principle the Apostle has been inculcating in respect of meats has a universal application.... [ Continue Reading ]
NONE OFFENCE] RV 'no occasion of stumbling.'... [ Continue Reading ]
I PLEASE ALL _men_] cp. 1 Corinthians 9:22, and especially Romans 15:1, 'Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification': contrast Galatians 1:10. 1 CORINTHIANS 11:1. BE YE FOLLOWERS OF ME] cp. 1 Corinthians 4:16. For Christ's example cp. Philippians 2:4; Romans 15:3; 'even Chr... [ Continue Reading ]