X. (1) MOREOVER, BRETHREN,.... — Better, _For I would not, brethren, that you should be ignorant._ From the strong statement of personal self-distrust with which the previous chapter concludes, the Apostle now passes on to show that Jewish history contains solemn examples of the falling-away of thos... [ Continue Reading ]
WERE ALL BAPTIZED UNTO MOSES. — The weight of evidence is in favour of the middle voice for the verb here used; signifying that they all voluntarily had themselves baptised to Moses. Moses was God’s representative under the Law, and so they were baptised unto him in their voluntarily joining with th... [ Continue Reading ]
SPIRITUAL MEAT. — The manna (Exodus 16:13) was not natural food, for it was not produced in the natural way, but it was supplied by the Spirit and power of God. Bread from earth would be natural bread, but this was bread from heaven (John 6:31). Our Lord (John 6:50) had already made the Christian Ch... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT SPIRITUAL ROCK THAT FOLLOWED THEM. — There was a Jewish tradition that the Rock — _i.e.,_ a fragment broken off from the rock smitten by Moses — followed the Israelites through their journey, and St. Paul, for the purpose of illustration, adopts that account instead of the statement in Numbers... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT WITH MANY OF THEM. — Better, _Nevertheless not with the greater part of them was God pleased._ This introduces the point from which the Apostle seeks to draw the great lesson of self-distrust. _All_ had _all_ these privileges — privileges of a baptism and a spiritual meat and drink which corresp... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW THESE THINGS WERE OUR EXAMPLES. — Better, _Now these things were types of us._ “Now” introduces the contrast between the physical Israel and the spiritual Israel, between the physical death which befell the majority of the former, and the spiritual death which, if privileges be neglected or abus... [ Continue Reading ]
AND FELL IN ONE DAY THREE AND TWENTY THOUSAND. — In Numbers 25:9 the statement is that twenty-four thousand perished. Various and ingenious attempts have been made to reconcile these two accounts of the actual numbers. The explanation most in harmony with the character of the writer, and the utterly... [ Continue Reading ]
NEITHER LET US TEMPT CHRIST. — Better, _Neither let us tempt the Lord, as some of them tempted, and perished by serpents._ There is much controversy as to whether the word here is “God” or “Christ” or “the Lord,” each having a certain amount of MS. support. On the whole, the reading here adopted (th... [ Continue Reading ]
NEITHER MURMUR YE. — The reference here is to Numbers 16:41, and the historical event alluded to — viz., the murmuring of the Israelites against their God-given leaders, Moses and Aaron — is analogous to the murmuring of the Corinthians against their Apostle, St. Paul. It is noticeable that St. Paul... [ Continue Reading ]
HAPPENED UNTO THEM FOR ENSAMPLES. — Better, _happened unto them typically; and it was written for our admonition._ The verb “happened” is plural, referring to the multiplied occurrences which the Apostle has just mentioned; but “written” is singular, referring to the sacred record in which the histo... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREFORE. — This is the practical conclusion of the whole matter. We are to look back on that strange record of splendid privilege and of terrible fall and learn from it the solemn lesson of self-distrust. Led forth by divinely appointed leaders, overshadowed by the Divine Presence, supported by di... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE HATH NO TEMPTATION TAKEN YOU. — What is meant by a “temptation common to man” (or rather, _suited to man_) is explained further on as a temptation which one is “able to bear.” From the warning and exhortation of the previous verse the Apostle passes on to words of encouragement, “You need not... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREFORE, MY DEARLY BELOVED, FLEE FROM IDOLATRY. — These words show that through all the previous argument and warning the writer had in view the particular dangers arising from their contact with the heathen world, and especially the partaking in the sacrificial feasts. Not because they were enemi... [ Continue Reading ]
I SPEAK AS TO WISE MEN. — These words are not hypothetical; they imply the point of view from which the Apostle is now regarding his readers — viz., competent to recognise the force of his argument. Having warned them against any participation in idolatry, even such as would be involved in joining i... [ Continue Reading ]
THE CUP OF BLESSING WHICH WE BLESS. — In other passages the cup is mentioned after the bread, and not, as here, before it. The order in which they are placed here has been variously accounted for, as arising either (Stanley) from the analogy to the heathen feasts, in which the libation came before t... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR WE BEING MANY ARE ONE BREAD. — Better, _For it is one bread, and we, the many, are one body, for we all take a portion of that one bread._ This verse explains how “the breaking” of the bread was the significant act which expressed sacramentally the communion of the body of Christ. There is one b... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD ISRAEL AFTER THE FLESH — _i.e.,_ Israel in its merely human aspect, not the spiritual Israel (Romans 2:28; Galatians 4:29; Galatians 6:16). The sacrifice was divided — a portion offered upon the altar and a portion taken and eaten (Deuteronomy 12:18; Deuteronomy 16:11): so whoever ate a porti... [ Continue Reading ]
WHAT SAY I THEN? — It might have been argued from the preceding verse that the Apostle admitted the heathen offerings and the idols to which they were offered to be as real as were the offerings and Being to whom the altar was erected by Israel, whereas in 1 Corinthians 8:4 he had asserted the contr... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT I SAY. — Better, _No; but that the things which they sacrifice they sacrifice to devils, and not to God._ The word “devils” means evil spirits. The heathen world is regarded by the Christian Church as under the dominion of the Evil Spirit and his emissaries (Ephesians 2:2; Ephesians 6:12), and... [ Continue Reading ]
YE CANNOT... — Here follows the special reason why the Apostle desires them not to partake of the wine poured forth in libation to devils, or the table on which meat sacrificed to these devils was spread out as food. Such would deprive them of their participation in the cup of the Lord and the table... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL THINGS ARE LAWFUL FOR ME. — The Apostle now proceeds to conclude, with some practical direction and advice, the question of the eating of meat offered to idols, from which immediate subject the strong expression of personal feeling in 1 Corinthians 8:13 had led him to branch off into the various... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT EVERY MAN ANOTHER’S WEALTH. — Better, _but each one another’s good._ The English word “wealth” has, in process of time, come to bear a limited significance, such as did not originally belong to it. By “wealth” we now mean temporal possessions or advantage; it originally meant “good,” including m... [ Continue Reading ]
WHATSOEVER IS SOLD IN THE SHAMBLES. — Here is the practical application of the principle laid down. When a Christian sees meat exposed for sale in the public market let him buy it and eat it; he need not ask any question to satisfy his conscience on the subject. Some of the meat which had been used... [ Continue Reading ]
THE EARTH IS THE LORD’S.... — All food that earth brings forth or nourishes is God’s gift, and therefore good. It was merely when regarded as an actual sacrifice that any meat could be considered that “of devils.” This great truth, recognised in the Old Testament as well as in the New, is the reason... [ Continue Reading ]
IF ANY OF THEM THAT BELIEVE NOT.... — How should a Christian act if a heathen friend invited him to a feast? Should he inquire whether there was any sacrificial meat at the feast, and so avoid eating it? No. The same principle applies here — no question need be asked.... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT IF ANY MAN.... — If, however, some weak brother present points out that it is sacrificial meat, do not eat for his sake and for conscience sake (see 1 Corinthians 10:29). Here your personal liberty is to be modified by the principle mentioned in 1 Corinthians 10:24. If the weak brother see you e... [ Continue Reading ]
CONSCIENCE, I SAY, NOT THINE OWN, BUT OF THE OTHER. — In the previous verse there is nothing to indicate that the obligation not to eat the meat under such circumstances arises from a consideration of the tenderness of the other’s conscience. Here any danger of mistake as to whose conscience is mean... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR IF I BY GRACE BE A PARTAKER. — Better, _If I thankfully partake, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks?_ Such a question might be asked by some who object to the restriction on their liberty which the advice just given implies. To the querulous objector the Apostle gives no de... [ Continue Reading ]
WHETHER THEREFORE YE EAT, OR DRINK, OR WHATSOEVER YE DO. — These words embrace all life. The definite acts of eating and drinking are mentioned expressly as they are the subject immediately under consideration. They are, however, to be regulated by the same principle which guides all true life. The... [ Continue Reading ]
GIVE NONE OFFENCE. — A practical test of whether any course of conduct is to the glory of God. If it cause any human being to offend then it is not to God’s glory. Heretofore St. Paul had spoken only of the edification of the Christian Church, and the avoidance of any offence to a Christian brother.... [ Continue Reading ]
EVEN AS I PLEASE ALL MEN... — Better, _even as I in all things am seeking to please all men, not seeking my own profit, but that of the many_ — _i.e.,_ the whole great mass of men, and not, as the English seems to imply, merely “a great number.” This is the same idea as “I am made all things to all... [ Continue Reading ]