BOOK 46 OF 66 · PAULINE EPISTLES · KING JAMES BIBLE

1 Corinthians 10

1 Corinthians book home•Chapter 10 of 16•33 verses

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1 Corinthians 10 Overview

Paul uses Israel in the wilderness as a warning to the church. Privilege did not prevent idolatry, fornication, tempting Christ, or murmuring from bringing temporal judgment. He then assures believers that God provides a way to escape temptation, forbids participation in idolatrous fellowship, and gives practical counsel about eating with a clear conscience.

1 CorinthiansBook

10Chapter

33Verses

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Before you read 1 Corinthians 10

Coming from

Paul defends his apostleship and his right to material support, marriage, and ordinary liberties, yet explains why he voluntarily surrenders rights for the gospel’s sake. He adapts himself to different audiences without changing the gospel, and he closes with athletic imagery about discipline so that he will not become a castaway.

In this chapter

Leads into

Paul addresses headship, men and women in prayer/prophesying, hair and covering customs, and then sharply rebukes abuses of the Lord’s supper. Their gatherings magnify social division and selfishness instead of proclaiming the Lord’s death, so some have experienced serious temporal chastening.

Key understandingExplore deeper

The wilderness judgments are examples for believers, not proof that Israel earned eternal life by obedience.

Paul distinguishes ordinary meat in the marketplace from religious participation at an idol table; context determines whether eating is morally indifferent or spiritually compromising.

Major truths in this chapterExplore deeper

Spiritual privilege does not make sin harmless

Israel experienced remarkable blessings yet still suffered severe temporal judgment.

God limits temptation and provides a way of escape

Believers are never required to sin.

Christian fellowship with Christ excludes fellowship with idolatry

The Lord’s table and the table of devils cannot be joined.

Connections to the rest of ScriptureExplore deeper

Exodus 32

The golden calf supplies one major wilderness example.

Numbers 25

Israel’s fornication and idolatry at Baal-peor underlie Paul’s warning.

Romans 15:4

Paul elsewhere states that earlier Scripture was written for believers’ learning.

What is clear, and where care is neededExplore deeper

Do not use verse 13 to promise escape from every trial

The verse specifically addresses temptation to sin.

Do not equate every meal involving an unbeliever with idolatry

Paul allows ordinary eating unless the meal becomes identified with idol worship or conscience harm.

Do not equate temporal death with loss of eternal life

Israel’s wilderness judgments are warnings about the serious consequences of sin, not proof that every person who died lost eternal salvation.

Read 1 Corinthians 10 watching for…

The repeated word ‘all’ in Israel’s privileges.

The sins Paul selects as warnings.

The promise concerning temptation.

The cup/table fellowship language.

How Paul balances liberty with conscience and God’s glory.

Chapter outline3 sections

1-13Israel’s wilderness failures warn believers against lust, idolatry, fornication, and tempting Christ 14-22Believers must flee idolatry because communion with Christ cannot be joined to devils 23-33Liberty should seek others’ good and God’s glory rather than merely personal freedom

Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;

And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;

And did all eat the same spiritual meat;

And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.

Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.

Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.

Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.

Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.

Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.

I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.

The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?

For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.

Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?

What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing?

But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.

Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils.

Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?

All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.

Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth.

Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake:

For the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof.

If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake.

But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof:

Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience?

For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks?

Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:

Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.

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1 Corinthians 10:32

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