The First Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians

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- Chapter 10 -

(Numbers 16:41–50; Numbers 25:1–5)

For I do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and they all went across the sea.

And in Moses, they all were baptized, in the cloud and in the sea.(a)

And they all ate of the same spiritual food.

And they all drank of the same spiritual drink. And so, they all were drinking of the spiritual rock seeking to obtain them; and that rock was Christ.

But with most of them, God was not well-pleased. For they were struck down in the desert.(b)

Now these things were done as an example for us, so that we might not desire evil things, just as they desired.

And so, do not take part in idolatry, as some of them did, just as it was written: “The people sat down to eat and to drink, and then they rose up to amuse themselves.”

And let us not commit fornication, as some of them fornicated, and so twenty-three thousand fell on one day.

And let us not tempt Christ, as some of them tempted, and so they perished by serpents.

And you should not murmur, as some of them murmured, and so they perished by the destroyer.

Now all of these things happened to them as an example, and so they have been written for our correction, because the final age has fallen upon us.(c)

And so, whosoever considers himself to be standing, let him be careful not to fall.

Temptation should not take hold of you, except what is human. For God is faithful, and he will not permit you to be tempted beyond your ability. Instead, he will effect his Providence, even during temptation, so that you may be able to bear it.(d)

(e)

(f)

Flee from Idolatry

(Exodus 20:22–26)

Because of this, most beloved of mine, flee from the worship of idols.

Since I am speaking to those who are prudent, judge what I say for yourselves.

The cup of benediction that we bless, is it not a communion in the Blood of Christ? And the bread that we break, is it not a participation in the Body of the Lord?(g)

Through the one bread, we, though many, are one body: all of us who are partakers of the one bread.(h)

Consider Israel, according to the flesh. Are not those who eat from the sacrifices partakers of the altar?

What is next? Should I say that what is immolated to idols is anything? Or that the idol is anything?

But the things that the Gentiles immolate, they immolate to demons, and not to God. And I do not want you to become partakers with demons.(i)

You cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of demons. You cannot be partakers of the table of the Lord, and partakers of the table of demons.

Or should we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he is? All is lawful to me, but not all is expedient.

All to God’s Glory

(1 Peter 4:1–11)

All is lawful to me, but not all is edifying.

Let no one seek for himself, but for others.

Whatever is sold in the market, you may eat, without asking questions for the sake of conscience.

“The earth and all its fullness belong to the Lord.”

If you are invited by any unbelievers, and you are willing to go, you may eat whatever is set before you, without asking questions for the sake of conscience.

But if anyone says, “This has been sacrificed to idols,” do not eat it, for the sake of the one who told you, and for the sake of conscience.

But I am referring to the conscience of the other person, not to yours. For why should my liberty be judged by the conscience of another?

If I partake with thanksgiving, why should I be slandered over that for which I give thanks?

Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever else you may do, do everything for the glory of God.

Be without offense toward the Jews, and toward the Gentiles, and toward the Church of God,

just as I also, in all things, please everyone, not seeking what is best for myself, but what is best for many others, so that they may be saved.

Footnotes

(a)10:2 In Moses:Under the conduct of Moses, they received baptism in figure, by passing under the cloud, and through the sea; and they partook of the body and blood of Christ in figure, by eating of the manna, (called here a spiritual food because it was a figure of the true bread which comes down from heaven,) and drinking the water, miraculously brought out of the rock, called here a spiritual rock, because it was also a figure of Christ.(Challoner)

(b)10:5 They lay prostrate in the desert, in other words, their dead bodies lay in the desert.(Conte)

(d)10:13 The word ‘proventum’ is not so much a way out, but the result of events, especially a successful outcome. When God accomplishes such an outcome, it is called Providence. Thus, the phrase ‘effect his providence’ is used, instead of the more literal ‘cause an outcome’ or ‘accomplish a good result.’(Conte)

(e)10:13 Let - human:Or “no temptation has taken hold of you” or come upon you as yet, but what is human, or incident to man.(Challoner)

(f)10:13 Issue:or a way to escape.(Challoner)

(g)10:16 Which we bless:Here the apostle puts them in mind of their partaking of the body and blood of Christ in the sacred mysteries, and becoming thereby one mystical body with Christ. From whence he infers, ver. 21, that they who are made partakers with Christ, by the eucharistic sacrifice and sacrament, must not be made partakers with devils by eating of the meats sacrificed to them.(Challoner)

(h)10:17 One bread:or, as it may be rendered, agreeably both to the Latin and Greek, because the bread is one, all we, being many, are one body, who partake of that one bread. For it is by our communicating with Christ, and with one another, in this blessed sacrament, that we are formed into one mystical body; and made, as it were, one bread, compounded of many grains of corn, closely united together.(Challoner)

(i)10:20 This verse and its idea are a foreshadowing of the abomination of desolation, a perverse imitation of the holy Eucharist, which is done in cooperation with fallen angels.(Conte)

(Numbers 16:41–50; Numbers 25:1–5)

Now I would not have you ignorant, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;

and were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea;

and all ate the same spiritual food;

and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of a spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ.

However with most 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.

Don’t be idolaters, as some of them were. As it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.”(a)

Let’s not commit sexual immorality, as some of them committed, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell.

Let’s not test Christ,(b) as some of them tested, and perished by the serpents.

Don’t grumble, as some of them also grumbled, and perished by the destroyer.

Now all these things happened to them by way of example, and they were written for our admonition, on whom the ends of the ages have come.

Therefore let him who thinks he stands be careful that he doesn’t fall.

No temptation has taken you except what is common to man. God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able, but will with the temptation also make the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

Flee from Idolatry

(Exodus 20:22–26)

Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.

I speak as to wise men. Judge what I say.

The cup of blessing which we bless, isn’t it a sharing of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, isn’t it a sharing of the body of Christ?

Because there is one loaf of bread, we, who are many, are one body; for we all partake of the one loaf of bread.

Consider Israel according to the flesh. Don’t those who eat the sacrifices participate in the altar?

What am I saying then? That a thing sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything?

But I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I don’t desire that you would have fellowship with demons.

You can’t both drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You can’t both partake of the table of the Lord and of the table of demons.

Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?

All to God’s Glory

(1 Peter 4:1–11)

“All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are profitable. “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things build up.

Let no one seek his own, but each one his neighbor’s good.

Whatever is sold in the butcher shop, eat, asking no question for the sake of conscience,

for “the earth is the Lord’s, and its fullness.”(c)

But if one of those who don’t believe invites you to a meal, and you are inclined to go, eat whatever is set before you, asking no questions for the sake of conscience.

But if anyone says to you, “This was offered to idols,” don’t eat it for the sake of the one who told you, and for the sake of conscience. For “the earth is the Lord’s, with all its fullness.”

Conscience, I say, not your own, but the other’s conscience. For why is my liberty judged by another conscience?

If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced for something I give thanks for?

Whether therefore you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Give no occasion for stumbling, whether to Jews, to Greeks, or to the assembly of God;

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

Footnotes

(a)10:7 ℘ Exodus 32:6

(b)10:9 NU reads “the Lord” instead of “Christ”.