Warnings from Israel's History
Study note
Paul recounts how all the Israelites experienced God's miraculous provision in the exodus: the cloud, the sea, the spiritual food and drink from the Rock that was Christ. Yet despite these privileges, God was not pleased with most of them, and they were struck down in the wilderness. Their sins of idolatry, sexual immorality, testing God, and grumbling serve as warnings for the Corinthians. Paul delivers one of Scripture's most encouraging promises: God is faithful and will not allow believers to be tempted beyond what they can bear, always providing a way of escape.
1 Friends, I want to make sure you remember what happened to our ancestors. They all traveled under the cloud that led them, and they all walked through the sea on dry ground. 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;
2 In the cloud and in the sea, they were all baptized as followers of Moses. And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
3 They all ate the same spiritual food. And did all eat the same spiritual meat;
4 They all drank the same spiritual water. It flowed from a spiritual Rock that traveled right along with them, and that Rock was Christ. And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
5 But even after all that, God was not happy with most of them. Their bodies lay scattered across the desert. But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
6 Those stories are warnings for us, so we will not crave evil things the way they did. Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
7 Do not worship idols like some of them did. The scriptures describe it: 'The people sat down to eat and drink, and then they got up to party wildly.' 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.
8 Let us not get involved in sexual sin like some of them did. Twenty-three thousand of them died in a single day because of it. Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.
9 Let us not test how far we can push Christ, like some of them did. Poisonous snakes killed them. Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.
10 And do not sit around grumbling and complaining, like some of them did. The angel of death destroyed them. Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
11 All these things happened to them as examples. They were written down as warnings for us, since we are living at the climax of history. 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.
12 So if you think you are standing strong, be careful -- you could easily fall. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but will with the temptation also make a way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. 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.
Flee from Idolatry
Study note
Paul commands the Corinthians to flee from idol worship and appeals to their judgment as sensible people. He uses the Lord's Supper as a parallel: the cup of blessing is a sharing in Christ's blood, and the broken bread is a sharing in his body. Just as Israel's altar sacrifices created communion with God, pagan sacrifices create communion with demons. Believers cannot drink from both the Lord's cup and the cup of demons. Paul asks pointedly whether they would dare provoke the Lord to jealousy.
14 So, dear friends, run the other way whenever idol worship shows up. Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.
15 I am talking to you like the thoughtful people you are. Think about what I am saying and decide for yourselves. I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.
16 When we lift the cup of blessing and thank God for it, are we not sharing in the blood of Christ? When we break the bread and share it, are we not sharing in the body of Christ? 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?
17 There is one loaf of bread, and even though there are many of us, we are all one body because we all share that one loaf. For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.
18 Think about the people of Israel. When they eat the sacrifices, they share in what belongs to the altar. Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?
19 Am I saying that an idol is truly something? Or that food offered to it has special power? What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing?
20 No. But what I am saying is that when people sacrifice to idols, they are truly sacrificing to demons, not to God. And I do not want you to have anything to do with demons. 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.
21 You cannot drink from the Lord's cup and also from the cup of demons. You cannot eat at the Lord's table and also at the table of demons. 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.
22 Are we trying to make the Lord jealous? Do we think we are stronger than he is? Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?
Doing All for God's Glory
Study note
Paul returns to the Corinthian slogan about all things being permissible, qualifying it again: not all things are helpful or build others up. He provides practical guidance: eat whatever is sold in the market without asking questions, and accept dinner invitations from unbelievers freely. But if someone explicitly identifies food as having been offered to idols, refrain for the sake of the other person's conscience. The guiding principle is magnificent in its simplicity: whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
23 Someone says, 'I can do whatever I want.' That may be true, but not everything is helpful. 'I can do whatever I want' -- but not everything builds other people up. All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.
24 Stop looking out only for your own interests. Look out for the interests of others. Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth.
25 Go ahead and buy whatever meat is sold at the market. There is no need to ask questions about it or worry about your conscience. Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake:
26 Because the scriptures say, 'The earth and everything in it belongs to the Lord.' For the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof.
27 If someone who does not believe invites you over for dinner and you want to go, eat whatever they put in front of you. Do not worry about asking where it came from. 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.
28 But if someone at the table tells you, 'By the way, this was offered to an idol,' then do not eat it -- out of consideration for the person who mentioned it and for the sake of conscience. The earth belongs to the Lord, and everything in it. 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:
29 I am talking about the other person's conscience here, not yours. Why should someone else's conscience restrict my freedom? Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience?
30 If I eat with a thankful heart, why should anyone criticize me over something I thanked God for? For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks?
31 So whether you are eating, drinking, or doing anything at all, do it in a way that brings glory to God. Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
32 Do not do anything that would cause Jewish people, non-Jewish people, or the church of God to stumble. Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:
33 I try to accommodate everyone in every situation. I do not look out for my own benefit, but for the benefit of others, so that they might be saved. Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.