1Cor 10 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for 1Cor 10:1-22: 10:1-22 After illustrating from his own life the key principle of giving up one’s rights for the sake of others (ch 9 ), Paul turns back to the specific question of eating meat sacrificed to idols (8:1-13 ). He warns believers of God’s wrath on those who sin, especially on those who engage in idolatry. Summary for 1Cor 10:1-11: 10:1-11 Even though the Israelites were God’s people and experienced his salvation and provision (see Exod 13:21-22 ; 14:21-29 ), they still came under his judgment because of their disobedience.

Summary for 1Cor 10:1-22: 10:1-22 ^a After illustrating from his own life the key principle of giving up one’s rights for the sake of others (ch 9 ^b), Paul turns back to the specific question of eating meat sacrificed to idols (8:1-13 ^c). He warns believers of God’s wrath on those who sin, especially on those who engage in idolatry.
Summary for 1Cor 10:1-11: 10:1-11 ^d Even though the Israelites were God’s people and experienced his salvation and provision (see Exod 13:21-22 ^e; 14:21-29 ^f), they still came under his judgment because of their disobedience.
10:2 ^g all of them were baptized: Paul draws a parallel with the baptized Corinthians.
Summary for 1Cor 10:3-4: 10:3-4 ^h Spiritual food ... spiritual water: God graciously and supernaturally provided food and water in the wilderness, especially for the people of Israel (see Exod 16:4-35 ⁱ; 17:1-7 ^j; Num 20:2-17 ^k). The Corinthians’ situation was analogous.

• The spiritual rock that traveled with them alludes to the rock that Moses struck to get water (Exod 17:1-7 ^l; Num 20:2-17 ^m). Early Jewish tradition understood both occurrences of the miracle to involve the same rock that was traveling with them.

• that rock was Christ: Paul’s interpretation of Israel’s experience provides a parallel between God’s provision in the wilderness and the Lord’s Supper (1 Cor 10:14-18 ⁿ; cp. John 4:14 ^o; 7:37-39 ^p; Rev 22:17 ^q). Both the Israelites and Christians share in the spiritual provisions of Christ; and just as the Israelites were therefore judged for their sins, so Christians will be judged if they sin (1 Cor 10:5-22 ^r).
10:6 ^s evil things: see Num 11:4-6 ^t, 34 ^u.
10:7 ^v Feasting and drinking refers to celebrations in honor of pagan gods; pagan revelry suggests wild partying with drinking and sex.
10:8 ^w See Num 25:1-9 ^x.
10:9 ^y Nor ... put Christ to the test: See Deut 6:16 ^z; Ps 78:18-20 ^aa; Matt 4:7 ^ab.

• Christ: Some manuscripts read the Lord, which probably represents a scribe’s attempt to harmonize with the Old Testament context.
10:10 ^ac See Num 16:13-14 ^ad, 41-49 ^ae.
Summary for 1Cor 10:12-13: 10:12-13 ^af Paul gives the Corinthians a final warning against falling into sin (cp. Rom 11:20-22 ^ag) and reminds them that God is faithful (see 1 Cor 1:9 ^ah; cp. Deut 7:9 ^ai; 1 Pet 4:19 ^aj). God will not allow them to be tempted (or tested; cp. Jas 1:2-4 ^ak) beyond their ability to endure, but will always provide a way out.
Summary for 1Cor 10:14-22: 10:14-22 ^al Paul warns his readers against anything that might be interpreted as idolatry (cp. 1 Jn 5:21 ^am), which includes eating food in honor of a pagan god.
Summary for 1Cor 10:16-18: 10:16-18 ^an Paul affirms the spiritual meaning of sacred meals. In the Lord’s Supper, believers share in the blood and body of Christ (see also 11:17-34 ^ao; Matt 26:26-28 ^ap; Mark 14:22-24 ^aq; Luke 22:19-20 ^ar). Sharing one loaf unites believers as one body in Christ, just as the pagans’ religious meals unite them with the gods they worship (see 1 Cor 10:19-21 ^as).
Summary for 1Cor 10:19-20: 10:19-20 ^at Idols have no reality or life (see 8:4-6 ^au), and sacrifices made to them accomplish nothing. The sacrifices pagans make to idols are actually unknowingly made to demons (see Deut 32:16-17 ^av; Ps 106:37 ^aw; Rev 9:20 ^ax). Those who share in their religious meals are thereby uniting themselves with demons.
10:21 ^ay Believers should avoid participating in religious meals eaten in a pagan temple (see 8:10 ^az), because those united to the Lord (Christ) cannot simultaneously be united to demons (see 2 Cor 6:14-16 ^ba).
10:22 ^bb To ignore Paul’s advice on this matter is to rouse the Lord’s jealousy and judgment, just as Israel did (see 10:6-11 ^bc; Exod 20:5 ^bd; Deut 32:21 ^be).
Summary for 1Cor 10:23-11:1: 10:23–11:1 ^bf Paul closes the discussion begun in 8:1 ^bg with advice about when Christians may eat meat sacrificed to an idol, and when they should not (see study note on 8:1–11:1). His advice reflects the principle of giving up one’s rights out of love (see also 8:13–9:23 ^bh).
Summary for 1Cor 10:23-24: 10:23-24 ^bi You say: The NLT supplies these words—Paul is probably quoting a popular saying among the Corinthians and clarifying it.

• “I am allowed to do anything”: Paul qualifies the assertion of a Christian’s freedom by emphasizing the importance of doing what is most beneficial for others (see 6:12 ^bj; 10:32-33 ^bk; Rom 14:13-15 ^bl, 19-21 ^bm; 15:1-2 ^bn; cp. Phil 2:3-4 ^bo).
Summary for 1Cor 10:27-29: 10:27-29 ^bp When Christians are invited for a meal with an unbeliever, the Christians are free to eat what is set before them unless warned that the meat has been offered to an idol. In that case, the Christian should refrain from eating it out of consideration for the conscience of the other person, who might misinterpret it or be hurt by believing that such eating honors the god to whom the meat has been sacrificed (see 8:7 ^bq, 9-10 ^br; cp. Rom 14:13-15 ^bs, 20-23 ^bt).
Summary for 1Cor 10:29-30: 10:29-30 ^bu These two questions are difficult to understand in light of 10:28-29a ^bv. By placing 10:28-29a ^bw in parentheses, the NLT has interpreted these questions as expressing Paul’s own convictions, following on from 10:27 ^bx.
Summary for 1Cor 10:31-33: 10:31-33 ^by Paul concludes his discussion by summarizing the two principles that are to guide Christian behavior in issues like this: (1) Believers are to do everything for the glory of God (see Col 3:17 ^bz; 1 Pet 4:11 ^ca); (2) believers are not to give offense and should avoid doing anything that would harm another person’s Christian faith (cp. 1 Cor 8:9 ^cb, 13 ^cc; 1 Jn 2:10 ^cd). Christians’ behavior is to be guided by what is best for others rather than by personal privilege (cp. Rom 14:13-15 ^ce, 19-21 ^cf; 15:1-2 ^cg). These two basic principles lie at the heart of Paul’s advice on practical Christian living in this letter.