1Cor 10:5-22 | TNotes

10:6 ^a evil things: see Num 11:4-6 ^b, 34 ^c.
10:7 ^d Feasting and drinking refers to celebrations in honor of pagan gods; pagan revelry suggests wild partying with drinking and sex.
10:8 ^e See Num 25:1-9 ^f.
10:9 ^g Nor ... put Christ to the test: See Deut 6:16 ^h; Ps 78:18-20 ⁱ; Matt 4:7 ^j.

• Christ: Some manuscripts read the Lord, which probably represents a scribe’s attempt to harmonize with the Old Testament context.
10:10 ^k See Num 16:13-14 ^l, 41-49 ^m.
Summary for 1Cor 10:12-13: 10:12-13 ⁿ Paul gives the Corinthians a final warning against falling into sin (cp. Rom 11:20-22 ^o) and reminds them that God is faithful (see 1 Cor 1:9 ^p; cp. Deut 7:9 ^q; 1 Pet 4:19 ^r). God will not allow them to be tempted (or tested; cp. Jas 1:2-4 ^s) beyond their ability to endure, but will always provide a way out.
Summary for 1Cor 10:14-22: 10:14-22 ^t Paul warns his readers against anything that might be interpreted as idolatry (cp. 1 Jn 5:21 ^u), which includes eating food in honor of a pagan god.
Summary for 1Cor 10:16-18: 10:16-18 ^v 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 ^w; Matt 26:26-28 ^x; Mark 14:22-24 ^y; Luke 22:19-20 ^z). 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 ^aa).
Summary for 1Cor 10:19-20: 10:19-20 ^ab Idols have no reality or life (see 8:4-6 ^ac), and sacrifices made to them accomplish nothing. The sacrifices pagans make to idols are actually unknowingly made to demons (see Deut 32:16-17 ^ad; Ps 106:37 ^ae; Rev 9:20 ^af). Those who share in their religious meals are thereby uniting themselves with demons.
10:21 ^ag Believers should avoid participating in religious meals eaten in a pagan temple (see 8:10 ^ah), because those united to the Lord (Christ) cannot simultaneously be united to demons (see 2 Cor 6:14-16 ^ai).
10:22 ^aj 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 ^ak; Exod 20:5 ^al; Deut 32:21 ^am).