Read 1 Corinthians chapter 10 online with LogosAI Bible study tools, highlights, and cross references.
1 Corinthians 10 is part of “Food Offered to Idols and Christian Freedom” (8–10) in the outline of 1 Corinthians.
1 Corinthians 10 summary
In this chapter the apostle prosecutes the argument at the close of the last, and, I. Warns the Corinthians against security, by the example of the Jews, who, notwithstanding their profession and privileges, were terribly punished of God for their many sins, their history being left upon record for the admonition of Christians (Co1 10:1-14). II. He resumes his former argument (Co1 8:1-13), about eating things offered to idols; and shows that it was utterly inconsistent with true Christianity, that it was downright gross idolatry, to eat them as things offered to idols; it is having fellowship with devils, which cannot consist with having fellowship with God (Co1 10:15-22). III. He lets them yet know that though they must not eat of things sacrificed to idols as such, and out of any regard to the idol, yet they might buy such flesh in the markets, or eat it at the table of heathen acquaintances, without asking any questions; for that the heathens' abuse of them did not render the creatures of God unfit to be the food of his servants. Yet liberty of this kind must be used with a due regard to weak consciences, and no offence given by it t Jew nor Gentile, nor to the church of God (Co1 10:23 to the end).
Source: Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible (1706–21; Romans–Revelation completed by Nonconformist ministers). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
1 Moreouer, brethren, I woulde not that yee shoulde bee ignorant, that all our fathers were vnder that cloude, and all passed through that sea,
2 And were all baptized vnto Moses, in that cloude, and in that sea,
3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat,
4 And did all drinke the same spirituall drinke (for they dranke of the spiritual Rocke that folowed them: and the Rocke was Christ)
5 But with many of them God was not pleased: for they were ouerthrowen in ye wildernes.
6 Nowe these things are our ensamples, to the intent that we should not lust after euil things as they also lusted.
7 Neither bee ye idolaters as were some of them, as it is written, The people sate downe to eate and drinke, and rose vp to play.
8 Neither let vs commit fornication, as some of them committed fornication, and fell in one day three and twentie thousand.
9 Neither let vs tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted him, and were destroyed of serpents.
10 Neither murmure ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
11 Nowe all these things came vnto them for ensamples, and were written to admonish vs, vpon whome the endes of the world are come.
12 Wherefore, let him that thinketh he standeth, take heede lest he fall.
13 There hath no tentation taken you, but such as appertaine to man: and God is faithfull, which will not suffer you to be tempted aboue that you be able, but wil euen giue the issue with the tentation, that ye may be able to beare it.
14 Wherefore my beloued, flee from idolatrie.
15 I speake as vnto them which haue vnderstanding: iugde ye what I say.
16 The cup of blessing which we blesse, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we breake, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?
17 For we that are many, are one bread and one body, because we all are partakers of one bread.
18 Beholde Israel, which is after the flesh: are not they which eate of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?
19 What say I then? that the idole is any thing? or that that which is sacrificed to idoles, is any thing?
20 Nay, but that these things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to deuils, and not vnto God: and I would not that ye should haue fellowship with the deuils.
21 Ye can not drinke the cup of the Lord, and the cup of the deuils. Ye can not be partakers of the Lords table, and of the table of the deuils.
22 Doe we prouoke the Lord to anger? are we stronger then he?
23 All things are lawfull for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawfull for me, but all things edifie not.
24 Let no man seeke his owne, but euery man anothers wealth.
25 Whatsoeuer is solde in the shambles, eate ye, and aske no question for conscience sake.
26 For the earth is the Lords, and all that therein is.
27 If any of them which beleeue not, call you to a feast, and if ye wil go, whatsoeuer is set before you, eate, asking no question for conscience sake.
28 But if any man say vnto you, This is sacrificed vnto idoles, eate it not, because of him that shewed it, and for the conscience (for the earth is the Lords, and all that therein is)
29 And the conscience, I say, not thine, but of that other: for why should my libertie be condemned of another mans conscience?
30 For if I through Gods benefite be partaker, why am I euill spoken of, for that wherefore I giue thankes?
31 Whether therefore ye eate, or drinke, or whatsoeuer ye doe, doe all to the glory of God.
32 Giue none offence, neither to the Iewes, nor to the Grecians, nor to the Church of God:
33 Euen as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine owne profite, but the profite of many, that they might be saued.