111 1 Corinthians 10 - Warnings from Israel's History - a podcast by Dr David Petts - Pentecostal preacher, former AoG Bible College Principal

Talk 13.   Warnings from Israel’s History (10:1-11:1)

 

In chapter 8 Paul brought out the general principle that there are some things that are quite lawful but from which we should abstain for the sake of weaker Christians.

 

This theme is partly continued in chapter 9 where he points out that he has certain rights as an apostle which he has not claimed. 

 

The same line of thought dominates the conclusion of chapter 10, but the main theme of the chapter is a strong prohibition against attendance at cultic meals. 

 

The chapter may be divided into four main parts:

 

1. An example from OT history (1-5)
2. Lessons to be learned from this (6-13)
3. Christianity and idolatry are incompatible (14-22)
4. Eating market-place food (23-33)

 

We will deal with the first two parts today and the final two parts next time.

 

1. a) An example from OT history (1-5)

 

1 For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea.

2 They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.

3 They all ate the same spiritual food

4 and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.

5 Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered over the desert.

 

This section is a reference to the children of Israel coming out of Egypt. 

The main theme here is the need to endure to the end. 

Note the repetition of the word all.  They all had all these blessings.

Nevertheless (5) many did not reach the promised land. 

These verses are a serious warning that Christians should not take their security for granted.

 

 

 

1 For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea.

 

Most of Paul’s readers were Gentiles yet he refers to the Israelites as our forefathers.  However, here as elsewhere he sees Christians as integrated with the people of God.

 

2 They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.

 

Some have taken this to typify baptism in water and in the Spirit, but although the NT acknowledges such a distinction it would be unwise to draw such a conclusion from this verse.

 

3 They all ate the same spiritual food

4 and drank the same spiritual drink

 

This is almost certainly intended to be analogous to the Lord’s Supper.

Pneumatikos (spiritual) does not mean non-material, but connected with the Holy Spirit.

 

 

4 and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.

 

This is clearly not intended to be taken literally (cf. ll:24).  Israel was supplied by God with visible signs which conveyed to them the blessings of  Christ, just as the Church has been supplied with water, bread and wine.

 

 

5 Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered over the desert

 

          most of

 

This is clearly a great understatement!

 In fact it was all except Joshua and Caleb! 

All but two of them had their corpses scattered all over the desert!

 

 

 

1. b) Lessons to be learned from this (6-13)

 

6 Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did.

7 Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: "The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in pagan revelry."

8 We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did--and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died.

9 We should not test the Lord, as some of them did--and were killed by snakes.

10 And do not grumble, as some of them did--and were killed by the destroying angel.

11 These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come.

12 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall!

13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

 

These verses describe a typical idol feast.

Sexual immorality was a part of idol-worship, and is still today in many cases. 

 

Of course, the idol in itself is nothing (8:4-5), but to get involved in idolatry or to encourage others to do so is to invite the judgment of God.

 

The examples Paul cites in these verses probably reflect the Corinthians’ grumbling against Paul over the right to attend pagan feasts.

 

6 Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did.

 

Immorality and idolatry are both suggested in these words.

 

7 Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: "The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in pagan revelry."

 

Paul deliberately chooses the part of the OT narrative which specifically indicates that the people ate and drank in the presence of the golden calf.  Exodus 32:6.

 

               to indulge in pagan revelry

 

Immorality may be implied here, but the verb paizein  simply means to play and its use here probably refers solely to idolatry.  The connection with immorality, however, is clearly established in the next verse.

 

8 We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did--and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died.

 

For evidence that feasting in idol temples also at times involved sexual play, see Fee pp 455-456.

 

          twenty-three thousand

 

The reference here is to Numbers 25:9 where a number of 24,000 is mentioned. 

The apparent discrepancy might be explained by Paul’s qualifying phrase in a day.

 

9 We should not test the Lord, as some of them did--and were killed by snakes.

 

The reading test Christ is to be preferred.  The reference is to Numbers 21:5-6, the brazen serpent episode.  The same episode is referred to in John 3 with reference to eternal life. Paul is purposely tying the situation of Israel and Corinth together.

 

10 And do not grumble, as some of them did--and were killed by the destroying angel.

 

This suggests that the Corinthians were grumblers and, if Fee is right, indicates that they had complained about Paul’s prohibition on attending idol feasts. Grumbling can be a cause of division (cf. Acts 6:1) and there were certainly divisions in the Corinthian church!

 

11 These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfilment of the ages has come.

 

Paul clearly believed that he was living in the last days of world history before the dawning of the Messianic age (cf. 15:51).

 

12 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall!

 

If there is no possibility of a Christian ‘falling’ this warning is meaningless.

 

13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

 

“The way out is for those who seek it, not for those who (like the Corinthians) are, where idolatry is concerned, looking for a way in” (Barrett).

 

Note that Paul does not talk about victory here.  Sometimes it’s enough to escape (cf. v 14).

 

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