1 Corinthians chapter 10: Flee from idolatry

Chapter 10 deals with two topics: fleeing idolatry, (v1 to 22), seeking the good of others by not stumbling them, (v23 to 33). I will deal here with the first topic: fleeing idolatry.

This chapter opens by detailing to the believers at Corinth how all "their fathers", the Israelites, partook of the same things. The same things happened to all of them: the protection and guiding of the cloud, their passing through the Red Sea, their eating the same food and drink. I consider that Paul shows us that their food, the manna, and the water they drank from the rock, were spiritual. He seems to say "spiritual" because it (1) was provided supernaturally (2) represented Someone of the Godhead: see verse 4, "now that rock was Christ". Paul here does not say that "the manna was Christ", but I believe that it does speak of Him.

"YET"

After saying this, Paul has to introduce that sad word "yet". It means "despite all of what I've described". So, we could paraphrase it: "despite all of these blessings that they all partook of". Yes, despite all of this, "God was not pleased with the most of them", (v5). Paul then states, in the same sentence, the evidence of God's displeasure, "for they were strewed in the desert".

"BUT"

Now Paul gets to the reason for writing the foregoing to them. "But these things happened as types of us, that we should not be lusters after evil things, as they also lusted. Verses 7 to 10 then list 4 further sins that they should not do, each one preceded by "neither". They are: idolatry, fornication, tempting the Christ, murmuring (complaining). In verse 11 Paul says how they are written for their learning. Verse 12 seems to say "Now look: it could happen to you!" They are then shown how they have never been tempted beyond their endurance, and how God will always provide a way of either escaping the source of the temptation, or, if that's not possible, the way of enduring it so as not to give in to the temptation.

"WHEREFORE"

Paul now turns to what must have been the chief sin among them, made so because of the very idolatrous people they had to live among. "Flee from idolatry", (v14). (Notice how he addresses them as "my beloved": he tells them this all out of his love for them.) He then spends the rest of the chapter dealing with the issues associated with idolatry.

He then appeals to them as "intelligent persons" (v15), then goes on to illustrate the intolerability of idolatry with reference to the Lord's supper, (or Lord's table). Verses 16 and 17 remind them of the cup and the loaf, representing the blood and body of the Christ. But more than that, Paul states how it is also the communion or fellowship of the blood and body of the Christ. Notice how he also now gets back to the theme of verse 1: "we all partake...", (v17): "all our fathers..", (v1).

In verse 18, the principle of partaking and communion is now begun to be brought out. The clear example of the earthly practice of those Israelites who eat the sacrifices: they are also in communion with the altar. Paul then says, verse 19, that he's not saying that the physical objects of the food sacrificed to idols, or the physical idol itself is anything significant, but what matters is that what is sacrificed is sacrificed to demons, and not to God. The last sentence says it all: "Now I do not wish you to be in communion with demons".

Verse 21 clearly shows the impossible, unallowable contradiction of idolatry for the believer who partakes of the Lord's supper (table). Just read it yourself. It says it all.

Verse 22 comes back to the warnings earlier in the chapter against "provoking the Lord to jealousy". Remember what happened to the Israelites. Paul ends this section by saying "Are we stronger than he?", God will not be pleased with the believer either, who provokes Him to jealousy.

What do you think?