This is to be laid low on the ground by being slain.

Lit., try to the utmost, tempt thoroughly. Tested, later in this verse, does not carry the meaning of to the utmost and thoroughly.

The murmuring of the children of Israel (Num. 16:41) typified the negative speaking of the Corinthian believers against the apostle (1 Cor. 4:3; 9:3).

Fornication accompanies idolatry (Num. 25:1-2). Hence, these two things are referred to together, as also in Acts 15:20, 29. Undoubtedly, the implication here is that these two evils existed among the Corinthian believers. Hence, these are the main things dealt with in chs. 5—10.

The abusive eating by the children of Israel was related to their idolatry in worshipping the golden calf (Exo. 32:1-6). The apostle's word here implies that the Corinthians' inconsiderate eating of idol sacrifices was also somewhat related to idolatry.

The abusive eating by the children of Israel was related to their idolatry in worshipping the golden calf (Exo. 32:1-6). The apostle's word here implies that the Corinthians' inconsiderate eating of idol sacrifices was also somewhat related to idolatry.

The apostle included himself with all believers in the matter of running the Christian race.

Lit., types (so also in v. 11); i.e., figures of facts or of spiritual truths. This book takes the history of the children of Israel in the Old Testament as a type of the New Testament believers. In 1 Cor. 5:7-8 the believers experienced Christ as their Passover and began to keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Here in this chapter they are baptized unto their Moses (Christ), passing through their Red Sea (the death of Christ). They are now eating the spiritual food and drinking the spiritual drink that they might take their journey (the Christian race) toward their good land (the all-inclusive Christ). Also, they are warned here (v. 11) not to repeat the history of the children of Israel in doing evil against God, as illustrated in vv. 6-11.

The goal of God's calling of the children of Israel was that they would enter into the promised land to enjoy its riches so that they might establish God's kingdom and be God's expression on earth. However, although all Israel was redeemed through the Passover, delivered out of the Egyptian tyranny, and brought to the mountain of God to receive the revelation of God's dwelling place, the tabernacle, nearly all fell and died in the wilderness, failing to reach this goal (Heb. 3:7-19) because of their evildoings and unbelief. Only Caleb and Joshua reached the goal and entered into the good land (Num. 14:27-30). This signifies that although we have been redeemed through Christ, delivered out of Satan's bondage, and brought into the revelation of God's economy, we may yet fail to reach the goal of God's calling, that is, to enter into the possession of our good land, Christ (Phil. 3:12-14), and enjoy His riches for the kingdom of God that we may be His expression in the present age and participate in the fullest enjoyment of Christ in the kingdom age (Matt. 25:21, 23). This should be a solemn warning to all New Testament believers. It was especially applicable to the Corinthians, who were in danger of repeating the failure of the children of Israel in the wilderness.

I.e., laid low on the ground by being slain. This refers to Num. 14:16, 29.

The rock that was smitten and cleft to flow out the living water for God's chosen people (Exo. 17:6) was a physical rock. Yet the apostle called it a spiritual rock because it typified Christ, who was smitten and cleft by God to flow out the water of life (John 19:34) to satisfy the thirst of His believers. Hence, the apostle said that the rock was Christ. Since it was a spiritual rock signifying Christ, it was able to follow the children of Israel. This indicates that Christ as the real rock is following His believers.

Or, trial (2 Pet. 2:9; cf. Dan. 3:17-18).

Referring to the living water that flowed out of the cleft rock (Exo. 17:6), typifying the Spirit, who flowed out of the crucified and resurrected Christ, as our all-inclusive drink (John 7:37-39; 1 Cor. 12:13). For our running of the race we should all drink the same spiritual drink and should not drink anything other than the all-inclusive Spirit.

Referring to manna (Exo. 16:14-18), typifying Christ as our daily life supply (John 6:31-35) for the Christian journey. We believers should all eat the same spiritual food and should not eat anything other than Christ.

In the cloud signifies in the Spirit, and in the sea denotes in the water. The New Testament believers were baptized in the water and in the Spirit (Matt. 3:11; Acts 1:5; 1 Cor. 12:13).

The children of Israel were baptized unto Moses to begin the holy race for the fulfilling of God's purpose, that is, to enter into the good land and build the temple, that God might have a kingdom with an expression of Himself on the earth. This typifies the baptizing of the New Testament believers into Christ (Gal. 3:27) that God may have His kingdom with the church as His expression on the earth.

The passing of the children of Israel through the Red Sea (Exo. 14:21-30) typifies the baptism of the New Testament believers (Rom. 6:4).

The cloud that covered the children of Israel typifies the Spirit of God, who is with the New Testament believers. Immediately after the New Testament believers take Christ as their Passover (1 Cor. 5:7), the Spirit of God comes to be with them and lead them to run the Christian race, just as the pillar of cloud led the children of Israel (Exo. 13:21-22; 14:19-20).

This indicates that all the children of Israel who had enjoyed the Passover entered into the race and began to run the race from the time they left the land of Rameses (Exo. 12:37).

This refers to the word Do you not know in 1 Cor. 9:24.

Or, joint participation in. Fellowship here refers to the believers' communion in the joint participation in the blood and body of Christ. This makes us, the participants in the Lord's blood and body, not only one with one another but also one with the Lord. We, the participants, make ourselves identified with the Lord in the fellowship of His blood and body. The apostle's thought here was to illustrate how eating and drinking make the eaters and drinkers one with what they eat and drink. The Corinthians should have realized that their abusive eating of idol sacrifices actually made them one with the demons behind the sacrifices.

For indicates that 1 Cor. 10 is not only a continuation of 1 Cor. 9 but also a further definition of running the race covered in 1 Cor. 9:24-27, using as an illustration the children of Israel running on the racecourse in the wilderness to enter into the promised land.

God's executing angel (Exo. 12:23; 2 Sam. 24:16-17).

Lit., were happening.

Or, participate jointly in. Those who eat the sacrifices of the altar not only have fellowship with one another and with the altar but also participate jointly in what they eat. Their participation in what they eat makes them one with the sacrifices of the altar. This too illustrates how eating makes the eater one with what he eats. Eating things sacrificed to idols does the same: it identifies the eaters with the demons behind the sacrifices.

Since the altar is the base of the sacrifices offered to God, eating the sacrifices of the altar makes the eaters those who have fellowship with, those who participate jointly in, the altar.

An idol and the things sacrificed to an idol are nothing (v. 19; 8:4). But behind them are the demons, who are abominable and hateful to God. The believers, who worship God, should abstain from identifying themselves with demons and becoming those who have fellowship with demons through the eating of things sacrificed to idols. Since demons are the reality of idols, the eating of things sacrificed to idols makes the eaters those who have fellowship with, those who participate jointly in, demons.

The ages refers to all the past ages. The ends of the ages refers to the fact that all the past ages were consummated at the beginning of the New Testament age; hence, the ends of the ages had come to the people of that time. Those people could, in the New Testament age, take the admonition from the history of the children of Israel. After the New Testament age is the kingdom age, during which these examples in the Old Testament age will no longer serve for the running of the Christian race.

Lit., have come down, have arrived.

Based on the admonition in vv. 5-11, the apostle warned the Corinthians not to think that they were standing steadfast, with no danger of falling dead as the children of Israel had.

As the failing children of Israel fell and died in the wilderness (vv. 5, 8). Some Corinthian believers did fall and die because they offended the Lord's Body (1 Cor. 11:27-30).

This verse is a continuation of the warning given in v. 12, indicating, on the one hand, that we should take heed not to be tempted lest we fall and die, and, on the other hand, that God in His faithfulness will not allow any temptation to befall us beyond what we are able to endure, but will, with the temptation, always make the way out for us.

Lit., that which is human.

See note 1 Cor. 6:12².

See note 1 Cor. 6:12³.

The parallel verse, 1 Cor. 6:12, ends with I will not be brought under the power of anything. This verse ends with not all things build up. The former concerns ourselves; the latter, others.

Or, tried.

Or, trial (2 Pet. 2:9; cf. Dan. 3:17-18).

This indicates that the following section, to v. 30, is a conclusion to the preceding section, from 8:1, concerning eating things sacrificed to idols.

Referring to the idolatry involved in eating things sacrificed to idols.

Partaking of (that is, eating — vv. 28-30) the one bread identifies us with it. This indicates that our partaking of Christ, our enjoying of Christ, identifies us with Him, making us one with Him.

This indicates that 1 Cor. 10:31-33; 11:1 is a conclusion to this subsection (from v. 23).

Verses 1 Cor. 10:23, 31, and 1 Cor. 6:12 give us four basic principles for regulating the New Testament believers' conduct. All things are lawful, but whatever we do,
1) as to the thing itself, must be profitable,
2) as to ourselves, must not bring us under the power of anything,
3) as to others, must build them up,
4) as to God, must glorify Him.
Otherwise, nothing is permissible.

See note 1 Cor. 10:18¹. The eaters of things sacrificed to idols become not only those who fellowship with demons but also those who participate jointly in demons, making themselves one with demons.

To drink the Lord's cup and partake of the Lord's table is to identify ourselves with the Lord. To drink the demons' cup and partake of the demons' table is to make ourselves one with demons.

The Lord is the jealous God (Exo. 20:5). Idolatry is utterly abominable and hateful to Him. If we participate in fellowship with demons, making ourselves one with them, we will provoke the Lord to jealousy. Hence, we must flee from idolatry (v. 14).

What an example the apostle has set for us!

Verses 1 Cor. 10:14-22 deal with the eating of idol sacrifices from the aspect of making oneself one with demons. From v. 23 through 11:1 this matter is dealt with from the view of building up others to the glory of God (v. 31).

The one bread signifies the one Body of Christ. We all are one Body because we all partake of the one bread. Our joint partaking of the one bread makes us all one. This indicates that our partaking of Christ makes us all His one Body. The very Christ of whom we all partake constitutes us His one Body.

I.e., eat. This indicates that eating is partaking (v. 17).

The Greek expression rendered do not become a stumbling block is based on the same root as the word for stumbling block in 1 Cor. 8:9 it is different from the word for stumble in 1 Cor. 8:13.

In New Testament times people are of three categories:
1) the Jews — God's chosen people;
2) the Greeks — the unbelieving Gentiles;
3) the church — a composition of the believers in Christ.
We should not be an offense, a stumbling block, to anyone in these three categories, that they might be saved (v. 33).

At the apostles' time, usually only a part of what had been sacrificed to idols was consumed. The rest was given to the priests or to the poor, or was sold again in the market. Buyers might unknowingly purchase meat offered to idols.