1 Corinthians 10
1599 Geneva Bible
10 1 If God spared not the Jews, neither will he spare those who are of like condition, 3, 4 touching the outward signs of his grace. 14 That it is absurd, that such should be partakers of the table of the devils, who are partakers of the Lord’s Supper. 24 To have consideration of our neighbor in things indifferent.
1 Moreover, [a]brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, that all our [b]fathers were under (A)that cloud, and all passed through that (B)sea,
2 [c]And were all [d]baptized unto [e]Moses, in that cloud, and in that sea,
3 (C)And did all eat the [f]same spiritual [g]meat,
4 (D)And did all drink the same spiritual drink (for they drank of the spiritual Rock that [h]followed them: and the Rock was [i]Christ.)
5 But with many of them God was not pleased: for they were (E)overthrown in the wilderness.
6 [j]Now these things are our [k]examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things (F)as they also lusted.
7 Neither be ye idolaters as were some of them, as it is written, (G)The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.
8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed fornication, and fell in one (H)day three and twenty thousand.
9 Neither let us tempt [l]Christ, as some of them also tempted him, and (I)were destroyed of serpents.
10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them (J)also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
11 Now all these things came unto them for examples, and were written to admonish us, upon whom the [m]ends of the world are come.
12 [n]Wherefore, let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall.
13 There hath no temptation taken you, but such as appertaineth to [o]man: and God is faithful, which will not suffer you to be tempted above that you be able, but will even [p]give the issue with the temptation, that ye may be able to bear it.
14 Wherefore my beloved, flee from idolatry.
15 [q]I speak as unto them which have understanding: judge ye what I say.
16 The cup of [r]blessing which we bless, is it not the [s]communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, 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 Behold Israel, which is after the [t]flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices [u]partakers of the Altar?
19 What say I then? that the idol is anything? or that that which is sacrificed to idols, is anything?
20 Nay, but that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not unto God: and I would not that ye should have [v]fellowship with the devils.
21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the [w]cup of the devils. Ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of the devils.
22 Do we provoke the Lord to anger? are we stronger than he?
23 (K)[x][y]All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.
24 Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth.
25 [z]Whatsoever is sold in the [aa]shambles, eat ye, and ask no question for conscience sake.
26 (L)For the earth is the Lord’s, and [ab]all that therein is.
27 If any of them which believe not, call you to a feast, and if ye will go, whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake.
28 But if any man say unto you, This is sacrificed unto idols, eat it not, because of him that showed it, and for the conscience (for the earth is the Lord’s, and all that therein is.)
29 And the conscience, I say, not thine, but of that other: [ac]for why should my liberty be condemned of another man’s conscience?
30 For if I through God’s [ad]benefit be partaker, why am I evil spoken of, for that wherefore I give thanks?
31 (M)[ae]Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
32 Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Grecians, nor to the Church of God:
33 Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they might be saved.
Footnotes
- 1 Corinthians 10:1 He setteth out that which he said, laying before them an example of the horrible judgment of God against them which had in effect the selfsame pledges, of the same adoption and salvation that we have: and yet notwithstanding when they gave themselves to idols’ feasts, perished in the wilderness, being horribly and manifoldly punished. Now, moreover and besides that these things are fitly spoken against them which frequented idols’ feasts, the same also seems to be alleged to this end and purpose, because many men are thus minded, that those things are not of such great weight, that God will be angry with them if they use them, so that they frequent Christian assemblies and be baptized, and receive the Communion, and confess Christ.
- 1 Corinthians 10:1 Paul speaketh thus in respect of the covenant, and not in respect of the persons, saving in general.
- 1 Corinthians 10:2 In effect the Sacrament of the old fathers were all one with ours, for they respected Christ only who offered himself unto them in divers shadows.
- 1 Corinthians 10:2 All of them were baptized with the outward sign, but not in deed, wherewith God cannot be charged, but they themselves.
- 1 Corinthians 10:2 Moses being their guide.
- 1 Corinthians 10:3 The same that we do.
- 1 Corinthians 10:3 Manna, which was a spiritual meat to the believers, which in faith lay hold upon Christ who is the true meat.
- 1 Corinthians 10:4 Of the river and running Rock, which followed the people.
- 1 Corinthians 10:4 Did sacramentally signify Christ, so that together with the sign, there was the thing signified, and the truth itself: for God doth not offer a bare sign, but the thing signifieth by the sign, together with it which is to be received with faith.
- 1 Corinthians 10:6 An amplifying of the example against them which are carried away with their lusts beyond the bounds which God has measured out. For this is the beginning of all evil, as of idolatry (which hath gluttony a companion unto it) fornication, rebelling against Christ, murmuring, and such like, which God punished most sharply in that old people, to the end that we which succeed them, and have a more full declaration of the will of God, might by that means take better heed.
- 1 Corinthians 10:6 Some read figures: which signified our sacraments: for circumcision was to the Jews a seal of righteousness, and to us a lively pattern of Baptism, and so in the other Sacraments.
- 1 Corinthians 10:9 To tempt Christ, is to provoke him to a combat as it were which those men do, who abuse the knowledge that he hath given them, and make it to serve for a cloak for their lusts and wickedness.
- 1 Corinthians 10:11 This our age is called the end, for it is the shutting up of all ages.
- 1 Corinthians 10:12 In conclusion, he descendeth to the Corinthians themselves, warning them that they please not themselves, but rather that they prevent the subtleties of Satan. Yet he useth an insinuation, and comforteth them, that he may not seem to make them altogether like to those wicked idolaters and contemners of Christ, which perished in the wilderness.
- 1 Corinthians 10:13 Which cometh of weakness.
- 1 Corinthians 10:13 He that would have you tempted for your profit’s sake, will give you an issue to escape out of the temptation.
- 1 Corinthians 10:15 Now returning to those idols’ feasts, that he may not seem to dally at all, first he promiseth that he will use no other reasons than such as they knew very well themselves. And he useth an induction borrowed of the agreement that is the things themselves. The holy banquets of the Christians are pledges, first of all of the community that they have with Christ, and next, one with another. The Israelites also do ratify in the sacrifices, their mutual conjunction in one selfsame religion: therefore so do the idolaters also join themselves with their idols or devils rather (for idols are nothing) in those solemn banquets, whereupon it followeth, that that table is a table of devils, and therefore you must eschew it: for you cannot be partakers of the Lord and of idols together, much less may such banquets be accounted for things indifferent. Will ye then strive with God? and if you do, think you that you shall get the upper hand?
- 1 Corinthians 10:16 Of thanksgiving: whereupon, that holy banquet was called Eucharist, that is, a thanksgiving.
- 1 Corinthians 10:16 A most effectual pledge and note of our knitting together with Christ, and ingrafting to him.
- 1 Corinthians 10:18 That is, as yet observe their ceremonies.
- 1 Corinthians 10:18 Are consenting and guilty, both of that worship and sacrifice.
- 1 Corinthians 10:20 Have anything to do with the devils, or enter into that society which is begun on the devil’s name.
- 1 Corinthians 10:21 The heathen and profane people were wont to shut up and make an end of their feasts which they kept to the honor of their gods, in offering meat offerings and drink offerings to them, with banquets and feastings.
- 1 Corinthians 10:23 Coming to another kind of things offered to idols, he repeateth that general rule, that in the use of things indifferent we ought to have consideration not of ourselves only, but of our neighbors, and therefore these are many things which of themselves are lawful, which may be evil done of us, because of offense to our neighbor.
- 1 Corinthians 10:23 See 1 Cor. 6:13.
- 1 Corinthians 10:25 An applying of the rule to the present matter: Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, you may indifferently buy it as it were at the Lord’s hand, and eat it either at home with the faithful, or being called home to the unfaithful, to wit, in a private banquet: but yet with this exception, unless any man is present which is weak, whose conscience may be offended, by setting meats offered to idols before them: for then you ought to have consideration of their weakness.
- 1 Corinthians 10:25 The flesh that was sacrificed, was used to be sold in the shambles, and the price returned to the priests.
- 1 Corinthians 10:26 All those things whereof it is full.
- 1 Corinthians 10:29 A reason: for we must take heed that our liberty be not evil spoken of, and that the benefit of God which we ought to use with thanksgiving be not changed into impiety, and that through our fault, if we choose rather to offend the conscience of the weak, than to yield a little of our liberty in a matter of no importance, and so give occasion to the weak to judge in such sort of us, and of Christian liberty. And the Apostle taketh these things upon his own person, that the Corinthians may have so much the less occasion to oppose anything against him.
- 1 Corinthians 10:30 If I may through God’s benefits eat this meat, or that meat, why should I through my fault, cause that benefit of God to turn to my blame?
- 1 Corinthians 10:31 The conclusion: We must order our lives in such sort, that we seek not ourselves, but God’s glory, and so the salvation of as many as we may, wherein the Apostle flicketh not to propound himself to the Corinthians (even his own flock) as an example, but so that he calleth them back to Christ, unto whom he himself hath regard.
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.
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