Chapter 10:1–11:1

In chapter 10, we have a great example of the biblical principle that “New Testament in hidden in the Old, and the Old is explained in the New”.

10:1–13 - The history of Israel applied to the Church

“All our fathers” - the Israel who came out of Egypt. If we accept that most of the members of the Church in Corinth were of the Gentile origin then we have here a clear indication that Paul saw the Church as the continuation of Israel (see Rom 9–11).

“Were under the cloud” (Ex 13:21–22; 14:19.24);
“Into Moses baptized”. In Rom 6:3 we have - “Into Christ Jesus baptized”. It was Moses who split the sea into two and thus let them into freedom. It is Jesus who brought us through the baptismal waters into freedom.

“In the cloud and in the sea” (Ex 14:15–31). Here, the reference is clear - the cloud - the presence of God, the sea - the baptismal waters (see Mark 1:10; 9:7).

“Spiritual food” - Manna (Ex 16:35) - The Eucharist is the Manna of the New Testament (see John 6:30–60; particularly 6:31–33).

“Spiritual drink” (Ex 17:1–7). It would seem that Moses had to go to the mountain of God - Horeb=Sinai - to obtain the water and the water flew from the mountain down to the thirsty Israelites. Moses strikes the rock and water flows. According to a Jewish legend, this rock that water came from is called the “Well of Miriam” and it accompanied Israelites on their journeys through the wilderness. Paul had to be aware of this legend, but for him it was not the “well of Miriam” - the sister of Moses, but Christ himself, who accompanied Israel.

“And the rock of Christ” (10:4). That is a powerful testimony to Paul’s belief that Christ existed before his incarnation (John 1:14) and was present among His people in a mysterious way.

Verse 10:5 refers to Num 14:1–24; see particularly 14:22 (see also Heb 3:16–18).

Verse 10:6 spells out the purpose of reading the Bible: all the stories in the Old Testament are examples, so we could learn from them to do good and avoid evil. Here, Paul uses the famous word “type” from which we derive the word “typology”. Its understanding is captured in the saying: “The New Testament is hidden in the Old, and the Old is revealed in the New”.

So, what should be learned from the example of Israelites who did not make into the Promised Land?

Avoid idolatry (10:7; Ex 32:6);
Avoid fornication (10:8; Num 25:1.9);
Avoid over-tempting the Lord (10:9; Num 21:5–6);
Avoid murmuring (10:10; Num 14:2–4.36–37).

Verse 10:11 again contains the word “typikos” - a type, typically. There is a typical relation between the past and the present, between the history of Israel and the history of the Church.

The whole Bible is written for us, for our admonition (1 Cor 10:11) and for our encouragement (Rom 15:4).

Paul refers to his times as “the end of the ages has arrived”.

Verse 10:12 probably refers back to 1 Cor 8:1–2 - to those who have so-called knowledge but without love (see Gal 6:1).

Verse 10:13 - the word “peirasmos” - temptation - should probably be rendered as “test” (see Matt 4:1). God tend to test his people in order to know whether or not they will follow/obey Him (see Ex 16:4 LXX). But, those tests do not exceed the ability of our resistance. Moreover, with the test, God also provides the remedy to pass the test (see for example Gen 22:5.7–8).

10:14–11:1 Idolatry and participation on idolatrous sacrificial feasts

Paul goes back to the topic from chapter 8 - idolatry. Here, we realize the theology of a sacrificial meal. It has following steps:

Offering food items to God (Jews) or idols (Gentiles) in a form of sacrifice of thanksgiving or sin-offering; Neither God nor gods ate it, so part of it was given to the officiating priests and part remained with the people (see Lev 7:32–34; 1 Sam 2:13–16; Daniel 14:1–22)
Then, eating those foods together with others. But, since it was offered to God or gods that kind of meal united people with the divine beings to whom the sacrifice was offered. Applying this to Christians, it describe the Eucharist as communion with Christ and communion with others who participate in it (10:16–17). It seems that during the Eucharistic celebration one bread was offered and then divided into small parts and given to all participant. This one bread signified the Body of Christ.
Paul support his statement with the example from the Old Testament (10:18). If there is “Israel according to flesh”, so there also must be “Israel according to the Spirit” - the Church. Regarding the offering in Israel, it could be divided into three parts: (a) to be burned (Ex 29:13); (b) to be given to the priests (Ex 29:27); (c) to be eaten by the offerer (Lev 7:11–16). Thus, it is first offered in the altar and the divided accordingly.
“Blood” is mentioned first - referring to the Cross; “body” refer to the crucified and risen body of Christ (10:16). It is a powerful statement about the true meaning of the Eucharist: deep unity all those who participate in it with the crucified and the risen Christ.
Paul already mentioned that there are no gods or idols; there is only One God (1 Cor 8:4). But not everyone is aware of this fact. The Gentiles believe that there are many gods and idols. Now, Paul says that the Gentiles offered these sacrifices to demons (10:20; Deut 32:15–17). (The Gentiles would probably not agree with such negative assessment of their religion).
Based on this argument the Eucharist and pagan sacrifices are incompatible. One cannot participate in both (10:21).
“The Lord’s table” (see Ezekiel 44:16; Mal 1:7). For Paul, the Eucharist has replaced the altar of the temple and all the sacrifices as well.

Verse 10:22 - another rhetorical question. Paul summarizes or concludes his arguments against idolatry and participation in idolatrous meals with yet another classical theological concept: “God’s jealousy” (Deut 4:24; 32:21). This concept was developed by the prophets, particularly by Hosea. They compared God’s love for Israel to that of a husband to his wife. Idolatry is seen as adultery (see Hosea 2:4–22). Worshiping idols - different local Canaanites gods - brought disaster upon Israel. Here, Paul transfers this concept unto relationship between Christ and the Church. It would indicate that Christ is also ‘jealous’ about His Church.

Verses 10:23–24 (see 1 Cor 6:12 and Rom 15:2). Here, Paul sets the rule of action for a believer. Paul presents himself as an example (10:32–11:1). Paul has already spoken about it in 1 Cor 9:19–22. Here, we have the same motivation: salvation of others (10:33).

Verses 10:25–31 return to the topic discussed in chapter 8 (8:4). However, here Paul is more specific. He mentions two situations:

Regarding meat being sold on a meat market. Such meat could come out from the pagan temples and thus it was offered before to pagan gods. Paul’s stand is: It is allowed to buy such meat and eat it. There is no need to ask questions during such shopping: ‘Does this meat come from the temple?’ ‘Was this meat offer to gods?’
A pagan ‘friend?; co-worker?’ invites a Christian to a banquet/meal and a Christian agrees to go. It was not a sacrificial meal (that was forbidden to join - 10:20) but a private meal at the house of the inviting Gentile. Paul’s stand is: eat everything and do not ask unnecessary questions.

In both cases, Paul uses the same phrase “because of conscience”. Based on Paul’s theology, there are no gods and idols; there is only one God - the Father, and one Lord - Jesus. Such theology forms his conscience and allows him to eat everything (see again Mark 7:15 - food cannot defile person). Moreover, Paul gives thanks to God before meal (10:30). Thus thanksgiving is a statement of faith expressed in Ps 24:1 and quoted by Paul in 10:26: everything is Lord’s.

However, there is one exception to that rule: when someone warns/informs a Christian that the meat was “slain in sacrifice”. In this case, a Christian should refrain from eating such meat. The reason behind this exception is the conscience of other - probably a weak believer (see 1 Cor 8:10). Paul, as a strong Christian, knows that food cannot defile anyone, but some/many? have weak conscience and for their sake it is better to refrain from doing certain things.

Paul ends this topic about eating or not eating meat sacrificed to idols with a well-known statement in 10:31. We find a similar advice in Col 3:17. It springs from the famous “Listen Israel” (Deut 6:4–5). Christian life should give glory to God in all its aspects and not become an offense to anyone (see Rom 2:24).

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