1 Coríntios 10
Wayne Barber · Citado em PreceptAustin
1 Coríntios 10
Barber observes that in chapter 10 we "are going to talk about a caution to the strong... the whole context... beginning in chapter 8, is to the strong, those who understand, who have experienced, who have had the high privilege of the things of God. And once we have understood and God has allowed us to experience the Word of God in our Christian walk and we are labeled "the strong," we have a greater responsibility...The responsibility is always heavier upon them. The apostle Paul has been talking about sports (1 Cor 9:24-27) No athlete,who is running to win the prize, wants to be disqualified and taken out of the race. The apostle Paul is saying that the Christian life is like a race from beginning to end. Just like an athlete, no Christian who has experienced the things of God, who understands the Word of God, wants to be taken out of the action and benched. He wants to be where God can use him. He wants to be a vessel through which God can do His work. (cf 2 Ti 2:21+) When an athlete stops making the choices of self-denial, it is at that point he becomes disqualified. But in the Christian life it is the same way. Being saved and experiencing the things of God does not necessarily guarantee you are going to be used of God. In other words, the way you started is the way you continue and finish. That is what Paul is trying to get across in making his comparison of the athlete and the runner. His whole context is to the strong, to those who understand, to those who have experienced the grace of God. He says, “You guys need to understand something. You are about to be disqualified. You are not mixing love with your knowledge, therefore you have become arrogant. That is his whole context back in chapter 8. So he says to all of us who have experienced being used of God, those of us who have experienced the grace of God and the understanding of His Word, “Now listen, you continue to learn the discipline of denying self. It never stops, because if you stop and choose the other way, you will be benched and somebody else will take your place. You are not indispensable. You are dispensable when it comes to being used in the Christian life.” Well, because of this, in chapter 10 Paul brings a caution to the believers, trying to shock them back into reality, and so he brings up the nation of Israel and gives a warning. To those who have experienced (the privileges of God - see their "privileges" in 1 Cor 1:2, 4-5, 7, 9+) look out. Israel was a nation that experienced the privileges of God, but a nation who by their own choosing, chose the way of the flesh rather than the way of God and missed out on all the things that God had prepared for them. Paul says, “Believers, don’t you do the same thing. Learn from Israel.” Thomas Schreiner - Because of its defection, Israel did not enter the land of promise, so the Corinthians are admonished in order that they will receive the eschatological award on the day of judgment. The section ends with a word of comfort (1 Cor 10:13), reminding believers that God will faithfully keep from apostasy those who belong to him.....The experiences of Israel in the wilderness are correlated with those of believers in Jesus Christ, and the sins of Israel are set forth to admonish believers not to follow the same pattern. Paul explains his aim in verse 11. The experiences of Israel in the wilderness had a typological role, anticipating and pointing forward to the church of Jesus Christ, for the end times have now dawned with Christ’s coming. (TNTC-1 Cor) Charles Hodge summarizes chapter 10 this way - A continuation of the exhortation to self-denial and caution, 1 Corinthians 10:1-13. Express prohibition of joining in the sacrificial feasts of the heathen, 1 Corinthians 10:14-22. Particular directions as to the use of meat sacrificed to idols, 1 Corinthians 10:23-33. At the close of the preceding chapter the apostle had exhorted his readers to self-denial and effort, in order to secure the crown of life. He here enforces that exhortation, by showing how disastrous had been the want of such self-control in the case of the Israelites. They had been highly favored as well as we. They had been miraculously guided by the pillar of cloud; they had been led through the Red Sea; they had been fed with manna from heaven, and with water from the rock; and yet the great majority of them perished, 1 Corinthians 10:1-5. This is a solemn warning to Christians not to give way to temptation, as the Israelites did, 1 Corinthians 10:6. That is, not to be led into idolatry, 1 Corinthians 10:7, nor into fornication, 1 Corinthians 10:8, nor into tempting Christ, 1 Corinthians 10:9, nor into murmuring, 1 Corinthians 10:10. In all these points the experience of the Israelites was a warning to Christians; and therefore those who thought themselves secure should take heed lest they fall, 1 Corinthians 10:11, 1 Corinthians 10:12. God is merciful, and would not suffer them to be too severely tempted, 1 Corinthians 10:13. David Guzik offers a slightly different thought on the context - 1 Corinthians 10:1KJV Moreover, brethren carries on the subject introduced in 1 Corinthians 8, and continued in chapter 9: what should the Corinthian Christians think and do in regard to meat which has been sacrificed to idols?. In 1 Corinthians 8, Paul established two principles. First, an idol really is nothing, and it was fine for Corinthian Christians who understood this to act according to this knowledge, in regard to themselves. Second, for Christians love is more important than knowledge. So even though I may “know” eating meat sacrificed to an idol is all right for myself, if it causes my brother to stumble, I won’t do it, because it isn’t the loving thing to do. In 1 Corinthians 9, Paul showed how important it is for Christians to give up their “rights.” Just as Paul gave up his “right” to be supported by his own preaching of the gospel, so some of the Corinthian Christians must sometimes give up their “right” to eat meat sacrificed to idols, based on the principle of love towards a weaker brother. In the end of chapter 9, Paul showed how a Christian must be willing to give up some things—even “good” things—for the sake of winning the race God has set before us, otherwise we will become disqualified (1 Corinthians 9:27+) in the competition of the Christian life. (1 Corinthians 10 Commentary) Jack Arnold - Apparently some of the Christians at Corinth had become smugly secure in their Christian life. They were abusing their Christian liberties. They had become somewhat careless and reckless in their Christian conduct. Furthermore, they were not very interested in pursuing a life of holiness, so Paul exhorts them to get on with the Christian race lest they be disqualified. Paul uses Israel in I Corinthians 10:1-13 as an illustration of a whole generation which was disqualified from the spiritual race because of godless conduct. For (gar) is a term of explanation. 1 Cor 10:1KJV reads "moreover" based on the Textus Receptus and a different conjunction (de). Most translations (using the Nestle-Aland) however have gar (instead of de) and this more clearly marks a connection of what follows with the immediately preceding text (and context). So what is Paul explaining in this context? The last two words of the preceding chapter (1 Cor 9:27+) are "adokimos genomai" which translated means to be disqualified. As we discussed in that section, while a few commentators feel disqualified refers to eternal punishment, most writers feel it refers to loss of future rewards and loss of present service for the Lord. Paul moves from the illustration of the Isthmian races to the historical illustration of the nation of Israel when they were rescued from Egypt. ESV Study Bible on For (gar) - For connects vv. 1–22 to what Paul has been saying about giving up personal rights for the sake of the gospel (chs. 8–9). The example of Israel’s experience in the wilderness should warn the Corinthians of what can happen to people who hear God’s words and see his works but do not come to true faith.
1 Coríntios 10
Barber says "Because of their willingness to obey Moses, they were set free from the penalty and the power and the presence of the Egyptians who had held them captive for 400 years. Just as we are willing to place our trust into Christ, He sets us free from the penalty and the power and the presence of sin. But being set free from those things does not in any way guarantee that we are going to be useable to Him once we become a believer. We are not going to lose our salvation, but we may lose our right to be used. This is what he is saying. Don’t misunderstand. He is not talking about salvation. He is talking about the usability within salvation. Just as Israel turned against God and became disqualified, our experience with Christ does not guarantee that we will be useable to God. It is not just how we start, it is how we finish." As used of NT believers baptizo was used to picture the placing of the one who had expressed trust in Christ into union with Him, thereby altering the pre-conversion condition and now a new creation in Christ, as summed up in 2 Cor 5:17 "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come." Baptized (907) (baptizo from bapto = cover wholly with a fluid; stain or dip as with dye; used of the smith tempering the red-hot steel, used of dyeing the hair; of a ship that "dipped" = sank) has a literal and a figurative meaning in the NT. The literal meaning is to submerge, to dip or immerse as in water. A study of the 77 NT uses (See below) reveals that most of the uses of baptizo in the Gospels and Acts are associated with literal water baptism 1 Corinthians 10:3 and all ate the same spiritual food Amplified And all [of them] ate the same spiritual (supernaturally given) food, NET 1 Corinthians 10:3 and all ate the same spiritual food, NLT 1 Corinthians 10:3 All of them ate the same spiritual food, ESV 1 Corinthians 10:3 and all ate the same spiritual food, NIV 1 Corinthians 10:3 They all ate the same spiritual food GNT 1 Corinthians 10:3 καὶ πάντες τὸ αὐτὸ πνευματικὸν βρῶμα ἔφαγον KJV 1 Corinthians 10:3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat; YLT 1 Corinthians 10:3 and all the same spiritual food did eat, ASV 1 Corinthians 10:3 and did all eat the same spiritual food; CSB 1 Corinthians 10:3 They all ate the same spiritual food, MIT 1 Corinthians 10:3 Indeed, all ate the same spiritual food. NKJ 1 Corinthians 10:3 all ate the same spiritual food, NRS 1 Corinthians 10:3 and all ate the same spiritual food, NAB 1 Corinthians 10:3 All ate the same spiritual food, NJB 1 Corinthians 10:3 all ate the same spiritual food GWN 1 Corinthians 10:3 All of them ate the same spiritual food, BBE 1 Corinthians 10:3 And they all took the same holy food; Ex 16:4,15,35 De 8:3 Ne 9:15,20 Ps 78:23-25 105:40 Joh 6:22-58 1 Corinthians 10 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: Exodus 16:4+ Then the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, that I may test them, whether or not they will walk in My instruction. Exodus 16:15+ When the sons of Israel saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, “It is the bread which the LORD has given you to eat. Exodus 16:35+ The sons of Israel ate the manna forty years, until they came to an inhabited land; they ate the manna until they came to the border of the land of Canaan. Numbers 11:31-32+ (THE "SPIRITUAL FOOD" OF QUAIL) Now there went forth a wind from the LORD and it brought quail from the sea, and let them fall beside the camp, about a day’s journey on this side and a day’s journey on the other side, all around the camp and about two cubits deep on the surface of the ground. 32 The people spent all day and all night and all the next day, and gathered the quail (he who gathered least gathered ten homers) and they spread them out for themselves all around the camp. QUAIL SEASON! MANNA IN THE MORNING! DIVINE FALLING FOOD FOR ISRAEL! And all ate the same spiritual food - Again ALL Israel experienced this gracious provision from Yahweh as Moses described in Exodus 16 (below). Don't miss this point - Israel NEVER missed a meal for 40 years in the desert! Paul calls the literal manna spiritual food because it was supernatural and was from a spiritual source, God in Heaven. In other words the manna was a literal, physical event that had spiritual implications, certainly another indication of the providence of God to provide for His children. By analogy, God had provided the Corinthians with the bread of heaven, His Son in Whom they were saved, and also the bread of His Word by which they were sustained (most of the Word they had at this time was probably the Old Testament Septuagint version). Wayne Barber points out that "It was while Israel was demonstrating a spirit of ungratefulness (Ex 16:1-3) that God chose to give them the manna and the quail in the wilderness (Ex 16:4). Why does he say it was spiritual food? We know it was physical food: it was manna and it was quail. That is physical food. Why does he call it spiritual food? Because Paul is trying to show them it was God supernaturally providing for them the food that they needed, just like in our walk God provides for us supernaturally the things that we need in our spiritual life, the Word and His power, etc....What Paul is pointing to is Exodus 16. Exodus 16:12-14+ “I have heard the grumblings of the sons of Israel; speak to them, saying, ‘At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall be filled with bread; and you shall know that I am the LORD your God.’” 13 So it came about at evening that the quails came up and covered the camp, and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. 14 When the layer of dew evaporated, behold, on the surface of the wilderness there was a fine flake-like thing, fine as the frost on the ground. 15 When the sons of Israel saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, “It is the bread which the LORD has given you to eat. 16 “This is what the LORD has commanded, ‘Gather of it every man as much as he should eat; you shall take an omer apiece according to the number of persons each of you has in his tent.’” 17 The sons of Israel did so, and some gathered much and some little. Hodge has another thought on why refer to it as spiritual food - The manna therefore was spiritual food, in the same sense in which the special gifts of God are called spiritual gifts. That is, it was given by the Spirit. It was not natural food, but food miraculously provided. In the same sense, in the next verse, the water is called spiritual drink, because miraculously produced. In Gal. 4:29, the natural birth of Isaac is said to have been after the Spirit, because due to the special intervention of God. (ED: THAT SEEMS TO BE A REASONABLE CONSIDERATION OF THE MEANING OF '"SPIRITUAL" AND CERTAINLY FITS WITH THE IDEA OF IT BEING SUPERNATURALLY PROVIDED.) Zodhiates has an interesting explanation of why Paul refers to the OT manna as spiritual food - Man is the only creature in whom God placed His Spirit so that when he eats material food, his spirit should be activated to thank God and acknowledge His provision in abundance and in sufficiency. That is why, we believe, Paul called the food which the Israelites ate in the desert "spiritual."...Only in man did God put His Spirit so that as man enjoys material food, he might thankfully exercise the faculty of the Spirit in recognizing that material blessings come from God. In the sixth chapter of John, after the Lord fed more than five thousand people with the multiplied loaves of bread and fishes, He gave His marvelous teaching, revealing Himself as the bread of life (John 6:35). This discourse of our Lord ought to be studied in conjunction with Paul's message in 1 Corinthians 10:3, 4. When man fell, he lost his relationship with God, but Jesus Christ came to bridge that gap. The Israelites ate the heavenly manna, but failed in their spirits to recognize God as the provider. This would be remedied with the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ who said, "I am the bread of life: he who comes to Me shall never hunger; and he who believes on Me shall never thirst" (John 6:35). He is our spiritual bread of which we need to partake by believing on Him....Jesus came down from heaven just as the manna was sent down from heaven. He became the spiritual food that fallen man needs so that his spirit can be reconciled to God. The Lord Jesus in John 6:38 said, "I came down from heaven." (In Jn 46-51) The Lord Jesus was, indeed, confirming that the purpose of His incarnation was to become the bread of life which gives eternal life to those who believe....In the same manner, the children of Israel should have understood that, as they partook of the manna from heaven, it was a spiritual experience, for it was provided in a miraculous way by God Himself.....As the children of Israel experienced the descent of their food from heaven, so Christ speaks of Himself as having descended from heaven and being the "bread of life." This "bread" ought not to be thought of only as the physical body of Jesus Christ, but as the pre-existent Christ, the Son of God, Who has always been with the Father, on Whom we are called to believe and to be saved (John 6:35, 46, 48-51). Schreiner suggests that "In a sense, they had a meal like the Lord’s Supper in partaking of the manna. Similarly, they, so to speak, drank of Christ in drinking the water in the wilderness, just as believers drink of the cup at the Lord’s Supper." (Ibid) Spiritual (4152) pneumatikos from pneuma = wind, spirit <> in turn from pneo = to blow) is an adjective which means pertaining to the wind or breath (in classical Greek) then relating to the realm of the spirit referring to the inner, invisible sphere of a human being. As
1 Coríntios 10
Barber says by the phrase a spiritual rock which followed them Paul at first "seems to allude to a Jewish legend at that time that a physical rock rolled behind the nation of Israel when they went through the wilderness. That is what the rabbi’s would teach. The apostle Paul dismisses that real quickly and shows them it was not a physical rock. That rock, he says, was Christ. Paul says that rock was Christ, definite article, the rock was the Christ. The verb “was” is in the imperfect tense. He says, “And the rock was Christ.” Do you realize that is the same verb used in John 1:1 when it wrote “In the beginning was (imperfect tense) the Word, and the Word was (imperfect tense) with God and the Word was (imperfect tense) God.” What Paul is documenting here is, not only was He in the beginning, He was way back there in Israel. He has always preexisted. The theophany of Christ was back there. The rock they were drinking from was Christ and they couldn’t even see Him. He was supernaturally providing for them water in the wilderness.....Israel had been privileged to experience the power, the presence and the provision of Christ Himself. God had provided for them, but they chose to no longer trust God and as a result, they missed out on all of the blessings God would have given them had they trusted and obeyed Him. That is his point in this illustration - Israel (THE MAJORITY OF THOSE THAT CAME OUT OF EGYPT) became disqualified, "taken out of action" and put on the bench with subsequent grave consequences (SEE NOTES ON 1 Cor 10:5). Hodge- two things are therein plainly taught. First, that the Israelites were constantly supplied in a miraculous manner with water; and secondly, that the source of that supply was Christ.
1 Coríntios 10
Barber - The word “crave,” epithumeo means to desire something. It is an obsessive desire that controls a person. I use the illustration of an 800 pound parrot that says, “Polly wants a cracker—NOW.” It is that obsessive, driven type desire in your life. Paul says they were driven, they were motivated, they craved evil things....there is a difference in you chasing after sin or sin chasing after you. Israel let chasing after sin become the obsession of their life. It is like a believer who started rightly and down the road becomes arrogant because of what he knows and understands and stops the discipline of denying self. And as a result, instead of going on and knowing more, God just pulls him out of the race and sets him on the bench. Was there ever a time in your life when you loved Jesus more than you do right now? Has there ever been a time when you loved being in the Word of God more than you do right today? Has there ever been a time when you were burdened to pray far greater than anything that has hit you lately? Have you ever asked yourself the question, “Am I going forward or am I going backwards? What’s going on in my life?” Is God using you? Are you the vessel that God can use? Swindoll - Paul starts off by identifying a deep-seated attitude of the heart—lusting after evil. Dissatisfied and ungrateful amid blessings, the Hebrews kept longing to go back to Egypt (Num. 11:4-6). The Corinthians, like many believers, struggled against their former lifestyles, tempted to “go back” to the evil of their past (1 Cor. 6:9-11). (Ibid) Is Paul referring to a specific OT situation in this passage? I think he is referring to Israel's craving for meat. In Numbers 11 they grumbled and craved meat. God gave them meat and then struck them with a plague because of their grumbling and greed! Numbers 11:4-6+ The rabble (MIXED MULTITUDE INCLUDED EGYPTIANS WHO CAME OUT IN EXODUS) who were among them had greedy desires; and also the sons of Israel wept again and said, “Who will give us meat to eat? 5“We remember the fish which we used to eat free in Egypt, the cucumbers and the melons and the leeks and the onions and the garlic, 6but now our appetite is gone. There is nothing at all to look at except this manna.” Numbers 11:31-34+ Now there went forth a wind from the LORD and it brought quail from the sea, and let them fall beside the camp, about a day’s journey on this side and a day’s journey on the other side, all around the camp and about two cubits deep on the surface of the ground. 32The people spent all day and all night and all the next day, and gathered the quail (he who gathered least gathered ten homers) and they spread them out for themselves all around the camp. 33 While the meat was still between their teeth, before it was chewed, the anger of the LORD was kindled against the people, and the LORD struck the people with a very severe plague. 34 So the name of that place was called Kibroth-hattaavah, because there they buried the people who had been greedy. COMMENT - Note that the word for greedy is rendered in the Septuagint with the same word used by Paul in 1 Cor 10:6, the noun epithumetes. This would strongly suggest that this is the episode of craving to which Paul is making reference. This same greedy craving for meat is describe twice in the Psalms... Psalm 78:18, 27-31+ And in their heart they put God to the test By asking food according to their desire. ....27 When He rained meat upon them like the dust, Even winged fowl like the sand of the seas, 28 Then He let them fall in the midst of their camp, Round about their dwellings. 29 So they ate and were well filled, And their desire He gave to them. 30 Before they had satisfied their desire, While their food was in their mouths, 31 The anger of God rose against them And killed some of their stoutest ones, And subdued the choice men of Israel. Psalm 106:13-15+ They quickly forgot His works; They did not wait for His counsel, 14 But craved intensely in the wilderness, And tempted (TRIED OR TESTED) God in the desert. 15 So He gave them their request, But sent a wasting disease among them. Zodhiates seems to agree with this passage alluding to Israel's "Quail Bash" - It is evident that here in 1 Corinthians 10:6 the verb epethúmēsan, the aorist form of epithuméō, is used to refer to the sinful desire of the Israelites to eat flesh, as recorded in Numbers 11, and to reject the food which God miraculously supplied to satisfy their hunger. This sinful desire of the Israelites is characterized by the Apostle Paul as "bad" (evil) because they complained against the Lord (Num. 11:1)....Wanting a variety of food was not harmful or wicked, but the dissatisfaction of the Israelites with what God had given them was bad, for they complained against Him and His servant Moses. THOUGHT - Israel made a huge mistake. It is just like a runner. If a runner stops denying himself, if a runner stops the discipline of denying himself, he is going to be disqualified. That is exactly what happens to the Christian and that is exactly what happened to Israel. When you take the very things that you have been saved from and start chasing after them again, look out because you are not going to be usable to God. That’s the key. It doesn’t mean God doesn’t love you. It doesn’t mean you have lost your salvation. It just simply means you have lost all the joy, all the sense of His presence in your life, all of that until you come back to the cross. You have been disqualified. (Barber) Craved (1938) (epithumetes from epithumeo) describes one desires something in an inordinate, self-indulgent manner. Only NT use. Lxx - Nu 11:34, Pr 1:22, Ezek 26:12. Evil (bad, harm) (2556) kakos related word = kakia) is a word which basically denotes a lack of something so that it is "bad" or "not as it ought to be. Kakos means not meeting accepted standards of behavior, and thus worthless, bad or inferior. Kakos then speaks of lack of goodness, of a bad nature. (Note there is some repetition in this discussion, but hopefully this repetition will give you a good sense of the different nuances of this word). One of the more frightening uses of kakos (personal opinion) is in the phrase "inventors of evil" (Ro 1:30). Craved (coveted, longed for, lusted) (1937)(epithumeo from epí = upon, used intensively + thumos = passion, cf epithumia) means literally to fix the desire upon (object could be good [Mt 13:17, Lk 22:15 used of Jesus] or bad [1Co 10:6]). It means to have a strong desire to do or secure something. To desire greatly. To long for. Note that the preposition epi can express motion toward or upon and thus one lexicon defines it as to set one's heart upon. In sum, epithumeo describes a strong impulse toward something so that one's passions or affections are directed toward some object, thing or person. Epithumeo - 16x in 16v - Matt. 5:28; Matt. 13:17; Lk. 15:16; Lk. 16:21; Lk. 17:22; Lk. 22:15; Acts 20:33; Rom. 7:7; Rom. 13:9; 1 Co. 10:6; Gal. 5:17; 1 Tim. 3:1; Heb. 6:11; Jas. 4:2; 1 Pet. 1:12; Rev. 9:6 Jack Arnold - Christian, how many times have you said, "I would like to go back and do a few things I did before I became a Christian. I feel so confined. I know it would be sin, but it is fun and God will forgive me.” To take this kind of attitude is to be presumptuous Christian, presuming on the grace of God, and it may disqualify you from the spiritual race. God is displeased and heartbroken when we long to go back into that old life from which Christ delivered us by His own precious blood. Don’t blame God when you give in to your sinful desires. God does not tempt us with evil but we yield to sinful desires. (James 1:13-15+) 1 Corinthians 10:7 Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written, "THE PEOPLE SAT DOWN TO EAT AND DRINK, AND STOOD UP TO PLAY." Amplified Do not be worshipers of false gods as some of them were, as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink [the sacrifices offered to the golden calf at Horeb] and rose to sport (to dance and give way to jesting and hilarity). Wuest Stop becoming idolaters as some of them were, even as it stands written, The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to be giving way to hilarity. (Eerdmans Publishing - used by permission) NET 1 Corinthians 10:7 So do not be idolaters, as some of them were. As it is written, "The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play." NLT 1 Corinthians 10:7 or worship idols as some of them did. As the Scriptures say, "The people celebrated with feasting and drinking, and they indulged in pagan revelry." ESV 1 Corinthians 10:7 Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, "The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play." NIV 1 Corinthians 10:7 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." GNT 1 Corinthians 10:7 μηδὲ εἰδωλολάτραι γίνεσθε καθώς τινες αὐτῶν, ὥσπερ γέγραπται, Ἐκάθισεν ὁ λαὸς φαγεῖν καὶ πεῖν καὶ ἀνέστησαν παίζειν. KJV 1 Corinthians 10:7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. YLT 1 Corinthians 10:7 Neither become ye idolaters, as certain of them, as it hath been written, 'The people sat down to eat and to drink, and stood up to play;' ASV 1 Corinthians 10:7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. CSB 1 Corinthians 10:7 Don't become idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and got up to play. MIT 1 Corinthians 10:7 Neither become idolaters as some of them became. The Scripture gives this account: "The people sat down to eat and drink, and they got up to frolic." NKJ 1 Corinthians 10:7 And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, "The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play." NRS 1 Corinthians 10:7 Do not become idolaters as some of them did; as it is written, "The people sat down to eat and drink, and they rose up to play." NAB 1 Corinthians 10:7 And do not become idolaters, as some of them did, as it is written, "The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to revel." NJB 1 Corinthians 10:7 nor are you to worship false gods, as some of them did, as it says in scripture: The people sat down to eat and drink, and afterwards got up to amuse themselves. GWN 1 Corinthians 10:7 So don't worship false gods as some of them did, as Scripture says, "The people sat down to a feast which turned into an orgy." BBE 1 Corinthians 10:7 Then do not go after false gods, as some of them did; as it is said in the holy Writings, After resting and feasting, the people got up to take their pleasure. be: 1Co 14:20-22 5:11 6:9 8:7 De 9:12,16-21 Ps 106:19,20 1Jn 5:21 The people: Ex 32:6-8,17,19 1 Corinthians 10 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries IN WENT THE GOLD AND POOF, OUT POPPED THE CALF! Related Passages: Exodus 32:1-8+ (THE SIN OF IDOLATRY) Now when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people assembled about Aaron and said to him, “Come, make us a god who will go before us; as for this Moses, the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.” 2 Aaron said to them, “Tear off the gold rings which are in the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me.” 3 Then all the people tore off the gold rings which were in their ears and brought them to Aaron. 4 He took this from their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool and made it into a molten calf; and they said, “This is your god, O Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt.” (THEY CALLED IT GOD BUT IT WAS ACTUALLY AN IDOL) 5 Now when Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made a proclamation and said, “Tomorrow shall be a feast to the LORD.” So the next day they rose early and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings (THE SAME OFFERINGS THEY WOULD HAVE GIVEN TO YAHWEH); and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play. 7 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, “Go down at once, for your people, whom you brought up from the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves. 8 “They have quickly turned aside from the way which I commanded them. They have made for themselves a molten calf, and have worshiped it and have sacrificed to it and said, ‘This is your god, O Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt!’” COMMENT - They had for so long been around the pagan ceremonies of Egypt that it seemed almost natural to add a pagan practice to true worship. Even Aaron, the first high priest of Israel and next in command under Moses, did not resist when approached by the people with their wicked idea. Exodus 32:17+ Now when Joshua heard the sound of the people as they shouted, he said to Moses, “There is a sound of war in the camp.” But he said, “It is not the sound of the cry of triumph, Nor is it the sound of the cry of defeat; But the sound of singing I hear.” 19 It came about, as soon as Moses came near the camp, that he saw the calf and the dancing; and Moses’ anger burned, and he threw the tablets from his hands and shattered them at the foot of the mountain. Exodus 32:25-28+ (THE PUNISHMENT) Now when Moses saw that the people were out of control–for Aaron had let them get out of control to be a derision among their enemies– 26 then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, “Whoever is for the LORD, come to me!” And all the sons of Levi gathered together to him. 27 He said to them, “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, ‘Every man of you put his sword upon his thigh, and go back and forth from gate to gate in the camp, and kill every man his brother, and every man his friend, and every man his neighbor.’” So the sons of Levi did as Moses instructed, and about three thousand men of the people fell that day. Exodus 20:4-5+ (THE SIN OF EXODUS 32 WAS CLEARLY FORBIDDEN) “You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. 5 “You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God (cf Ex 34:13-15+), visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me, THE IDOL MOLOCH Acts 7:41-43+ (ISRAEL'S IDOLATRY WENT ON FOR ALL 40 YEARS OF THEIR WILDERNESS JOURNEY!) “At that time they made a calf and brought a sacrifice to the idol, and were rejoicing in the works of their hands. 42 “But God turned away and delivered them up to serve the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, ‘IT WAS NOT TO ME THAT YOU OFFERED VICTIMS AND SACRIFICES FORTY YEARS IN THE WILDERNESS, WAS IT, O HOUSE OF ISRAEL? 43 ‘YOU ALSO TOOK ALONG THE TABERNACLE OF MOLOCH (OR HERE) AND THE STAR OF THE GOD ROMPHA (Rephan), THE IMAGES WHICH YOU MADE TO WORSHIP. I ALSO WILL REMOVE YOU BEYOND BABYLON.’ 1 Corinthians 5:11+ But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler–not even to eat with such a one. (COMPARE PROHIBITION in 1 Cor 10:28+) OUT OF EGYPT INTO IDOLATRY! God was able to get Israel out of Egypt, but could not get Egypt out of Israel. Paul now gives the 4 major categories of sins that resulted in the disqualification of the Israelites - (1) Idolatry (1 Cor 10:7), (2) Immorality (1 Cor 10:8), (3) Trying God (1 Cor 10:9) and (4) Grumbling or murmuring (1 Cor 10:10). Paul has just stated Israel was craving evil things. Now he begins to unveil some of those evil things their fallen flesh was craving beginning with idolatry. As we have discussed previously Corinth was replete with worship of idols so the temptation was everywhere in the city. Note - The book of First Corinthians has the major concentration of uses of idols and idolatry in the NT - 4/7 NT uses of idolater (eidololatres), 6/9 NT uses of sacrificed to idols (eidolothuton), and 4/11 NT uses of idol (eidolon)
1 Coríntios 10
Barber - So when you think of an idol, folks, don’t just think of a statue somewhere like Nebuchanezzar built. Think of something in your own life that you have taken and put in the place of a living God, something that you bow to, something that takes all your emotion, all your time, all your money, all your energy. It is sucking it right into this. Has that become an idol in your life? It is an idol of your own making, a product of your own imagination. Idolaters (1496) eidololatres from eidolon = idol, image, a phantom or likeness [from eidos = form, appearance, literally that which is seen from eido = to see] + látris = servant, worshiper) (see study of eidololatreia) (See multiple Bible dictionary articles on idolatry) is literally an image worshipper or one who serves idols or images representative of false gods. Idolatry is the worship of something created which is in direct opposition to the worship of the Creator Himself. Ultimately it is placing anything in the place of God, Who alone deserves the right to be number one in our worship. Originally, a physical idol helped visualize the god it represented but later people worshipped the physical object itself (Ro 1:19+; Ro 1:20-21+; Ro 1:22-23+). Eidololatres - 7x in NT - Notice this is a KEY WORD in 1 Corinthians - 1 Co. 5:10; 1 Co. 5:11; 1 Co. 6:9; 1 Co. 10:7; Eph. 5:5; Rev. 21:8; Rev. 22:15 See multiple Bible dictionary articles on idolatry dol, Idolatry - Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology Idolatry - International Standard Bible Encyclopedia International Standard Bible Encyclopedia Idolatry Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia Idolatry McClintock and Strong's Bible Encyclopedia Idolatry As it is written - Written (grapho) is perfect tense meaning it had been written down in the past (by Moses) and remains on record. Zodhiates aptly entitles his note on this verse "Idolatry Leads to Sensuality." THE PEOPLE SAT DOWN TO EAT AND DRINK, AND STOOD UP TO PLAY - Whatever this means, it clearly was activity which God said indicated that the Israelites had "corrupted themselves" (Ex 32:7+), where corrupted is the Hebrew verb shachath meaning to ruin or decay (Septuagint translates it with anomeo which means to act lawlessly - anomeo used in Dt 4:16, 25 to warn against acting corruptly by making idol images). Israel was fresh out of bondage and immediately succumbed to bondage to their flesh to worship an idol (even while claiming they were worshipping Yahweh!) and in so doing they also fell into idolatry and immorality (see play below). Play almost certainly is a euphemism for sexual activity. Paul's emphasis however in quoting this example is to focus on Israel's idolatry. Exodus 32:28+ describes the reaping of their riotous behavior - "So the sons of Levi did as Moses instructed, and about 3000 men of the people fell that day." The message could hardly have failed to hit home to the Corinthians who were surrounded by idolatry and constantly being tempted to commit this sin against God. Paul will drive this point home later writing "No, but I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God; and I do not want you to become sharers in demons. 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons." (1 Cor 10:20-21) Any Corinthian believer who reverted to their old ways of worship would not be able to worship the Lord and it likely would result in them being involved in immoral behavior (especially if they "worshipped" in the Temple of Aphrodite with some 1000 priestess whores!) The result Paul implies is that in so doing they would bring dishonor, judgment and disqualification on themselves! Anything that takes our first loyalty and allegiance is an idol. -- John MacArthur
1 Coríntios 10
Barber - Immorality is an idolatrous practice. If a person is immoral, he is idolatrous, period. That is me, that’s you, that’s anybody. 1 Corinthians 6:18 says, “Flee immorality.” But in 1 Corinthians 10:14 he says, “Flee idolatry.” He uses the term “flee” for those two sins, because they are absolutely linked together. Paul says 23,000 but Nu 25:9 says there were 24,000 total: 23,000 on one day died and another 1,000 died later. So there was no discrepancy. The main thing is that we can see the mixture of immorality and idolatry. Once you get saved, immorality and idolatry and all these things will chase after you. It is a trap already set. There is a difference in you falling into something one time, repenting of it and coming back and a person who craves it and pursues it. There is a big difference. This is what Paul is talking about here. They desired and craved evil things. You say, “Well, I have been at church for years and my Christian life has grown cold and mechanical. I don’t feel anything anymore. I come to church and I don’t even know if I am saved.” Well, to me the answer is simple. Go back and find out what has replaced Jesus Christ in your life. What is it? Is it a ministry? It has happened to a lot of folks and they have fallen because of it. Is it a reputation? What is it that has taken the place of Jesus in your life? (ED: THAT'S YOUR IDOL!) THOUGHT - Do you know how they catch monkeys? They take a jar that has a thin neck, just big enough for a monkey to get his paw in and they put candy in it. If you have never been to Africa, you don’t realize how monkeys love candy, anything sweet at all. I have had them jump on the car. We have had five and six monkeys on top of the car at one time trying to get them off. One of us was eating some breath mints or whatever it was, but they smelled it. They love candy. They have the jar chained, anchored to something very solid to where the money has to come up and make his own commitment to put his hand inside that jar. Nothing is there other than the candy that is inside of it. Well, when he gets it, he closes his fist and then he can’t get it out because the neck of the jar is fixed to where the paw can get in but it can’t get out if it is clinched. And you know what? It works every time because the monkey is not willing to let go of what his flesh desires and for that reason he has put himself back into captivity. That is what is cramping and killing the church of Jesus Christ today. We won’t turn loose. We forget the verse in the Old Testament, “I will withhold nothing that is good from those that are righteous.” So if He won’t withhold it, why do we cramp ourselves? Why don’t we just put Him back where He belongs? Act Immorally (4203)(porneuo rom pornos = literally the purchasable one, the one you buy, the harlot, the prostitute) means to prostitute one's body to the lust of another, to give oneself to unlawful sexual intercourse. To commit fornication. Used as a Hebraic sense as a figure of speech to describe one who worships idols rather than the living God. Note in the uses of porneuo in the Septuagint (see below), Israel was pictured as a woman (God's wife - Jer 31:32, Isa 54:5) who was unfaithful and like a wife who became a prostitute, figuratively committed acts of immorality against God. However as worship of idols is often associated with literal immorality in Scripture, the OT uses of porneuo surely picture both literal and figurative fornication. Porneuo - 7x in NT - 1 Co. 6:18; 1 Co. 10:8; Rev. 2:14; Rev. 2:20; Rev. 17:2; Rev. 18:3; Rev. 18:9. Uses in the Septuagint - Deut. 23:17; Jdg. 2:15; 1 Chr. 5:25; Ps. 73:27; Ps. 106:39; Jer. 3:6; Jer. 3:7; Jer. 3:8; Ezek. 6:9; Ezek. 16:15; Ezek. 16:34; Ezek. 23:19; Hos. 3:3; Hos. 4:10; Hos. 4:14; Hos. 4:18; Hos. 9:1; Amos 7:17; Related Resources: Idolatry and Immorality - the relationship and the antidote. McClintock and Strong's Bible Encyclopedia Immorality Charles Buck Dictionary Immorality Holman Bible Dictionary Immorality What is sexual immorality? A Warning Worth Heeding “Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.” 1 Corinthians 10:8–11 The story of the Israelites on their journey from slavery in Egypt to the Promised Land is a repeated pattern of disobedience, judgment, and repentance. Sadly, it is not a pattern of learning from mistakes! Instead the people grumbled and complained about the same things over and over. They feared to follow God rather than acting in faith, and they were ungrateful for the many blessings that God showered on them. Time and again they sinned against the God who delivered and provided for them. Paul tells us that these stories are not just in the Bible as historical truth, but as examples for us to consider as we determine how we should live. Someone said, “While it may be true that a wise man learns from his mistakes, it is a wiser man who learns from the mistakes of others.” The Bible is filled with commandments given to us by an all-wise, all-knowing God. The things that God tells us to do are not to cause us pain, and the things He tells us not to do are not to keep us from pleasure. God not only gives us His commands, but He provides examples to show us what happens when we do and do not follow them. Yet far too many Christians persist in believing that somehow they will be an exception to the rules—that they can sin and avoid the consequences—and then are surprised to find God has not changed. Growth Principle: If we obey God’s Word, we protect ourselves and our families from great heartache and suffering. Question - What was Baal Peor in the Bible? Answer: Baal Peor, or the Baal of Peor, was a local deity worshiped by the Moabites. When the Israelites, following Moses to the Promised Land, were in the vicinity of Peor, some of them fell into idolatry and worshiped Baal Peor. As a result of their sin, the men of Israel were judged by God. The story of Baal Peor starts when Balaak, the king of the Moabites, hired Balaam, a prophet-for-hire, to curse Israel. Balaak had seen the progress and might of Israel and was trying to do something that would stop them. Balaam took the money but was unable to curse Israel because the Lord would not allow him to do so. Balaam then met with the king of Moab and went through the motions of receiving a word from God; each time (seven times total) he ended up blessing Israel instead of cursing them (Numbers 23–24). At the time of the third oracle, Balaam and Balaak were observing the Israelite camp from a place called Peor (Numbers 23:28). By the end of the seventh try, Balaak finally got the message that Balaam would not curse Israel for him. In Numbers 25, we find that the women of Midian began to seduce the men of Israel to sexual sin and to sacrifice to their gods. Since the gods of the pagans were often fertility gods, the “worship” often involved sexual acts. The incident is recorded in Numbers 25:1–3: “While Israel was staying in Shittim (See also What is the significance of Shittim?), the men began to indulge in sexual immorality with Midianite women, who invited them to the sacrifices to their gods. The people ate the sacrificial meal and bowed down before these gods. So Israel yoked themselves to the Baal of Peor. And the Lord’s anger burned against them.” As a judgment against the Israelites’ sin, God sent a plague among the people (Nu 25:9). According to Numbers 31:16+, the women did this on the advice of Balaam. It appears that, since he could not curse Israel, he found another way to fulfill the wishes of Balaak, who was paying him. Balaam knew that, if the Israelite men could be seduced into idol worship, that God Himself would curse them. The word peor simply means “opening” and is the name of the place (a mountain or a spot on a mountain) from which Balaak and Balaam observed the camp of Israel. The meaning of the word may or may not be significant to the naming of the place. (Perhaps there was a cave opening there or some kind of mountain pass, or perhaps the place was called Peor for some other reason.) The word baal is simply the word for “lord,” “master,” or “ruler.” Baal became a technical or semi-technical name for the gods of the Canaanites. There was not just one god named Baal, but there were many Baals (many Canaanite “lords”). That is why Numbers 25:3 in the NIV does not use “Baal Peor” as if it were a proper name for a god but uses the term more as a description: “the Baal of Peor,” which could also be translated “the Lord of Peor” or “Lord of the Opening.” Peor might refer to the mountain top from which Balaam and Balaak observed Israel, or it could have something to do with the literal meaning of the word peor (opening), which, in the context of Canaanite worship (and the context of Numbers 25), could have a sexual or scatological connotation. Perhaps the top of the mountain was called Peor because that is where the sexual rites took place. In any case, Baal Peor is really the Baal of Peor or simply the Lord of Peor, which distinguishes this Baal from all the others. This particular god is referred to again in Numbers 25:5. Then Numbers 25:18 speaks of “the Peor incident,” which sounds like Peor is being used as a place name rather than something based on the meaning of the word. Deuteronomy 4:3 uses Baal Peor as a place name to refer to the incident recorded in Numbers 25 and in the same verse as a designation for the pagan god. “You saw with your own eyes what the LORD did at Baal Peor. The LORD your God destroyed from among you everyone who followed the Baal of Peor.” Joshua 22:17 speaks of the “sin of Peor,” and Hosea 9:10 uses Baal Peor to refer to the place where this incident happened: “When they came to Baal Peor, they consecrated themselves to that shameful idol and became as vile as the thing they loved.” Psalm 106:28 also refers to the Baal of Peor: “They yoked themselves to the Baal of Peor and ate sacrifices offered to lifeless gods.” So it seems that Peor and Baal Peor are both used as place names to refer to the place where Israel sinned in sexual immorality and in worship of a particular Baal. The Baal in question is referred to as Baal Peor. Perhaps he was already referred to by this name, as he was seen to be in charge of this particular location, or perhaps this is the name that the Israelites gave him after the fact. In any case, this incident at Baal Peor stands out as the first of many times that Israel fell into immorality and idolatry, and it also serves as a warning to Christians. The Corinthians would have been particularly susceptible to this kind of temptation, as the city of Corinth was filled with idolatry and sexual immorality. The question of eating at idol temples was debated within the congregation. Although he does not mention Baal Peor by name, Paul refers to that incident in 1 Corinthians 10:8: “We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died.” In verses 11–14, Paul goes on to say, “These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come. So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. 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 endure it. Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry.” Many things have changed since Israel’s sin at Baal Peor, but the basic temptations have not. Sexual temptation is ever present in modern societies, and the idols of money, pleasure, fame, and “the good life” also vie to take the place of the One True God in the hearts of many people. Even today, Christians must guard against the sin of Baal Peor. GotQuestions.org 1 Corinthians 10:9 Nor let us try the Lord (Christos), as some of them did, and were destroyed by the serpents. Amplified We should not tempt the Lord [try His patience, become a trial to Him, critically appraise Him, and exploit His goodness] as some of them did—and were killed by poisonous serpents; Wuest Neither let us be putting the Lord to an all-out test, trying Him to the utmost, even as certain of them tried Him and by means of snakes were perishing day after day. (Eerdmans Publishing - used by permission) NET 1 Corinthians 10:9 And let us not put Christ to the test, as some of them did, and were destroyed by snakes. NLT 1 Corinthians 10:9 Nor should we put Christ to the test, as some of them did and then died from snakebites. ESV 1 Corinthians 10:9 We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, NIV 1 Corinthians 10:9 We should not test the Lord, as some of them did--and were killed by snakes. GNT 1 Corinthians 10:9 μηδὲ ἐκπειράζωμεν τὸν Χριστόν, καθώς τινες αὐτῶν ἐπείρασαν καὶ ὑπὸ τῶν ὄφεων ἀπώλλυντο. KJV 1 Corinthians 10:9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. YLT 1 Corinthians 10:9 neither may we tempt the Christ, as also certain of them did tempt, and by the serpents did perish; ASV 1 Corinthians 10:9 Neither let us make trial of the Lord, as some of them made trial, and perished by the serpents. CSB 1 Corinthians 10:9 Let us not test Christ as some of them did and were destroyed by snakes. MIT 1 Corinthians 10:9 Nor should we try the patience of the anointed one as some did, and they were destroyed by snakes. NKJ 1 Corinthians 10:9 nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; NRS 1 Corinthians 10:9 We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did, and were destroyed by serpents. NAB 1 Corinthians 10:9 Let us not test Christ as some of them did, and suffered death by serpents. NJB 1 Corinthians 10:9 And we are not to put the Lord to the test; some of them put him to the test, and they were killed by snakes. GWN 1 Corinthians 10:9 We shouldn't put the Lord to the test as some of them did. They were killed by snakes. BBE 1 Corinthians 10:9 And let us not put the Lord to the test, as some of them did, and came to their death by snakes. try: Ex 17:2,7 23:20,21 Nu 21:5 De 6:16 Ps 78:18,56 95:9 106:14 Heb 3:8-11 10:28-30 and were: Nu 21:1-6 1 Corinthians 10 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: Psalm 78:17-21+ Yet they still continued to sin against Him, To rebel against the Most High in the desert. 18 And in their HEART (NOTE THE SEAT OF THE SIN - IN THEIR HEART!) they put God to the test (Hebrew = nacah/nasah; Septuagint = ekpeirazo the very word Paul uses here in 1 Cor 10:9!)(HOW DID THEY TEST GOD) By asking food according to their desire (TO SATISFY THEIR APPETITE; ESV = FOOD THEY CRAVED). 19 Then they spoke against God; They said, “Can God prepare a table in the wilderness? 20 “Behold, He struck the rock so that waters gushed out, And streams were overflowing; Can He give bread also? Will He provide meat for His people?” 21 Therefore the LORD heard and was full of wrath; And a fire was kindled against Jacob And anger also mounted against Israel, Spurgeon on Ps 78:18 - He was not tempted, for he cannot be tempted by any, but they acted in a manner calculated to tempt Him, and it always just to charge that upon men which is the obvious tendency of their conduct. Christ cannot die again, and yet many crucify him afresh, because such would be the legitimate result of their behaviour if its effects were not prevented by other forces. The sinners in the wilderness would have had the Lord change his wise proceedings to humour their whims, hence they are said to tempt him. By asking meat for their lust. Would they have God become purveyor for their greediness? Was there nothing for it but that he must give them whatever their diseased appetites might crave? The sin began in their hearts, but it soon reached their tongues. What they at first silently wished for, they soon loudly demanded with menaces, insinuations, and upbraidings. Henry Melvill - We know that, although "God cannot be tempted with evil, "he may justly be said to be tempted, whensoever men, by being dissatisfied with his dealings, virtually ask that he will alter those dealings, and proceed in a way more congenial with their feelings. If you reflect a little, you can hardly fail to perceive, that in a very strict sense, this and the like may be said to be a tempting of God. Suppose a man to be discontented with the appointments of Providence; suppose him to murmur and repine at what the Almighty allots him to do or to bear: is he not to be charged with provoking God to change his purpose? and what is this if it be not "tempting" God--a striving to induce him to swerve from his plans, though every one of those plans has been settled by infinite wisdom? Or, again, if any one of us, notwithstanding multiplied proofs of the Divine lovingkindness, doubt or question whether God do indeed love him; of what is he guilty, if not of tempting the Lord, seeing that he solicits God to give additional evidence, as though there were deficiency, and challenges him to fresh demonstrations of what he has already abundantly displayed? This would be called tempting amongst men. If a child were to show by his actions that he doubted or disbelieved the affection of his parents, he would be considered as thereby striving to extort from them fresh proofs of that affection, though they had already done as much as either in justice or in wisdom they ought to have done; this would be a clear tempting of them, and that too in the ordinary sense of the term. In short, unbelief of every kind and degree may be said to be a tempting of God; for not to believe on the evidence which he has seen fit to give, is to tempt him to give more than he has already given--offering our possible assent, if proof were increased, as an inducement to him to go beyond what his wisdom has prescribed... You cannot distrust God, and not accuse him of a want either of power or of goodness; you cannot repine --no, not even in thought--without virtually telling him that his plans are not the best, nor his dispensations the wisest, which might have been appointed in respect of yourselves. So that your fear, or your despondency, or your anxiety in circumstances of perplexity, or of peril, is nothing less than a call upon God to depart from his fixed course, --a suspicion, or rather an assertion, that he might proceed in a manner more worthy of himself, and therefore a challenge to him to alter his dealings, if he would prove that he possesses the attributes which he claims. You may not intend thus to accuse, or provoke God, whenever you murmur; but your murmuring does all this, and cannot fail to do it. You cannot be dissatisfied, without virtually saying that God might order things better; you cannot say that he might order things better, without virtually demanding that he change his course of acting, and give other proofs of his infinite perfections. And thus you tempt him, tempt him even as did the Israelites in the wilderness. Numbers 21:4+ Then they set out from Mount Hor by the way of the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; and the people became impatient because of the journey. 5 (THEY TESTED GOD) The people spoke against God (AND AGAINST CHRIST WHO WAS WITH THEM GIVING THEM FOOD AND WATER) and Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this miserable food.” 6 The LORD sent fiery serpents among the people and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died. 7 So the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned, because we have spoken against the LORD and you; intercede with the LORD, that He may remove the serpents from us.” And Moses interceded for the people. 8 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a standard; and it shall come about, that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, he will live.” 9 And Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on the standard; and it came about, that if a serpent bit any man, when he looked to the bronze serpent, he lived (NOTE - THEY WERE FIRST BITTEN. THEY COULD NOT AVOID THE BITE BY LOOKING, BUT ONLY AVOID THE DEATH BY LOOKING!). (IN Jn 3:14-15+ JESUS ALLUDED TO THIS OT INCIDENT AS A PICTURE OF HIS OFFERING FOR SIN - compare another "look" which saves for eternal death in Isaiah 45:22KJV [Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.], Isa 45:22KJV was the passage the Spirit used to save C H Spurgeon!) Bronze Serpent on Standard TRYING THE LORD MAY COME BACK TO BITE YOU! Nor let us (present tense - continually) try the Lord (Christos), as some of them did - Amplified = "try His patience, become a trial to Him, critically appraise Him, and exploit His goodness." Wuest = "Neither let us be putting the Lord to an all-out test, trying Him to the utmost, even as certain of them tried Him " The Greek text actually has Christos explaining what the NET, NLT, ESV, KJV, CSB, NRSV all translate it as "Christ" instead of "Lord." And it is surely no coincidence that this same verb for try is used to describe the devil tempting the God-Man Jesus in Mt. 4:7+ and Lk. 4:12+. It is as if when we try the Lord we are acting like the devil (or doing his work!) We find this sad scene in the book of Numbers where Moses records "The people spoke AGAINST God and Moses (DIRECT FRONTAL VERBAL ASSAULT OF BOTH GOD AND HIS REPRESENTATIVE!), “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we LOATHE (Hebrew = quts = deep emotional reaction issuing in a repulsion of object abhorred; Lxx = prosochthizo = angry, offended, extremely upset over something someone has done - in this case God and Moses!!!) this MISERABLE food (REFERRING TO GOD'S GRACIOUS PROVISION OF MANNA WHICH ASAPH CALLED "FOOD FROM HEAVEN" Ps 78:24+) .” (Nu 21:5+). Israel's problem was failure to be content with the gracious provision of Jehovah, even having the gall to refer to God's provision as MISERABLE (Hebrew word qeloqel means contemptible, worthless; Lxx = diakenos = quite empty, hollow, worthless, to no purpose)! Woe! I call that trying the LORD to the utmost! Their desire was solely to please themselves with no desire to please the Lord. Can believers still try God? Absolutely. Ananias and Sapphira tried it, in effect lying that they had given the entire amount of a property sale to God's church and He took both of their lives (Acts 5:3-4, 9+). (Why did God kill Ananias and Sapphira?) ESV Study Bible - Paul sees Christ as spiritually present with God’s people in OT times (see note on 1 Cor 10:3–4; cf. Jude 5). The Israelites tested Christ (“God” in Nu 21:5) by becoming “impatient” with his provision of water and food.
1 Coríntios 10
Barber - You may be going through a trial. You may be going through something that you feel like nobody could understand. The main tool of the devil is to isolate you to where you think that you are by yourself. Nobody else knows what you are going through. Well, I want you to know from this verse, you need to think again, because you are not going through anything that is not common to all men. There are different degrees and different times, and not every person faces every single temptation, but all men face the same kinds of temptations. Every man and woman alive struggles and falls to the same kinds of temptation. The word for “common” is the word anthropinos, which means that which belongs to man, that which all mankind can relate to. So, whatever it is you are dealing with, there is somebody else already dealing with the very same thing. You are not alone. It is not as if you have been singled out. All of us deal with the same kinds of temptation. Arnold - The word “temptation” in my opinion could be better translated “testing.” Paul’s encouragement is that our testings are not unique to us, for all men have testings. We are not the only ones going through a particular trial. Others have gone through it or are going through it so they can comfort us in that trial. Zodhiates - When the purpose of testing is for us to acquire experience, then God is the author. He is testing us to determine if we can handle greater responsibility. God considers testing necessary, not to lead us into an evil act, but to acquire experience and strength. If you have wondered why God has not entrusted you with greater responsibility, is it possible that you have tried to avoid His testing? Whenever Satan tests us, the word should be translated "tempts," because his purpose is to cause us to fail, to fall into sin. It is never God's desire to tempt us to sin, and for this reason the Lord taught us in His prayer to say, "Lead us not into temptation" (Matt. 6:13+). The word peirasmós here should be translated "testing." Usually we have the wrong perception of the necessity of testing by God. In our prayers we should be honest and confess our aversion to testing. In this life, both Christians and non-Christians come face to face with testings. For the non-Christians, testings become occasions to sin, but for Christians, they become occasions for training (paideia). Sometimes, though, the Christian feels the testings may be too severe and beyond his ability to bear. Paul had Christians in mind when he wrote our verse, "No testing has overtaken you." The "no" is expressed by the absolute negative ou (3756) in connection with the verb "overtaken" (perfect tense lambano], to take, seize, lay hold of, which has the idea of force or violence). Paul wants us to know that God has not allowed any believer to be tested beyond his ability to bear as His child. Implied also is the sense of surprise. (ED: WE CAN ALL IDENTIFY WITH THE "SURPRISE" ASPECT OF A TEST!) God recognizes, at all times, that we are only human and cannot endure testing beyond human ability (cf Heb 4:15+). Temptation (3986) (peirasmos from peirazo = to make trial of, try, tempt, prove in either a good or bad sense) describes first the idea of putting to the test and then refers to the tests or pressures that come in order to discover a person’s nature or the quality of some thing. Peirasmos connotes trouble or something that breaks the pattern of peace, comfort, joy, and happiness in someone’s life. Trials rightly faced are harmless and in fact beneficial to the saint as Peter (and James 1 explain), but wrongly met become temptations to evil as explained below. Think of yourself as a tube of "spiritual toothpaste". Pressure brings out what's really on the inside! The word came to signify intentional trying w. the purpose of discovering what of good and evil, or power or weakness, was in a person or thing. And God is faithful - He is trustworthy. He can be trusted in our test! See Faithfulness of God. In 1 Cor 1:9+ Paul wrote "God is faithful, through Whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord." (cf 2 Cor 1:18). Zodhiates - God never makes a mistake in His testing. He never allows it to be less than we need to encourage our growth nor more than we can bear. Arnold - Whatever the testing, struggle or trial, we Christians know God is faithful to His promises and character to see us through the trial. We may not always be faithful in the way we handle testing but God is always faithful. God is far more concerned about our spiritual growth than we are. Who will (absolutely) not allow (permit - eao) you to be tempted (tested - peirazo) beyond what you are able (dunamai) - This truth is evidence of God's faithfulness to His children. God may send the test or allow the test, but in either scenario is sovereignly in control of the test. As one has said, the tests God's children experience are "filtered" through His "hands" of love and mercy. Zodhiates on not allow you to be tempted - In Acts 16:7+, we find that both verbs peirazo, to test or try, and eao, to permit, are used. Speaking of the Apostle Paul and his companions, Luke says, "After they were come to Mysia, they attempted [imperfect tense of peirázō, to try, to attempt - again and again] to go into Bithynia: and the Spirit of Jesus did not permit (eao) them; [eíasen, the third person singular aorist active indicative of eáō, to permit]." Here Paul and his companions were trying to spread the Gospel to further areas of Asia. Although this was commendable, we find that the Holy Spirit did not permit them to do so. He placed limitations as to where they were to go and what they were to do. It is good to remember that while God limits the powers of those who would test us, He also places limitations on our own plans, even though we may think that what we are doing brings glory to God. God does not tempt us to sin. As James 1:13, 14+ says, "Let no man say when he is tempted, 'I am tempted of God': for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempts He any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed." That refers to both direct and indirect temptation. God only allows testing to come into our lives in order to strengthen us. A teacher or professor gives tests not only to determine what a person has learned, but to motivate him to deeper study and retention. Arnold - He will not let you be tempted (tested) beyond what you can bear. Every trial which comes our way as Christians is somehow in the sovereign will and control of God, and He will not allow that testing to ultimately destroy us. He may through testing bring us to breaking point but He will give grace in time of need. God knows how much testing we can handle and how much we cannot. He uses testings in our lives to develop our faith and Christian character. One of the basic principles of training athletes is to get them to perform beyond their natural capabilities. This is done by applying more and more controlled pressure so the athlete will think he can do more than he can actually do, and before long, he is doing it. This is what God does with us. He allows more and more pressure to be put on us to teach us to trust Him alone so the life of Christ can be manifested in us. He says He will never give us more pressure than we can handle. If you are under some pressure or trial and feel, "I can’t take it one second longer," I have good news for you. Yes you can, for God will not allow you to be tested above your ability to take it. GOD'S SURE WORD OF PROMISE but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it - Note it is not "a" way but "the way." The Greek conjunction for with is sun/syn which speaks of an intimate association. You say so what? The point is that "with" (sun/syn) the temptation "intimately" comes "the way of escape!" It is like a "horse and buggy" arrangement so to speak. God does not allow us to be tested without also "hooking" up the way of escape. The way of escape (ekbasis) describes a going out, as an exit from a house. Will be able is again dunamai which speaks of inherent ability that allows one to accomplish an end. In other words "The implied meaning is that with every test we pass through, God gives us the ability to emerge victorious, thus we progress in our Christian walk." (Zodhiates) Zodhiates adds that "every testing that God allows in our lives will have some result, some outcome which is related to the testing. It is to be noted that the word ékbasin in 1 Corinthians 10:13 has the definite article ("the" not "a") in front of it, "But will, together with the testing, provide the way out." He speaks here of the beneficence of every testing that He directs or permits in our lives." The Apostle does not promise that the Lord will spare us from testing and suffering. Every test has its corresponding way out and victory. The Apostle does not promise that the Lord will spare us from testing and suffering. Every test has its corresponding way out and victory. Christ did not suffer because of any sin of His own, but for our sins (2 Cor. 5:21). We, as His disciples, are never saved from suffering, but rejoice in suffering because Christ's strength is manifest in our suffering. If we are faithful to Him, we shall be partakers of His sufferings. Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 1:5 that "The sufferings of Christ abound in us." The Apostle Paul longed to know "the fellowship of His sufferings" (Phil. 3:10). God allows testing and suffering in our lives that we may share with Him in His glory (Rom. 8:17). "Insofar as you are partakers of Christ's sufferings, rejoice," Peter tells us (1 Pet. 4:13). A sure promise is that "if we endure [hupoménomen {5278}, to abide under, endure, an exact synonym of hupophérō], we shall also reign with Him" (2 Tim. 2:12). Testings are minor in the lives of slothful Christians, but in the lives that God intends to use greatly, He sends great testings. Play Don Moen's "God Will Make a (the) Way" Peter Grainger - "Paul has stressed the certainty of God’s judgment, whether on the people of Israel in the wilderness or the Christians in Corinth: anyone can fall. This could cause us to feel despondent—hopeless against temptations too strong for us. Paul responds by saying two things: (1) No Temptation Is Unique. Temptations or tests we face are not unique to us, but the same kind that all human beings face. That should be an encouragement to all of us, especially those who wrestle with secret sins that we are convinced are unique to us. (2) God Is Faithful. The word “way out” is used in the context of an individual or band of men that are encircled by a large force, so that it looks as though they will be overwhelmed. But then they spot a way out, a narrow mountain defile through which they can make an escape. (Learning from the Past). Zodhiates on endure it - The endurance level of every believer is known only to God, and we are assured that He will never allow us to be tested to the breaking point. Every test purposes to make us more dependable and firm in our faith. Larry Richards - Don’t think that God’s way out is all that hard to find, either. Paul summed it up in the next verse when he said, “Flee from idolatry.” Reformation Study Bible note - This well-known verse has provided great encouragement to Christians faced by temptations. At the same time, Paul’s words contain an implicit rebuke. If God keeps us from temptations greater than we can withstand, we cannot plead our temptations as an excuse for sinning. Sin is never a necessity for a believer. Brian Bell - [1] LIFE IS FULL OF TEMPTATIONS! (13a) 2. These are tests designed not to make us fall, but to test us, so we emerge stronger! 3. God will not remove from you the temptation that is common to all, because as Alan Redpath fitly said, “God has no pets!” 4. [2] THERE IS NO NEW TEMPTATION UNDER THE SUN! (13b) 5. They are common – Others have endured, others have come through it! 1. Certain party’s God won’t attend, & I believe one of them is a “Pity Party!” 6. Lightfoot (Bishop of Durham) was riding in a horse & carriage, on a very narrow mountain in Norway. It was so narrow it was only inches from the wheel to the edge. His friend riding w/ him said, “you’d be safer to get out & walk on this stretch.” Lightfoot surveyed the situation & said, “Other carriages have taken this road, Drive on!” 1. Other Christians have gone before you saints, whom were tempted in the same way & in the same things. [In the Greek...suck it up cupcake!] :) 7. [3] YOU ARE ABLE! (13c) 8. Not beyond what you are able - Not a moment longer…not a degree hotter than you can bear! (ED: AND ULTIMATELY WE ARE ABLE BECAUSE HE IS ABLE!) 9. [4] ALWAYS A WAY OUT! (13d) 10. Escape – The idea is an army apparently surrounded, & they’re suddenly seeing an escape route to safety. 11. There is no need to fall to temptations – There is a way out! 12. Check it out...Think of a temptation you’ve fallen to in the past. Wasn’t there an escape route? 13. [5] HE MAKES THE WAY! (13e) 14. Not by surrender –not by retreat – but the way of conquest is in the power of the Grace of God!!! – He enables you! 15. Sometimes the only way is to “run for your life”!…see vs.14. 1. Where should we flee? Into the arms of Jesus! 2. Remember - “When you flee from temptations, be sure you don’t leave a forwarding address behind!” 16. Spurgeon said (paraphrased), Live for Gods glory, if you do that, no testing can ever shake you! If it glorifies God for me to loose my property, I am no loser. I gave to God my goods years ago! If I am put in prison & have lost my liberty, I am no loser. I gave up my liberty years ago! If you are told you are going to die, you are no loser. For you gave Him your life years ago! 17. Old Indian Legend: Many years ago, Indian youths would go away in solitude to prepare for manhood. One such youth hiked into a beautiful valley, green with trees, bright with flowers. There he fasted. But on the third day, as he looked up at the surrounding mountains, he noticed one tall rugged peak, capped with dazzling snow. I will test myself against that mountain, he thought. He put on his buffalo-hide shirt, threw his blanket over his shoulders and set off to climb the peak. When he reached the top he stood on the rim of the world. He could see forever, and his heart swelled with pride. Then he heard a rustle at his feet, and looking down, he saw a snake. Before he could move, the snake spoke. “I am about to die,” said the snake. “It is too cold for me up here and I am freezing. There is no food and I am starving. Put me under your shirt and take me down to the valley.” “No,” said the youth. “I am forewarned. I know your kind. You are a rattlesnake. If I pick you up, you will bite, and your bite will kill me.” “Not so,” said the snake. “I will treat you differently. If you do this for me, you will be special. I will not harm you.” The youth resisted awhile, but this was a very persuasive snake with beautiful markings. At last the youth tucked it under his shirt and carried it down to the valley. There he laid it gently on the grass, when suddenly the snake coiled, rattled, and leapt, biting him on the leg. “But you promised...” cried the youth. “You knew what I was when you picked me up.” said the snake as it slithered away.” Don’t listen to your temptation. It will be very persuasive & have beautiful markings! Don’t listen! Hundred Years’ War - In 1346, during the Hundred Years’ War, the English army of King Edward III met a French battalion at Crecy, France. The King’s Son, Prince Edward, led one vital division of the British force while Edward III stood nearby with a strong band of soldiers, ready to send relief if he saw the need. Soon after the battle started the prince thought he was in danger, so he sent for help. But the king didn’t come. So young Edward sent another message, pleading for immediate assistance. His father responded by telling the courier, “Go tell my son that I am not so inexperienced a commander as not to know when help is needed, nor so careless a father as not to send it.” ILLUSTRATION - The Power of 1 Corinthians 10:13 - In his autobiography, Rebel with a Cause, Franklin Graham wrote that after he committed himself to Christ, he was surprised to find his taste for cigarettes was strong as ever. He determined to quit smoking, but three days later, he awoke with an absolutely overwhelming—almost terrifying—desire for a cigarette. I wanted to smoke so bad that I couldn’t think of anything else. It intensified with each passing minute. Throughout the day, the yearning for a cigarette grabbed me like the jaws of a junkyard dog. He finally shared his struggle with his friend Roy Gustafson. “Roy, I quit smoking, but I don’t think I can hold out. I just don’t think I have the power to say no any longer.” “Oh, you don’t, huh?” replied Roy, looking up from a hamburger. “Why don’t you just get down on your knees and tell God He’s a liar?” “What? I can’t do that!” Roy quoted 1 Corinthians 10:13 to him, then said, “You need to tell God He’s a liar. You claimed that verse and it didn’t work.” “I’m not going to call God a liar,” said Franklin. “Besides, I haven’t claimed that verse yet!” “You haven’t?” said Roy, sounding shocked. “Why don’t you, then?” Franklin did claim that verse. And it did work. Trying Not To! - “What are you doing, son?” the shopkeeper asked a little boy whose eyes were on a large basket of apples outside the storefront. “Trying to steal one of those apples?” “No sir,” replied the boy. “I’m trying not to.” You Don’t Have To Agree "My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not." Proverbs 1:10 Konosuke Matsushita, the founder of Panasonic, often told his employees this story to emphasize the vital importance of maintaining integrity: “In China's later Han era, there lived a politician called Yang Zhen, a man known for his upright character. After Yang Zhen was made a provincial governor, one of his earlier patrons, Wang Mi, paid him an unexpected visit. As they talked over old times, Wang Mi brought out a large gold cup and presented it to Yang Zhen. Yang Zhen refused to accept it, but Wang Mi persisted, saying, ‘There's no one here tonight but you and me, so no one will know.’ ‘You say that no one will know,’ Yang Zhen replied, ‘but that is not true. Heaven will know, and you and I will know too.’” When we are tempted to sin, we face a choice. Will we listen to the enticement and agree to go along with it, or will we stand firm for what is right? There will always be “reasons” we can use to convince ourselves why it is okay for us to do wrong—but any reasons that justify sin are short-sighted. If we allow ourselves to accept them, we will bear the consequences. Rather than trying to find a reason that will allow us to sin, we should instead search for God’s means of escape. Paul wrote, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:13). Sin is not an overpowering force. Through grace we have been given the means to resist temptation—but to overcome we must refuse to listen to those who would draw us astray. Growth Principle: Temptation to sin never overcomes us without our consent—there is a way to escape. Resisting Wrong "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." 1 Corinthians 10:13 We each face temptation every day. Sometimes it even seems as if there is no escape. Yet, Joseph in the Old Testament provides a sterling example for all of us. His purity, even in the face of great temptation, shows us how we can resist wrong and overcome temptation. Joseph refused to do wrong. Over and over he said "no" to Potiphar's wife. I Peter 5:8 says, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." Satan will not tempt you with sin just once; he will persistently and continually entice you, hoping that you will eventually fall. To resist wrong, you must continually say, "No!" Joseph set boundaries against wrong. Joseph knew his moral boundaries, and in Genesis 39:9 he told Potiphar's wife, "Neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife." No one but God would have known if Joseph yielded to temptation, but he resisted because he had pre-determined his boundaries. Don't wait until Satan tempts you to establish biblical boundaries. Rather set boundaries for your life before you are in the place of temptation. Joseph was conscious of God's presence. He viewed sin as a direct offense toward God. This is why he said, "...how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?" (Genesis 39:9). The best motivation for avoiding sin is realizing that sin is ultimately against God. Avoiding sin for your family or job is good, but avoiding sin for God is best! Joseph may have lost his coat, but he kept his character. You and I can likewise resist temptation by following Joseph's example. Growth Principle: Pinpoint the areas where you struggle, and purpose to resist temptation through God's strength. There Is an Exit There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry. 1 Corinthians 10:13–14 In 1994, a fire broke out at a club in Elizabeth, New Jersey. In the stampede to get away from the fire, four young people were trampled to death. The investigation revealed that the lighted sign over one of the two exits was not working at the time of the fire. Even worse, it was discovered that the exit door had been nailed shut—apparently to keep people from slipping in without paying. For those young people, there was no way of escape. When we are tempted and give in to sin, we sometimes look for someone else to blame. But every sin is our responsibility. James 1:14 says that each of us is led to temptation "by his own lust." There is always a way for us to escape; the door is never nailed shut. But sometimes we don’t really want to take that escape. Someone said, “The hard part of resisting temptation is that we don’t want to discourage it completely.” Playing with sin is one of the most dangerous things we can ever do. Instead of seeing how close we can get to the fire without being burned, the Bible instructs us, "flee also youthful lusts" (2 Timothy 2:22). God places the responsibility for escape on us because He provides the way to escape. Next time you find yourself in a moment of temptation, remember that God provides the way for escape, and quickly flee before you find yourself trapped in sin. Growth Principle: God provides a way of escape, but we must choose to walk through the exit door. Consider the Sparrows “Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.” Luke 12:6–7 George Müller was a man of great faith. For many years, he operated orphanages that cared for thousands of children. The work was completely supported by prayer. Müller did not believe in asking people to give money—so much so that on more than one occasion when people asked him what needs the orphanage had, he would tell them, “I told God what we need. Ask Him what you should do.” Müller carried a great weight of responsibility, but he did not bear it alone. On his desk Müller kept a frame with this declaration: It matters to Him about you. The devil lies and tells us that God does not care about our situation. When we stop and think that there are some seven billion people living on earth, it is easy to feel like our lives may not attract God’s attention. But in reality, He knows exactly where we are and everything about us—even the number of hairs on our heads. This is the God whose knowledge and wisdom is so infinite that He even keeps track of the most insignificant birds, and He loves us far more than the sparrows. God never loses sight of us, or forgets what we are experiencing in our lives. When He does allow things to come into our lives that are painful and difficult, He measures carefully what we are able to bear. “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:13). Growth Principle: Rejoice today in God’s knowledge and love for you right where you are. The Source of Deliverance “But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.” Romans 7:23–25 In his poem Aeneid, which details the mythical life of the founder of Rome, Virgil described a cruel and wicked tyrant named King Mezentius who opposed the hero Aeneas. Among the evidences given for his harshness was his practice of tying corpses to those whom he wished to execute but did not wish for them to die quickly. Mezentius’ victims were condemned to carry the dead body around with them until the decay spread and killed them as well. That is something like the image that Paul uses in describing the old nature that remains with us even after we are saved. While we are given a new nature and a new father, the old remains. Paul described his own struggle with doing what was right: “For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do” (Romans 7:19). The body of death, the sin nature, will never leave us until we reach Heaven. The difference, however, between our experience and King Mezentius’ victims is that we are not doomed to continually fall into sin; in fact, we are destined to victory. God is our deliverer. Ultimately, we will be freed from sin when we are in His presence. In the meantime, He is always faithful when we seek His help: “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:13). Growth Principle: If we seek God’s way of escape and live in the power of His Spirit, we can defeat temptation. The Snare of Self-Reliance “Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” 1 Corinthians 10:11–13 Heavyweight boxer James “Quick” Tillis grew up in a poor family in Oklahoma. When he began his professional boxing career, he decided to move to Chicago where he would have better training and publicity opportunities. In the personal account of his life, Tillis wrote, “I got off the bus with two suitcases under my arms in downtown Chicago and stopped in front of the Sears Tower. I put my suitcases down, and I looked up at the Tower and I said to myself, ‘I am going to conquer Chicago.’ When I looked down, the suitcases were gone!” All of us are tempted to rely on ourselves—to think that we have things together and can make it on our own. That is never true. In fact, it is when we are most self-confident and self-reliant that we are in the greatest danger of failure. The battles we face cannot be won in our own strength. Even the archangel Michael relied on God’s strength rather than his own when confronting Satan. “Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee” (Jude 1:9). God calls us to be victorious, but it is His power that wins the battles, not ours. When our focus is on ourselves and what we can do, we are in a dangerous place. Growth Principle: The more thoroughly we humbly depend on God, the more protected we are from temptation and sin. John Bennett - GOD’S WAY OF ESCAPE This promise comes in the midst of an extended discussion about things offered to idols in chapters 8–10. Paul begins by setting forth an important principle, namely the balance between love and knowledge, 1 Cor. 8:1–3. He does not devalue knowledge, but he sets forth the priority of love in our dealings with those who may lack knowledge. How vital this reminder is for us today when dealing with fellow Christians. In chapter 10 he looks back at the history of the nation of Israel and notes that many of them failed, vv. 1–4. God recorded these examples for our instruction and warning, for, although what we face in our technologically advanced 21st century may be different in style, it is not different in substance from what others faced before us. What temptation will come your way today? Lust? Doubt? Murmuring? Pride? Anger? Paul warns us that if we think we are strong we are deceiving ourselves, 10:12. We must be on our guard for we are all weak, and must depend on God’s provision for our victory over temptation. There are times when we must flee, 6:18, and there are times when we must stand and fight, Eph. 6:13. Whatever God permits into our life today, He knows us to be capable of handling. God will not tempt us to sin, but He may permit trials or hardships or deprivations or difficulties to test our faith and to strengthen us. Moses taught the Israelites that while in part their wilderness wanderings were the result of their rebellion and lack of faith, God also used them to teach them humility, to test their sincerity, and to teach them dependence on Him, Deut. 8:2–5. So, whatever temptation you may face today, be assured that you are able to bear it. You may not feel like it. You may feel weak and inadequate but God’s promise is sure, His protection is strong, and His provision is sufficient. He has provided us with Himself as our Shield, His Spirit as our Comforter, His Son as our Advocate, His word as our resource, and His people as our companions. Claim God’s promise today. There is a way of escape. A man had a sign on his door which said, “Lead me not into temptation, I can find it for myself.” We can all make that statement. Temptation will make itself known on a daily basis. Temptation is like the Turkish Delight candy in C. S. Lewis’ The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. One boy found it irresistible. The more he ate, the more he wanted, but the less he liked it. Martin Luther said something related to temptations, “You can’t keep the birds from flying overhead, but you can keep them from building a nest in your hair.” Ancient mythology tells of the sirens’ call (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siren_(mythology) ). They were beautiful sea maidens who enticed a ship to sail close by singing a beautiful song. The ship would then wreck on the rocks. Many a soul has been lured to ruin by what at first seemed beautiful. Way Out God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape. — 1 Corinthians 10:13 While in London recently, I decided to take the underground train to my destination. So I paid my fare and descended into the depths of London to catch my train. But getting out of the station can be a scary experience for someone who is unfamiliar with the system. If you don’t find the exit, you can quickly get lost in the tunnels. Being alone in a sparsely populated underground tunnel is an unsettling feeling, so believe me, you don’t want to get lost. Needless to say, I was glad when I spotted the sign that says, “WAY OUT” and followed it to safety. Lord, keep us mindful that Your presence with us in times of temptation means that we need not fall. Give us the desire to seek Your way out so we can know the joy of living a life that is pleasing to You. God is actively working to keep you from the danger of getting lost in sin. Struggling With Addiction God is faithful. —1 Corinthians 10:13 Read: Hebrews 4:14-16 Eric was struggling with an addiction, and he knew it. His friends and family members encouraged him to stop. He agreed that it would be best for his health and relationships, but he felt helpless. When others told him how they had quit their bad habits, he replied, “I’m happy for you, but I can’t seem to stop! I wish I had never been tempted in the first place. I want God to take the desire away right now.” Immediate deliverance may happen for some, but most face a daily battle. While we don’t always understand why the temptation doesn’t go away, we can turn to God on whatever path we find ourselves. And perhaps that is the most important part of our struggle. We learn to exchange our futile efforts to change for complete dependence on God. Jesus was tempted also, just as we are, so He understands what we’re feeling (Mark 1:13). He sympathizes with our struggles (Heb. 4:15), and we can “come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (v.16). He also uses others, including trained professionals, to lean on along the way. For Further Thought Read Matthew 4:1-11 (see commentary) about how Jesus handled temptations. Also read 1 Corinthians 10:11-13 to learn how He can help us when we are tempted. We are not tempted because we are evil; we are tempted because we are human. When we recognize the ugliness of temptations, we will be better able to resist them. Someone wrote, "If only I could see my temptations as I see other people's, they wouldn't be a bit hard to fight. Other people's temptations look so ugly and foolish. But my own temptations come with a rosy light about them so that I don't see how hateful they are until afterward. There are two ways to see temptations in their true colors. One is to pray about them and thus bring them into the clear light of God's presence. The other is to say, `How would this look if someone else yielded to it?" To the one being tempted, enticement to sin may be appealing. But if we yield, we start down a path of self-destruction. In Matthew 4, the first temptation Satan presented to Christ seemed harmless. He tempted Jesus to satisfy His hunger. Then he posed another concerning God's protection. In the third, he openly requested Christ to worship him. But the Savior saw Satan's true intent—to divert Him from going to Calvary and thus prevent Him from paying sin's penalty. Christ met every appeal by quoting the Scriptures. Jesus was saying to Satan, "I am living under the authority of My Father and His Word." If we know God's Word, which is the sword of the Spirit, and understand how to wield it, we too can be victorious over Satan. To resist temptation, we must be strong in the Lord, filled with His Spirit, and quick to recognize the ugliness of sin. —R.W.D. If you want to master temptation, let Christ master you. YIELD NOT TO TEMPTATION (Play Hymn) Yield not to temptation, for yielding is sin; Each victory will help you some other to win; Fight manfully onward, dark passions subdue, Look ever to Jesus, He’ll carry you through. Refrain Shun evil companions, bad language disdain, God’s Name hold in reverence, nor take it in vain; Be thoughtful and earnest, kindhearted and true, Look ever to Jesus, He’ll carry you through. Refrain To him that o’ercometh, God giveth a crown; Through faith we shall conquer, though often cast down; He Who is our Savior our strength will renew; Look ever to Jesus, He’ll carry you through. Refrain Ask the Savior to help you, Comfort, strengthen and keep you; He is willing to aid you, He will carry you through. Don Fortner - Grace for Today 1. The temptations we suffer have been endured by others before us. ‘There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man.’ All of God’s children in this world have had to face the same temptations as we face. They were men of like passions as we are. If they endured them, we should be able to endure them. Our Lord Jesus Christ, the God-man, endured the same temptations as we do. Because he was tempted in all points like as we are, yet without sin, he is touched with the feeling of our infirmities. It is comforting to me to know that my Savior really does know exactly what I am going through and how I feel. He will never call upon us to endure anything for him that he has not already endured for us. 2. God is faithful to his tempted people. ‘God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.’ Our God and heavenly Father rules this world with total control. Nothing happens except that which God has ordained for our good and his glory, even our temptations. And God will never allow us to be tempted above measure. In great faithfulness to our souls God graciously protects his own elect. With every temptation, God will give his own grace sufficient to bear it. Or else, he will make for us a way of escape, so that we shall not be consumed by it. He promises: ‘My grace is sufficient for the’ (2 Cor. 12:9). 3. Every true believer will endure and overcome his temptations. Because God is faithful, none of his own elect will ever be destroyed by temptation. We all do fall, from time to time, under the strain of temptation, but we are not consumed, His grace raises us up, strengthens us and preserves us. True faith cannot be destroyed, but only proved and refined by temptation. ‘Because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world’ (1 John 4:4). ‘Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried [having been proved] he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him’ (James 1:12). TEMPTATIONS William Gurnall "No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it." 1 Corinthians 10:13 The Devil's dupes. Many have yielded to go a mile with Satan, who never intended to go two. Thus Satan leads poor creatures down into the depths of sin by winding stairs, that let them not see the bottom where they are going. First, he presents an object that occasions some thoughts, these set the affections on fire, and these fume up into the brain and cloud the understanding, which, being thus disabled, now Satan dares a little more declare himself, and boldly solicit the creature to that it would otherwise have defied. Give no place to Satan! no, not an inch in his first motions! He who is a beggar, and a modest one without doors, will command the house if let in. The devil teaches sinners to cover foul practices with fair names: superstition, must be called devotion; covetousness, must be called thrift; pride in apparel, must be called keeping up with the times; looseness, must be called liberty; and foolishness, must be called mirth. The Devil's wiles. Satan makes choice of such as have a great name for holiness. None like a live bird, to draw other birds into the net. Abraham tempts his wife to lie: "Say you are my sister." The old prophet leads the man of God out of his way (1 Kings 13). Under the skirt of Christian liberty, Satan conveys in libertinism; by crying up the Spirit — he decries and vilifies the Scripture; by magnifying faith — he labors to undermine repentance and blow up good works. If Satan gets into your spirit and defiles it, O, how hard will you find it to stay there? You have already sipped of his broth, and now are more likely to sit down and make your full meal of that, which by tasting has vitiated your palate already! When you hear one commend another for a wise or good man, and at last come in with a "but" that dashes all, you will easily think he is no friend to the man — but some sly enemy, that by seeming to commend, desires to disgrace the more. Thus, when you find God represented to you as merciful and gracious — but not to such a great sinner as you; to have power and strength — but not able to save you; you may say, Avaunt, Satan, your speech betrays you. When the flesh or Satan beg time of you, it is to steal time from you. They put you off prayer at one time, to shut you out at last from prayer at any time. What day in all the year is inconvenient to Satan? What place or company are you in — that he cannot make a snare for your soul? Satan knows what order you keep in your house and closet; and though he has not a key to your heart — yet he can stand in the next room to it, and lightly hear what is whispered there. If once he does but smell which way your heart inclines, he knows how to take the hint; if but one door is unbolted, here is advantage enough. The occasion of temptation. The least passage of your life may prove an occasion of sin to you — at what a little wicket many times a great sin enters! David's eye did but casually alight on Bathsheba, and the good man's foot was presently in the devil's trap! Have you not then need to pray that God would set a guard about your senses wherever you go, and to cry with him, "Keep back my eyes from beholding vanity!" It should be our care, if we would not yield to the sin — not to walk by, or sit at the door of the occasion — parley not with that in your thoughts, which you mean not to let into your heart. If we mean not to be burnt, let us not walk upon the coals of temptation. You tempt God to allow your locks to be cut, when you are so bold as to lay your head in the lap of a temptation. Set a strong guard about your outward senses: these are Satan's landing-places, especially the eye and the ear. Take heed what you import at these. Vain discourse seldom passes without leaving some tincture of vanity upon the heart. And for your eye, let it not wander; wanton objects cause wanton thoughts. Job knew his eye and his thoughts were likely to go together, and therefore to secure one — he covenants with the other (Job 31:1). The handle of Satan's hatchet, with which he lies chopping at the root of the Christian's comfort, is commonly made of the Christian's wood. Satan is but a creature, and cannot work without tools; he can indeed make much of little — but not anything of nothing, as we see in his assaulting of Christ, where he troubled himself to little purpose, because he came and found nothing in Him (John 14:30). Be sure you are watchful more than ordinary over yourself, in those things where you find yourself weakest and have been oftenest foiled. The weakest part of a city, needs the strongest guard. The devil would tempt Christ, when he "showed Him all the kingdoms of the world," and promised them all unto Him, if He would "fall down and worship Him." Everyone that by unrighteousness seeks the world's pelf, goes to the devil for it, and worships him in effect. How much better it is to have poverty from God — than riches from the devil! A temptation comes strong, when the way to relief seems to lie through the sin that Satan is wooing to. When one is poor, and Satan comes, "What, will starve rather than step over the hedge, and steal for your supply?" This is enough to put flesh and blood to the stand. Deliverance from temptation. What says your soul, when God hedges up your way, and keeps you from that sin which Satan has been soliciting for? If on Christ's side, you will rejoice when you are delivered out of a temptation, though it is by falling into an affliction. Christian, it is ill done of you to make a breach in your holy course, by tampering with any sin; but you will commit a greater offense, if you turn your back on God also when you should humble yourself for your former sin. You have fallen into sin in the day, will you not, therefore, pray at night? Take heed you run not farther into temptation. Now is the time for the devil to set upon you — when the weapon of prayer is out of your hand. The best you can look for, is a storm from God to bring you back again, and the sooner it comes the more merciful He is to you. "Watch and pray," says our Savior, "that you enter not into temptation" (Matthew 26:41). They, not keeping this pass, gave the enemy, Satan, a fair occasion to come in upon them; and as they were led into temptation by neglect of prayer — so they were rescued and led out of it again by Christ's prayer, which He mercifully laid in beforehand for them: "I have prayed for you, that your faith fail not." Let this encourage you, O Christian, in your conflict with Satan; the skirmish may be sharp — but it cannot be long. The cloud, while it drops, is rolling over your head, and then comes fair weather, and eternal sunshine of glory! You cannot be long off your watch — but the devil will hear on it. The devil knew the apostle's sleeping time, and then he desires permission to winnow them (Luke 22). The thief rises — when honest men go to bed. The devil begins to tempt — when saints cease to watch. The saint's sleeping time — is Satan's tempting time. Every fly dares venture to creep on a sleeping lion. No temptation so weak, but is strong enough to foil a Christian that is napping in carnal security. Samson sleeps — and Delilah cut his locks. Saul sleeps — and the spear is taken away from his very side, and he never the wiser. Noah sleeps — and his graceless son has a fit time to discover his father's nakedness. Eutychus sleeps — nods, and falls from the third loft, and is taken up for dead. The Christian asleep, may soon — lose his spiritual strength, be robbed of his spear, and his nakedness discovered by graceless men, to the shame of his profession. Yes, he may fall from a high loft of profession, so low, into scandalous practices — that others may question whether there is any life of grace in him. The Christian's safety lies in resisting. All the armor provided is to defend the Christian fighting — none to secure him flying. Stand — and the day is ours; fly, or yield — and all is lost. 1 Corinthians 10:14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. Amplified Therefore, my dearly beloved, shun (keep clear away from, avoid by flight if need be) any sort of idolatry (of loving or venerating anything more than God). Wuest Wherefore, my beloved ones, be fleeing from the idolatry. (Eerdmans Publishing - used by permission) NET 1 Corinthians 10:14 So then, my dear friends, flee from idolatry. NLT 1 Corinthians 10:14 So, my dear friends, flee from the worship of idols. ESV 1 Corinthians 10:14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. NIV 1 Corinthians 10:14 Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry. GNT 1 Corinthians 10:14 Διόπερ, ἀγαπητοί μου, φεύγετε ἀπὸ τῆς εἰδωλολατρίας. KJV 1 Corinthians 10:14 Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry. YLT 1 Corinthians 10:14 Wherefore, my beloved, flee from the idolatry; ASV 1 Corinthians 10:14 Wherefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. CSB 1 Corinthians 10:14 Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry. MIT 1 Corinthians 10:14 Therefore, my loved ones, make fast tracks away from idolatry. NKJ 1 Corinthians 10:14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. NRS 1 Corinthians 10:14 Therefore, my dear friends, flee from the worship of idols. NAB 1 Corinthians 10:14 Therefore, my beloved, avoid idolatry. NJB 1 Corinthians 10:14 For that reason, my dear friends, have nothing to do with the worship of false gods. GWN 1 Corinthians 10:14 Therefore, my dear friends, get as far away from the worship of false gods as you can. BBE 1 Corinthians 10:14 For this cause, my dear brothers, give no worship to false gods. my: Ro 12:19 2Co 7:1 11:11 12:15,19 Php 4:1 Philemon 1:1 1Pe 2:11 flee: 1Co 10:7,20,21 2Co 6:17 1Jn 5:21 Rev 2:14 13:8 21:8 22:15 1 Corinthians 10 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: 1 Cor 6:18 - see commentary - Flee (present imperative calling for us to continually depend on the Holy Spirit to obey) immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body. 1 Timothy 6:11+ But flee (present imperative calling for us to continually depend on the Holy Spirit to obey) from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness. 2 Timothy 2:22+ (DON'T JUST FLEE THE BAD!) Now flee (present imperative calling for us to continually depend on the Holy Spirit to obey) from youthful lusts and pursue (present imperative calling for us to continually depend on the Holy Spirit to obey) righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. 1 John 5:21+ Little children, guard (aorist imperative see need to depend on the Holy Spirit to obey) yourselves from idols. Isaiah 48:11 “For My own sake, for My own sake, I will act; For how can My name be profaned? And My glory I will not give to another. (IDOLATRY "STEALS" GOD'S GLORY) Exodus 34:13-15+ “But rather, you are to tear down their altars and smash their sacred pillars and cut down their Asherim 14 –for you shall not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous (qanna), is a jealous (qanna) God–15 otherwise you might make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land and they would play the harlot with their gods and sacrifice to their gods, and someone might invite you to eat of his sacrifice, Comment - God in His righteous jealous will not tolerate the worship of any other so-called God. This truth alone is a good reason to flee idolatry! Exodus 20:3-6+ “You shall have no other gods before Me. 4“You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. 5“You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me, 6 but showing lovingkindness to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments. Deuteronomy 4:14–19, The LORD commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and judgments, that you might perform them in the land where you are going over to possess it. 15 “So watch yourselves carefully, since you did not see any form (NO IMAGE) on the day the LORD spoke to you at Horeb from the midst of the fire, 16 (PURPOSE OF NEED TO BE ON GUARD) so that you do not act corruptly and make a graven image for yourselves in the form of any figure, the likeness of male or female, 17 the likeness of any animal that is on the earth, the likeness of any winged bird that flies in the sky, 18 the likeness of anything that creeps on the ground, the likeness of any fish that is in the water below the earth. (EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED IN Romans 1:23- see Romans below) 19 “And beware not to lift up your eyes to heaven and see the sun and the moon and the stars, all the host of heaven, and be drawn away and worship them and serve them, those which the LORD your God has allotted to all the peoples under the whole heaven. Revelation 21:8+ “But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” Revelation 22:15+ Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers and the immoral persons and the murderers and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying. Comment - Note again the close association of immorality and idolatry. FLEE IDOLATRY! In 1 Cor 10:14-22 Paul will explain to the Corinthians why the sin of idolatry is so abhorrent to God. Therefore - A term of conclusion. Paul has described the example of the Israelites falling quickly into idolatry after deliverance from bondage in Egypt and paying a dear price for their sin. In light of these truths, Paul has a one word conclusion - FLEE! Flee don't flirt! Don't think "I've got this one! I can handle it!" No you cannot handle it. Only the Spirit of the living God can handle it and the first instruction He gives you through Paul is FLEE! My beloved (agapetos) - Agapetos could be translated “divinely loved ones.” Paul loves them dearly and this manner of address indicates he is speaking gently but firmly as a father to his dear spiritual children in Corinth (cf 1 Cor 4:15+). Beloved (27)(agapetos from agapao = to love, agape = unconditional love borne by Spirit - Gal 5:22+) means beloved, dear, very much loved. Agapetos describes the love of another which is called out of the "giver's" heart by preciousness of the recipient of the love (the "beloved'). Agapetos is used only of Christians united (by covenant, the New Covenant) with God and/or with each other in love. Agapetos describes "one who is in a very special relationship with another" and in secular Greek is used mostly of a child, especially an only child to whom all the love of his parents is given (cf use by the Father describing His only Son and Abraham describing his "only son" in Ge 22:2). Beloved is a term of endearment and is someone that you love, and someone you are deeply devoted to. In the context of the New Testament agape love speaks of God’s divine and infinite love, a love that seeks the ultimate spiritual welfare of the one loved. Agapetos in the Corinthian letters - 1 Cor 4:14+; 1 Co. 4:17+; 1 Co. 10:14; 1 Co. 15:58; 2 Co. 7:1; 2 Co. 12:19 Brian Bell quips on the command to Flee from idolatry "I think of a flea that can jump 7” high and 13” forward or some 200x’s its bodies length! (ED: "JUMP LIKE A FLEA" WHEN CONFRONTED WITH IDOLATRY!) Flee from idolatry - Flee is not a suggestion but a command in present imperative calling for us to continually depend on the Holy Spirit to obey. This is the second "Flee Command" in this letter, the first being to "Flee Immorality" (also present imperative) (1 Cor 6:18+), which is more than a coincidence. Why do I say that? If you scan the Scriptures, you will find that immorality is often closely linked with idolatry (e.g., in the OT read Nu 25:1-3+ = "When Israel lived in Shittim, the people began to commit sexual immorality with the daughters of Moab. These women invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods; then the people ate and bowed down to their gods.Nu 25:1-2NET, in the NT read Rev 2:20+ = "they commit acts of immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols." ) Idolatry puts something else in place of God and immorality puts self in place of God. Instead of seeking to please God the immoral man or woman in effect worships (commits idolatry) at their own little shrine (their own body) by committing sexual immorality. (See excerpt below) An idol is anything we love more than Christ. Idolatry can and will disqualify us! John