Articles and Notes
1 Corinthians 10
Chapter Ten
OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS CHAPTER
1) To realize the possibility of apostasy
2) To appreciate the help of God in times of temptation
3) To understand the importance of properly applying the principle of
expediency
SUMMARY
In this chapter Paul brings to a conclusion his discussion concerning
things offered to idols. Reminding them about the example of Israel's
apostasy and the danger of their own, he commands them to "flee
idolatry" (1-14). He describes the communal implications of religious
feasts and warns against provoking the Lord to jealousy by having
fellowship with demons (15-22). This is probably a rebuke to the sort
of practice alluded to in chapter 8, verse 10, where some at the church
in Corinth thought nothing of eating sacrificial meat even in an idol's
temple! He closes by giving specific instructions concerning meat that
was later sold in the market place, or offered at the dinner of an
unbeliever to which they might be invited; that they not be concerned
unless someone specifically associates it with having been offered to
an idol, and then to refrain out of consideration for the other's
conscience (23-30). An overriding principle? Do all to the glory of
God, and provide no occasion for others to stumble (31-32). In other
words, imitate Paul, who sought to save others just as Christ did (33-11:1).
OUTLINE
I. EXAMPLES OF ISRAEL'S APOSTASY (1-14)
A. APOSTASY IN SPITE OF BLESSINGS (1-5)
1. Blessings received in the crossing of the Red Sea (1-2)
2. Blessings received as they sojourned in the wilderness (3-4)
3. Still, with most of them God was not pleased, and they died in
the wilderness (5)
B. THE EXAMPLE OF ISRAEL SHOULD SERVE TO WARN CHRISTIANS (6-14)
1. Their example of apostasy to warn us (6)
a. Not to become idolaters (7)
b. Not to commit sexual immorality (8)
c. Not to tempt Christ (9)
d. Not to murmur (10)
2. Their history recorded to admonish us (11)
a. For we can just as easily fall (12)
b. Though God is faithful to provide help in dealing with
temptation (13)
3. Therefore, flee from idolatry! (14)
II. RELIGIOUS FEASTS AND THEIR COMMUNAL IMPLICATIONS (15-22)
A. THE EXAMPLE OF THE LORD'S SUPPER AND THE SACRIFICES OF ISRAEL
(15-18)
1. Paul speaks as to those capable of making wise judgments (15)
2. Partaking of the Lord's Supper is a communion of the Lord's
body and blood (16-17)
3. The priests of Israel who ate the sacrifices were sharing in
the services offered on the altar (18)
B. APPLIED TO THINGS SACRIFICED TO IDOLS (19-22)
1. Not to say that an idol is anything, nor that which is offered
to the idol (19)
2. But those who offer the sacrifices do so to demons, not God;
and Paul would not want them to have fellowship with demons
(20)
3. They cannot eat and drink at the Lord's table and then do the
same at the tables of demons (21)
4. Such would provoke the Lord to jealousy (22)
III. CONCLUSION REGARDING THINGS SACRIFICED TO IDOLS (23-11:1)
A. SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS (23-30)
1. Seek for those things that are helpful, being considerate of
the well-being of others (23-24)
2. Concerning things sold in the market, eat without question
(25-26)
3. When you are invited to a dinner with an unbeliever (27-30)
a. Eat what is set before you, asking no question for
conscience's sake (27)
b. But if someone should point out that the food had been
offered to an idol, don't eat (28-30)
1) For the sake of the one who pointed it out (28a)
2) For the sake of another's conscience (28b)
a) Lest your liberty be judged (condemned?) by the
other's conscience (29)
b) Lest you be evil spoken of concerning that for which
you gave thanks (30)
B. GENERAL PRINCIPLES (31-11:1)
1. Whatever you do, do all to the glory to God (31)
2. Give no offense to Jews, Greeks, or the church of God (32)
3. Just as Paul sought to please others rather than himself, that
others may be saved (33)
4. Imitate him, as he imitated Christ (11:1)
REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE CHAPTER
1) List the main points of this chapter
- Examples Of Israel's Apostasy (1-14)
- Religious Feasts And Their Communal Implications (15-22)
- Conclusion Regarding Things Sacrificed To Idols (23-11:1)
2) What Old Testament account illustrates the possibility of apostasy?
(1-11)
- The exodus and wilderness wanderings of the Israelites
3) What attitude is most likely to precede one's fall? (12)
- Thinking that by standing there is no danger of falling
4) What promises do we have that should encourage us in times of temptation? (13)
- That God will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we are able to bear
- That He will provide a way of escape to bear it
5) What is the Lord's Supper according to verse 16?
- A communion (or sharing) of the body and blood of the Lord
6) What does partaking of the one bread demonstrate? (17)
- That we are one body
7) In considering a matter, what must be considered besides its
lawfulness? (23-24)
- Is it helpful; does it edify one another
8) To whom are we to give no offense (an occasion of stumbling)? (32)
- Jews, Greeks, the church of God
1 Corinthians 10 (NASB)
Old Testament examples
[1Co 10:1-33 NASB] 1 For I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea; 2 and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3 and all ate the same spiritual food; 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ. 5 Nevertheless, with most of them God was not well-pleased; for they were laid low in the wilderness. 6 Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as they also craved. 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." 8 Nor let us act immorally, as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in one day. 9 Nor let us try the Lord, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the serpents. 10 Nor grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer. 11 Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. 12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall. 13 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.
Flee from idolatry
14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. 15 I speak as to wise men; you judge what I say. 16 Is not the cup of blessing which we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is not the bread which we break a sharing in the body of Christ? 17 Since there is one bread, we who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one bread. 18 Look at the nation Israel; are not those who eat the sacrifices sharers in the altar? 19 What do I mean then? That a thing sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? 20 [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. 22 Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? We are not stronger than He, are we?
All the glory to God
23 All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things edify. 24 Let no one seek his own [good,] but that of his neighbor. 25 Eat anything that is sold in the meat market without asking questions for conscience' sake; 26 FOR THE EARTH IS THE LORD'S, AND ALL IT CONTAINS. 27 If one of the unbelievers invites you and you want to go, eat anything that is set before you without asking questions for conscience' sake. 28 But if anyone says to you, "This is meat sacrificed to idols," do not eat [it,] for the sake of the one who informed [you,] and for conscience' sake; 29 I mean not your own conscience, but the other [man's;] for why is my freedom judged by another's conscience? 30 If I partake with thankfulness, why am I slandered concerning that for which I give thanks? 31 Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give no offense either to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God; 33 just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit but the [profit] of the many, so that they may be saved.
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“Bridging the Generation Gap”
Part 1- We’re Not That Different- vs 1-4
introduction
In this passage, we see how that whether you’re young or old, we’re not that different.
- We all have god’s vs. 1a
- for Israel
- our…
Cf. Luke 1:79; 1 Pet. 1:5
- we all experience vs. 1b
- The red sea crossing
Cf. Ex. 14:21-28
- Our _________________ ____________________
Cf. Heb. 2:14-15; Gal. 1:4
iii. We all have a vs. 2
- Israel had _____________________
Cf. Ex. 14:31; John 5:45
- Our head is Jesus
Cf. Matt. 12:21; Eph. 1:12; 1 Cor. 12:13; Eph. 1:22
- we all have vs. 3
- Israel had heavenly food
Cf. John 6:31; Num. 11:31-34
- Our spiritual food
Cf. John 6:31-35a
- we all have vs. 4
- israel had heavenly water
Cf. Ex. 17:1-7; Num. 20:1-13
- our spiritual water
Cf. John 4:10-14; John 6:35b
conclusion
How do we bridge the generation gap?
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Freedom in real life vs 25-30
Introduction
Freedom of choice needs to be closely monitored
1. Freedom of choice the home vs 25-26
A. Hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil
1 cor 8:7-13
7 However, [there is] not in everyone that knowledge; for some, with consciousness of the idol, until now eat [it] as a thing offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. 8 But food does not commend us to God; for neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we do not eat are we the worse. 9 But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak. 10 For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol's temple, will not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things offered to idols? 11 And because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? 12 But when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.
B: OT truth
Psalm 24:1
1 A Psalm of David. The earth is the LORD'S, and all it contains, The world, and those who dwell in it.
II> Freedom of choice the home vs 27-30
A. It's ok to eat with
B. When we need to be concerned
1 Cor 8:12
12 But when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.
C. When we don't need to be concerned
Conclusion
What are some of the principles here?
1.
2.
3.
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