First Corinthians Chapter 10
Originally posted
First Corinthians Chapter
10:1-22 Warnings from Israel's History
Paul
has previously written regarding sexual immorality and idolatry as the two
practices barring entry into God's kingdom. In this passage he revisits both
issues with Israel's desert experience as background and warning. That Paul
revisits these evils again demonstrates the concerns raised in his comments on
food sacrificed to idols (8:1-13) and
his mini essay on marriage and the dangers of unchecked passions (7:1-2). His reflection on Israel's
experience serves two purposes. He can point to the Sinai event as an example
of the two acts of disobedience (immorality and idolatry) and the tragic outcome
among the Israelites. This also demonstrates how he
interprets the Old Testament stories both as historical warnings of the
outcome of disobedience and as ancient texts written for the benefit of
Christians, "as examples for us."
The
Israelites were all "under the cloud and passed through the sea"
(Exod. 13:21; 14:22 - the
pillar of the cloud in which God guided them). They were baptized into
Moses in the cloud and in the sea - the giving of the commandments as a
collective term for the entire law, They ate spiritual food (Deut. 8:3 Manna) and drank
spiritual drink (Num. 20:9-11 from
the rock). Paul identifies the rock which gives spiritual drink with
Christ (as spiritually present). We recall a similar Christological
idea in John 8:58, "I
tell you, before Abraham was, I AM," which
is a post-resurrection witness to the pre-existence of Christ. Paul takes
this to mean that the spiritual food given through the Spirit to the
Corinthians is the same as that given to the Israelites. This spiritual food is
revelatory teaching against sexual immorality and idolatry, two flagrant acts
of defiance of the law by Israel and two threats to the Corinthians.
Paul
tells the story of God's anger against Israel's disobedience - Aaron fashioning
the golden calf (Exod. 32:1-4 idolatry)
and the people "[rising] up to play" (Exod. 32:5-6 sexual immorality). UsingNum. 21:5-6, Paul characterizes Israel's actions as
putting God to the test and extends that warning to the Corinthians as it
relates to God's commandments against idolatry and immorality. The
Corinthians should not test the demand for holiness in living the new life in
Christ. It is an indirect reminder of the inevitable future, the end of the
ages which is already appearing (vs. 11), in
which each everyone will stand before God in judgment. They must remain alert,
watchful of their own behavior before and toward Christ lest they fall into
sin, idolatry and immorality. They will be tested by these temptations, the
allure of their passions and their former lives. But God will temper the power
of temptation, providing "the way out" as God did for the Israelites
of Sinai who inherited the promise given to Abraham.
Paul
moves back to the more direct experience of the Corinthian church, using
the mystical nature of the Eucharist as a way to explain the evil of
idolatry. In the Eucharist the participants who partake of the bread and
wine are symbolically sharing in the body and blood (the self) of Christ
thereby mystically "participating" (joining) in Christ. He likens
this to the Israelites who partake of the sacrifices offered to God thereby
becoming "participants" (partners) with the altar. Participating
in the altar through the eating of the sacrifice makes the participant
holy. Participating in Christ through eating the bread and drinking the wine
makes the participant holy. (Recall that this is John's understanding of the
Eucharist as the means by which one reaffirms God's gift of eternal life
through Christ.) Paul now carries this over as an analogy to offering
sacrifices to idols. To make such a sacrifice is to participate, to be a
partner joined with the idol thereby committing idolatry. He has
already declared that idols and food sacrificed to idols are nothing. That is
why food sacrificed to an idol can be eaten. However, while the idol is nothing
and the deities they represent are nothing, their very nature as competitors
with God make them demonic in nature. They are of Satan as are those who
worship them. To sacrifice to an idol is to participate in and become partners
of the demonic, becoming joined with the demonic. The main point of
Paul's extended warnings is that we cannot join ourselves with the demonic
through sacrifice and join
ourselves with Christ through the Eucharist at the same time. To do so is to
"provoke the Lord to jealousy" and he the Lord has the stronger arm
in the matter.
First Corinthians Chapter
10:23-11:1 Do All to the Glory of God
Paul
concludes his discussion of eating food sacrificed to idols. The premise of the
debate has been that "all things are lawful" but not all are
beneficial nor do they "build up" the community. Yet we are not to
take advantage of what is lawful to the detriment of a fellow Christian.
Anything bought in the temple meat markets is acceptable as food. After all
"the earth and its fullness are the Lord's." If an unbeliever
invites you to dinner, eat whatever is served and do so with a clear
conscience. If someone tells you the food has been sacrificed to an idol
then don't eat it for the sake of the conscience of the one who told you, not
your own conscience, for no one can judge your liberty in
Christ for doing what is correct. In this and all cases, do everything,
even abstaining on behalf of another, in such a way as God's glory is
served. In this and all things give no offense to anyone, try to please
everyone not seeking your own advantage thus participating in their salvation.
Last of all, Paul says, "be imitators of me as I am of Christ."
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