1 Corinthians 10:10 - Printer Friendly

ESV: nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer.

NIV: And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel.

NASB: Nor grumble, as some of them did, and were killed by the destroyer.

CSB: And don’t complain as some of them did, and were killed by the destroyer.

NLT: And don’t grumble as some of them did, and then were destroyed by the angel of death.

KJV: Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.

NKJV: nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer.

Paul presents one final example of God's fatal discipline on some of His people for their sin. In the previous verse, Paul referenced a time when people tested God by complaining about His path for their lives. In that case it was a literal, physical path, through the wilderness. The example in this verse, though, comes across more like a mutiny against Moses and Aaron (Numbers 16:41–49). The number of those who died in the resulting plague was 14,700.

Perhaps this example felt more personal to Paul as the founder and a spiritual leader of the church in Corinth. Did he mean for the Corinthians to connect Israel's grumbling against Moses with their possible dissatisfaction with him? Some readers balk at the idea that Paul would react in such a way to those who challenged his authority. And yet, his commitment to the truth (Galatians 1:8–9) and his position (1 Corinthians 9:1–2) make that a reasonable possibility.

In any case, Paul wanted all Christians to think of God, not just as our protector and guide, but also as "the Destroyer." This is the only place in the Bible using this Greek term, olothreutēs. In one sense, Paul might not mean that God, Himself, is the destroyer, but that He controls beings who fit that description. Scriptures such as Exodus 12:23, 2 Samuel 24:16, and 1 Chronicles 21:15 speak of God controlling or commanding angels of destruction. A similar reference is found in Psalm 78:49.

Such details aside, Paul wants to raise awareness that the God who loves believers and sent His Son to die for their sin will also step into their lives with painful discipline if they refuse to back down from their sinfulness. The fact that born-again believers are His children does not grant them immunity from the consequences of sin.

First Corinthians 10:1–13 describes how the generation of Israelites who escaped from Egypt were blessed by God and yet fell repeatedly into idol worship. God severely punished many of them, including the fate of wandering the desert until death. The Corinthians should read their example as a warning unless they, too, fall at God's hand for participating with idols. Their standing in Christ does not mean that God will not act against unfaithfulness to Him with false gods. Still, such temptations are common, and God always provides His children a way to escape from sin.

Idol worship is an extremely serious sin. Paul reminds the Christians in idol-saturated Corinth of that by referring to the history of the Israelites who wandered in the wilderness. Though blessed by God, they worshiped false idols. God killed many of them for it. Paul commands his readers to flee from idol worship. To participate with idol worship in any way is to participate with demons. God always provides some way to avoid sin. So, they must avoid giving anyone the idea that they approve of idol worship, even by knowingly eating food offered to idols. Their first question must always be, ''Will this glorify God?''

The previous chapter concluded with Paul's commitment to continue to control himself. He exercises discipline so he does not become ineffective in his ministry. He begins chapter 10 by reminding the Corinthians of how the Israelites brought consequences on themselves in the wilderness. Among their many sins was worshiping idols, and God killed many of them for it. The Corinthians must flee idol worship and any appearance of supporting the demonic practice. They are free to eat meat if they don't know that it is idol food. However, they should be ready to set aside their own freedoms and rights whenever doing so will glorify God and win others to Christ.

First Corinthians is one of the more practical books of the New Testament. Paul writes to a church immersed in a city associated with trade, but also with corruption and immorality. These believers are struggling to properly apply spiritual gifts and to resist the ungodly practices of the surrounding culture. Paul's letter gives instructions for real-life concerns such as marriage and spirituality. He also deals with the importance of unity and gives one of the Bible's more well-known descriptions of love in chapter 13.