1 Corinthians 10:18 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Consider the people of Israel: are not those who eat the sacrifices participants in the altar?

NIV: Consider the people of Israel: Do not those who eat the sacrifices participate in the altar?

NASB: Look at the people of Israel; are those who eat the sacrifices not partners in the altar?

CSB: Consider the people of Israel. Do not those who eat the sacrifices participate in the altar?

NLT: Think about the people of Israel. Weren’t they united by eating the sacrifices at the altar?

KJV: Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?

NKJV: Observe Israel after the flesh: Are not those who eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?

Paul is building his case for why the Corinthians should not knowingly eat food offered to an idol. He has just described how taking part in the practice of Christian communion, consuming together representations of Christ's body and blood, makes believers active participants in Christ's body and blood.

Now Paul refers to the Israelites who ate food sacrificed on an altar. This can be read in one of two ways. Paul may be talking about the times that the Old Testament sacrificial system allowed the priests or the people to eat food that had been offered to God (Leviticus 7:11–21). In that case, Paul is showing how this caused them to be connected to God and to each other.

The other option is that Paul is referring to what he wrote earlier in this chapter about the Israelites in the wilderness who worshiped false idols (1 Corinthians 10:7). In that case, they offered sacrifices to the golden calf and then ate those sacrifices together (Exodus 32:5–6). Paul's point in this verse, then, would be that those Israelites had become attached in some significant way to that altar by eating the food sacrificed on it. They were participants with that altar in the same way that Christians are participants in Christ through the practice of communion.

Next, Paul will show that those who knowingly eat food offered to idols risk becoming participants with those false idols and the real demons behind them.

First Corinthians 10:14–22 describes why it is essential to run away from idol worship of any kind. Participating in communion by taking in the representations of Christ's body and blood brings us into participation with Him. To be involved with idolatry causes people to participate with demons. Nobody can remain in participation both with Christ and demons. Paul uses questions to warn the Corinthians about stirring up the Lord's jealousy in this way. He is stronger than us and willing to act when betrayed.

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.