1 Corinthians 10:2 - Printer Friendly

ESV: and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea,

NIV: They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.

NASB: and they all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea;

CSB: and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.

NLT: In the cloud and in the sea, all of them were baptized as followers of Moses.

KJV: And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;

NKJV: all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea,

Paul is showing similarities between the Israelites during their time in the wilderness and the Christians in Corinth. By extension, these comparisons are valid for Christians everywhere. He has written that all the Israelites were guided by the Lord in the pillar of cloud and all passed through the waters of the Red Sea (Exodus 13:21; 14:21–28).

This verse says those Israelites were "baptized into Moses" through these experiences. It's unclear exactly what this means from the standpoint of the Israelites. Water is involved in the sense that they passed through, or were saved from, the waters of the Red Sea. Baptism, of course, involves water. It is also meant to identify the one being baptized with their proclaimed faith. In some way, these experiences connected them to their leader, Moses, through whom God communicated with Israel.

Paul is making the connection to the Christian experience of the Corinthians, who were baptized into Christ, through whom God revealed Himself and saved them.

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.

Accessed 9/7/2024 11:33:52 PM