1 Corinthians 10:7 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.”

NIV: Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: 'The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.'

NASB: Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: 'THE PEOPLE SAT DOWN TO EAT AND TO DRINK, AND ROSE UP TO PLAY.'

CSB: Don't become idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and got up to party.

NLT: or worship idols as some of them did. As the Scriptures say, 'The people celebrated with feasting and drinking, and they indulged in pagan revelry.'

KJV: Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.

NKJV: And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.”

Paul is directing the Christians in Corinth to pay attention to the example of God's discipline on the Israelites in the wilderness. The previous verse referred to a time when God inflicted a plague on some who were dissatisfied with God's provision of manna. They were craving and demanding meat. Now Paul points to the more famous incident when the people persuaded Aaron to build a golden calf to worship as a god (Exodus 32:1–6). God killed thousands for this act of betrayal (Exodus 32:28, 35).

Some would argue that God would never take such action against Christians. Those saved from eternal punishment for sin, by God's grace through their faith in Christ, are immune to such responses, aren't they? That's completely wrong, Paul insists. In truth, God may discipline His children in this life, on this side of eternity, any way He sees fit.

God seems to take idol worship especially seriously. Paul has been urging the Corinthian Christians to be willing, for the sake of each other, to give up their freedom to eat meat offered to an idol or to attend functions inside idol-worshiping temples. Now, though, his command that they should not be idolaters suggests that some of the Christians were still participating in the worship of idols and not just eating meat from idol temples.

Paul seems to be warning that God will not let that disobedience continue without consequences.

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.