First Corinthians 10:1-12
POINT: Guarantee of
privilege or position does not guarantee final blessing or production
10:1
“For” picks up where verse 9:27 ended. Paul had privileges but he could be
disqualified if he didn’t follow the rules.
In 9:27 Paul makes a
distinction between his:
1) success in the ministry
2) success in his personal Christian Life
The theme for chapter 8, 9
and 10 is incomplete knowledge or knowledge that is not balanced with love. Chapter 10 continues the discussion on
knowledge that is bent on self-service.
“do not want you ignorant” is a formula used when Paul is teaching
something new or is giving information that if it is misunderstood would lead
to wrong or even destructive conclusions.
This formula is also used at:
1) Romans 1:13 concerning his plan to visit
2) Romans 11:25 concerning the mystery of
3) 1 Corinthians 10:1 (here) concerning overconfidence
in baptism and the Lord’s supper
4) 2 Corinthians 1:8 concerning the hardships Paul and
his team faced
5) 1 Thessalonians concerning the dead, the resurrection
and the orders of resurrection
10:2-3
OT Examples
1) Under the cloud (Exodus 13:21-22)
2) Passed through the sea ( Exodus 14:21-22)
-These
are the OT Paul uses for Christian baptism
3) Ate food – Manna (Ex. 16:4, 13)
4) Drank spiritual drink –water from rock (Ex. 17:1-7)
-These
are the OT examples Paul uses for the Lord’s supper
-Notice
how he points out that the Rock was Christ
10:4
“Nevertheless” is a strong reversal.
The Exodus generation had
every reason to be confident but they still failed because of their failure to
fully understand and the failure to live in line with the truth
10:5
“scattered” is katastrwnnumi or “katastronnumi” and it
means “to strike down like a hurricane.”
Translation: “their corpses littered the dessert”
Their sins:
1) idolaters (Ex. 32:6)
2) Sexual immorality (Nu.
25:1-3)
3) Testing the Lord (Nu.
21:5-6; Ps. 78:18) –try to see how far you can go and God still allow it or not
punish you.
4) Grumble (Num. 16)