1 Corinthians 10

Ver. 1. Be ye followers of me, &c.] In a word, herein be ye followers of me, even as I am of Christ, who neglected Himself for the salvation of others. Dr. Wells. This verse plainly belongs to the last verse of the foregoing chapter. Pyle.

1 Corinthians 10:14

14.—[See from idolatry.] Committed by the participation of things offered to idols in the idol temple. Dr. Whitby.

1 Corinthians 10:15

15.—[Judge ye what I say.] Judge of the reasonableness of the following argument concerning the ill consequence or sinfulness of eating things offered to idols. Dr. Wells.

1 Corinthians 10:16

16. [The cup of blessing] The Jews used to conclude the feast of the passover with a cup of wine, called “the cup of blessing,” because they sanctified it and gave thanks for it by blessing God. Hence the receiving of the wine in the Sacrament, which was instituted by Christ after His paschal supper, is called by the same name, being sanctified or consecrated by thanksgiving to God. Drs. Hammond and Whitby.

—[which we bless.] The solemn blessing and breaking was performed by the Apostles afterwards, according to the pattern, as our Saviour did it first, Matt. xxvi. 26: who, besides the blessing of meat, usual before the meal, (see Matt. xv. 36,) after supper made another consecration of this bread and cup, continued ever since by the clergy. Bp. Fell.

—[is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? &c.] Look to the holy elements of both kinds: that sacred cup in the Eucharist, which we consecrate and bless, is it not that, wherein we have a joint communion with Christ, in partaking of His blood? The bread, which we break in that holy supper, is it not that, wherein we do both profess and have communion

1 Corinthians 10:17

17. [For we being many are one bread, &c.] All we that partake of that one feast are by that supposed to be one body, of the same kind one with another, even as the bread is of many grains made up into one loaf: and so in like manner if ye join with heathens, and partake with them of their idol-feasts, ye are to be supposed of the same lump and mould with those heathens. Dr. Hammond, Bp. Hall.

1 Corinthians 10:18

18. [Behold Israel after the flesh: &c.] Look to the Jewish church, and you will find that the same holds good in that also. Dr. Wells.

—[partakers of the altar?] Do they not, by partaking of the gift consecrated by the altar, and partly consumed upon it, partake with the altar, and own that they communicate with and worship that God, at whose altar or table the meat was offered in honour of Him? Mal. i. 7. For as “swearing by the altar,” is swearing by Him also, whose altar it is, Matt. xxiii. 20; so having communion with the altar is having communion with Him, whose altar it is. Dr. Whitby.

1 Corinthians 10:19

19, 20. [What say I then? that the idol is any thing, &c.] Not that any of those heathen deities have the least divinity in them; for it is certain they have none, being only imaginary demons, or the delusions of evil spirits; nor can any thing consecrated to them be in itself of any virtue to benefit their worshippers, or deftie you. I can only say, that all kind of feasting upon sacrifices supposes a fellowship and communion with

Anno DOMINI 19. Of profaning the Lord’s supper. In things indifferent Anno DOMINI 39. D. Decd. 22.17. Ps. 106. 37.

1 Corinthians 10:20

20. But I say.] In order to complete the sense, the word ‘No!’ should be supplied in answer to the foregoing question. This way of asking a question and dropping the answer, and yet going on as if the question was answered, is not unusual with St. Paul. See a like instance in chap. xii. 31. Bp. Pearce.

1 Corinthians 10:21

21. Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, &c.] Your communicating with Christ in the Lord’s supper is utterly inconsistent with communicating with devils in the idol-feasts. Burkitt.

— the cup of devils.] In the heathen sacrifices the priests, before they poured the wine upon the victim, tasted it themselves, then carried it to the offerers, and to those who came with them, that they also might taste it, as joining in the sacrifice, and receiving benefit from it. “The table of devils,” or of demons, means the sacrifice offered to them, which was eaten on a table in the demon’s temple. Dr. Macknight.

22. Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? By joining devils in competition with Him? And that, notwithstanding He has expressed His jealousy in the second commandment, against those who admit any rival into their worship of Him, and has threatened to visit and punish them for it. Dr. Hammond.

1 Corinthians 10:23

23. All things are lawful for me, &c.] And whereas you plead thus for yourselves, All meats may lawfully be eaten; I answer, Be it so: but yet, &c. Dr. Whitby.

— all things edify not.] To this edification it appears St. Paul had a great respect in all his actions and affairs. “We do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying,” 2 Cor. xii. 19. And he desireth that all other men would do so too, “Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification,” Rom. xv. 2: and that, in all the actions of their lives, “Let all things be done unto edifying,” 1 Cor. xiv. 26. It is the very end for which Christ ordained the ministry of the Gospel, “the edifying of the body of Christ,” Eph. iv. 12; and for which He endowed His servants with power and with gifts, to enable them for the work, “the power which the Lord hath given us for edification,” 2 Cor. x. 8; xiii. 10. The word “edification” is metaphorical, taken from material buildings: but is often used by the Apostle in his Epistles, with application ever to the church of God, and to the spiritual building thereof. The church is “the house of the living God,” 1 Tim. iii. 15. All Christians, members of this church, are so many stones of the building, whereof the house is made up. The bringing in of unbelievers into the church, by converting them to the Christian faith, is as the fetching of more stones from the quarries, to be laid in the building. The building itself, and that is “edification,” is

the well and orderly joining together of Christian men, as living stones, in truth and love; that they may grow together, as it were, into one entire frame of building, to make up the house strong and comely for the Master’s use and honour. In these latter times, in the popular and common notion of this word, in the mouths and apprehensions of most men generally, “edification” is in a manner confined wholly to the understanding. But this is an error. The building up of the people in the right knowledge of God, and of His most holy truth, is indeed a necessary part of the work; and no man, that wisheth well to the work, will either despise it in his heart, or speak contemptibly of it with his mouth: yet it is not the whole work, nor yet the chief part thereof. The Apostle expressly giveth charity the pre-eminence over it: “knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifeth,” 1 Cor. viii. 1. And where he once speaketh of “edification” in his Epistles with reference to knowledge, he speaketh of it thrice with reference to peace, and brotherly charity or condescension. The truth is, that edification, which he so much urgeth, is the promoting and furthering of ourselves and others in truth, godliness, and peace, or any grace accompanying salvation, for the common good of the whole body. St. Jude speaketh of “building up ourselves,” Jude, ver. 20; and St. Paul of “edifying one another,” 1 Thess. v. 11. And this should be our daily and mutual study, to build up ourselves and others in the knowledge of the truth, and in the practice of godliness; but especially to the utmost of our powers, within our several spheres, and in those stations wherein God hath set us, to advance the common good, by preserving peace, and love, and unity in the church. Bp. Sanderson.

1 Corinthians 10:24

24. Let no man seek his own.] His own “wealth” or welfare only. Dr. Wells.

1 Corinthians 10:25

25. Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, &c.] Some portions of the heathen sacrifices were sold in the markets among other meat. It might be objected therefore, that if Christians might not eat what was offered to idols, they must not eat what they bought in the markets, and this would be a great retrenchment of their Christian liberty. The Apostle tells them they might lawfully eat whatever was there sold, not thinking themselves bound in conscience to inquire, whether what they there met with was a portion of an heathen sacrifice or not. Dr. Hammond.

1 Corinthians 10:26

26. For the earth is the Lord’s, &c.] Such things are the creatures of God, made and sanctified for the use of man; and therefore may be eaten without scruple of conscience, when others are not scandalized at it, 1 Tim. iv. 4. Burkitt.

1 Corinthians 10:27

27. If any of them that believe not bid you &c.] Nay farther, if it be at an heathen’s own table, where it is more probable that such portions of their sacrifices are to be met with, than in the shambles, yet there also ye may eat freely of all, and not think yourselves bound in

we must have regard of our brethren’s consciences.

Amo DOMINI 10. posed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake.

1 Corinthians 10:28

28.—eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake:] Lest you betray that man into the sin of idolatry, or confirm him in it, by your example not rightly understood by him; and so offend against a conscience. Dr. Hammond.

—the earth is the Lord’s, &c.] Who therefore can replenish thee out of other meats provided for thy food. Dr. Whitby.

1 Corinthians 10:29

29.—for why is my liberty judged of another man’s conscience?] For why should I use my liberty with scandal, so that I should be condemned by another man’s conscience: while I do that which he thinks damnable, though I think it lawful? Bp. Hall.

1 Corinthians 10:30

30. For if I by grace be a partaker, &c.] For, though I may lawfully eat of things sacrificed to idols, by the grace and privilege of my evangelical liberty, receiving the good creatures of God, though abused, with thanksgiving to God the author and giver of them; yet, why should I expose myself to the censures of men, and open their mouths against me, as if I were an idolater in doing it? Bp. Hall.

1 Corinthians 10:31

31.—do all to the glory of God.] By this precept the Apostle hath taught us, that our greatest duty is to promote the glory of God, by regulating all our actions according to His will; that in many particular actions we ought to have God’s glory actually in view, and in all the rest habitually; and that by none of our actions we should dishonour God, either by committing sin ourselves, or by leading our weak brethren into sin. This great duty towards God, our Lord inculcated in the first petition of His prayer, “Hallowed be Thy name.” Dr. Blacknight.

If, instead of prescribing to ourselves indifferent actions as duties, we apply a good intention to all our most indifferent actions, we make our very existence one continued act of obedience, we turn our diversions and amusements to our eternal advantage, and are pleasing Him, whom we are made to please, in all the circumstances and occurrences of life. It is this excellent frame of mind, this holy officiousness, if I may be allowed to call it such, which is recommended to us by the Apostle in that uncommon precept, wherein he directs us to propose to ourselves the glory of our Creator in all our most indifferent actions, “whether we eat, or drink, or whatsoever we do.” Addison.

1 Corinthians 10:33

33. Even as I please all men in all things.] That is, I endeavour to do it. By a very common way of speaking, St. Paul, in expressing the action, means only to

express his design: it is certain that he did not in fact please all men, not even all the Corinthians; but he endeavoured to please them. Besides numerous other similar phrases, one occurs in Gal. v. 4. Bp. Pearce.

The sense of these three last verses is plainly this: That whenever Christians were invited to that sort of feasts he had been speaking of, not only as to their eating and drinking, but in all the other actions of their life, the great rule they were to walk by was this, of doing honour to God, and advancing His religion in the world. And therefore let them have a care of giving offence, or putting a stumblingblock before any: let them have a care of doing any action that might discourage the brethren in their profession of Christianity, or encourage the heathen to continue in idolatry, for all such actions were a dishonouring of God: but let them endeavour by all possible means, by their innocence and virtue, and their prudent and charitable behaviour, to adorn the doctrine of God in all things, and by that means to recommend it to all about them.

From hence now it appears pretty plain, that this precept of glorifying God in our actions, or doing our actions to the glory of God, hath this general sense and meaning; that we take care to live according to Christ’s religion; and that none of our actions be contradictory to it, or cast a blemish upon it, and thereby hinder others either from continuing in it or coming over to it: but on the contrary, that we use our utmost diligence to frame our conversations in such a way as may both shew us to be sincere, conscientious Christians ourselves, and may likewise tend to the honour and advancement of Christianity in others. In a word, we then glorify God, according to St. Paul, when we are as good as we can be, and do as much good as we can do. Abp. Sharp.

Chap. XI. This chapter, in which St. Paul reproves the Corinthians for the disorders committed at their religious meetings, consists of two parts: in the first, he prescribes the manner in which men and women should behave in the church; he ordains, that the men should have their head uncovered when speaking of Divine things; but that the women should cover their head: and what he says is founded upon the rules of decency, which require that women should not appear in publick without being veiled, and their head covered; which was likewise the custom of the Jews, and other people at that time. In the second part, he reproves the Corinthians for their irreverence and disorder in celebrating the Lord’s supper after their feasts of charity; and to

Paul exhorteth the Corinthians. He forbiddeth men to pray or Anno DOMINI 59.