The Study PDF for Chapter 10 is here: 1 Cor 10 Interlinear Clausal Morph
Highlighted in the PDF are) IMPERATIVE verbs, and Key Words / Phrases.
Another study text, simpler than the above Clausal Morph is by Zodhiates, S., & Baker, W. (2000). The Complete Word Study Bible: King James Version (electronic ed.). Cha!anooga: AMG Publishers. The attached pdf includes the preface material of the Bible that explains its purpose and structure. The pdf is here: Zodhiates 1 Cor 10 KJV
This chapter refers back to the previously introduced (1 Cor 8) issue of whether to eat meat that has been offered to idols as part of that culture’s pagan practice. So we see yet another example of an extended argument: we need to consider a much broader text than a single verse, or paragraph, or even whole chapter, to grasp God’s teaching.
Idols
The issue of idols and idolatry is prevalent in this Epistle:`
I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world.
But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler—not even to eat with such a one.
Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals,
[ Take Care with Your Liberty ] Now concerning things sacrificed to idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies.
Therefore concerning the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that there is no such thing as an idol in the world, and that there is no God but one.
However not all men have this knowledge; but some, being accustomed to the idol until now, eat food as if it were sacrificed to an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.
For if someone sees you, who have knowledge, dining in an idol’s temple, will not his conscience, if he is weak, be strengthened to eat things sacrificed to idols?
Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and stood up to play.”
Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.
What do I mean then? That a thing sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything?
But if anyone says to you, “This is meat sacrificed to idols,” do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for conscience’ sake;
You know that when you were pagans, you were led astray to the mute idols, however you were led.
Imperatives
Old Testament
We sometimes think that the OT is no longer relevant to us because, well, it’s been superseded in some essential way. However that is not consistent with the NT itself in at least two particulars:
- the OT points to / anticipates what is fulfilled in the NT so it further brings to life the very fulfillment of the NT itself, and
- the story of the OT is an example to us in the practical details of our walk before God.
In this Ch 10 we see clear reference to the OT being an example for us relevant to us.
Conscience
One of the Key Words in this Ch 10 is “conscience.” It has been highlighted by boxing in the Study PDF.
The root of the word “conscience” comes from Latin where (in this context) “con” means “with” and “science” means “to know.” So conscience has the root idea that it is something that reflects our thoughts or deeds having been or being done in accordance with a full, true, inner knowledge. In everyday terms, it means that one thinks and acts coherently, consistent with one’s correct and deepest values.
When we don’t so think and act, something bothers us in a deep way, like a word out of place in a sentence, or a crooked hanging picture, or a mis-chorded piece of music (dys-symphony). We instinctively know that violations of conscience are disturbing, unnerving, even disorientating.
This generally leads us to one of two paths of resolution: the humility of going back to ‘square one’ (and seeking forgiveness or restoration as appropriate), or ‘adjusting’ our “science” (knowledge) so that whatever it was in our thoughts or deeds that was discordant is no longer so. The latter approach seems the easier, and in the short run it probably is, but that choice has a slope to it, that may lead to something seriously awry about our knowledge (in the sense of assessment) of things. In some cases, our “knowledge” is actually ‘off,’ and what is causing the discordance is not something “wrong” in our specific thoughts or deeds, but in that often unperceived framework of “knowledge” that we have stashed somewhere in our heads.
1 Cor 10 deals with the latter situation: a brother (or sister) who holds a certain “knowledge” about the import of food offered to idols and then resold in the marketplace that causes (1) guilt upon their eating such food, or (2) judgment of Christian brothers who do so eat.
Next chapter, 1 Corinthians 11 is here: