---
title: "1 Corinthians 10 - Study King James Bible with barnes notes on the whole bible"
description: "Read 1 Corinthians 10 with barnes notes on the whole bible commentary. 1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 2 And were al"
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url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/study/barnes-notes-on-the-whole-bible/1-corinthians/10"
---

[ Read](/kjv/1-corinthians/10)[ Commentary](/study/1-corinthians/10)[ Interlinear](/interlinear/1-corinthians/10) Audio

 1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;

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

 3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat;

 4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

 5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

 6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.

 7 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.

 8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.

 9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.

 10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.

 11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

 12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

 13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God *is* faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear *it.*

 14 Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.

 15 I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.

 16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?

 17 For we *being* many are one bread, *and* one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.

 18 Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?

 19 What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing?

 20 But I *say*, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.

 21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils.

 22 Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?

 23 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.

 24 Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s *wealth*.

 25 Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, *that* eat, asking no question for conscience sake:

 26 For the earth *is* the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof.

 27 If any of them that believe not bid you *to a feast*, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake.

 28 But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth *is* the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof:

 29 Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another *man’s* conscience?

 30 For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks?

 31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

 32 Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:

 33 Even as I please all *men* in all *things*, not seeking mine own profit, but the *profit* of many, that they may be saved.
 
[1 Corinthians 9](/study/1-corinthians/9) [1 Corinthians 11](/study/1-corinthians/11)

## Commentary

 To verse 1
 
**Moreover, brethren -**But, or now (δε de). This verse, with the following illustrations [1 Corinthians 10:1-4](/kjv/1-corinthians/10/1-4), is properly connected in Paul’s argument with the statements which he had made in [1 Corinthians 8:8](/kjv/1-corinthians/8/8), etc., and is designed to show the danger which would result from their partaking of the feasts that were celebrated in honor of idols. It is not improbable, as Mr. Locke supposes, that the Corinthians might have urged that they were constantly solicited by their pagan friends to attend those feasts; that in their circumstances it was scarcely possible to avoid it; that there could be no danger of their relapsing into idolatry; and their doing so could not be offensive to God, since they were known to be Christians; since they had been baptized, and purified from sin; since they were devoted to his service; since they knew that an idol was nothing in the world; and since they had been so highly favored, as the people of God, with so many extraordinary endowments, and were so strongly guarded against the possibility of becoming idolaters. To meet these considerations, Paul refers them to the example of the ancient Jews. They also were the people of God. They had been solemnly dedicated to Moses and to God. They had been especially favored with spiritual food from heaven, and with drink miraculously, poured from the rock. Yet notwithstanding this, they had forgotten God, had become idolaters, and had been destroyed. By their example, therefore, Paul would warn the Corinthians against a similar danger. 

**I would not that ye should be ignorant -**A large part of the church at Corinth were Gentiles. It could hardly be supposed that they were well informed respecting the ancient history of the Jews. Probably they had read these things in the Old Testament; but they might not have them distinctly in their recollection. Paul brings them distinctly before their minds, as an illustration and an admonition. The sense is, “I would not have you unmindful or forgetful of these things; I would have you recollect this case, and suffer their example to influence your conduct. I would not have you suppose that even a solemn consecration to God and the possession of distinguished tokens of divine favor are a security against the danger of sin, and even apostasy; since the example of the favored Jews shows that even in such circumstances there is danger.” 

**How that all our fathers -**That is, the fathers of the Jewish community; the fathers of us who are Jews. Paul speaks here as being himself a Jew, and refers to his own ancestors as such. The word “all” here seems to be introduced to give emphasis to the fact that even those who were destroyed [1 Corinthians 10:5](/kjv/1-corinthians/10/5) also had this privilege. It could not be pretended that they had not been devoted to God, since all of them had been thus consecrated professedly to his service. The entire Jewish community which Moses led forth from Egypt had thus been devoted to him. 

**Were under the cloud -**The cloud - the “Shechinah” - the visible symbol of the divine presence and protection that attended them out of Egypt. This went before them by day as a cloud to guide them, and by night it became a pillar of fire to give them light; [Exodus 13:21-22](/kjv/exodus/13/21-22). In the dangers of the Jews, when closely pressed by the Egyptians, it went beHinD them, and became dark to the Egyptians, but light to the Israelites, thus constituting a defense; [Exodus 14:20](/kjv/exodus/14/20). In the wilderness, when traveling through the burning desert, it seems to have been expanded over the camp as a covering, and a defense from the intense rays of a burning sun; [Numbers 10:34](/kjv/numbers/10/34), “And the cloud of Jehovah was upon them by day;” [Numbers 14:14](/kjv/numbers/14/14), “Thy cloud standeth over them.” To this fact the apostle refers here. It was a symbol of the divine favor and protection; comp [Isaiah 4:5](/kjv/isaiah/4/5). It was a guide, a shelter, and a defense. The Jewish Rabbis say that “the cloud encompassed the camp of the Israelites as a wall encompasses a city, nor could the enemy come near them.” Pirke Eleazer, chapter 44, as quoted by Gill. The probability is, that the cloud extended over the whole camp of Israel, and that to those at. a distance it appeared as a pillar. 

**And all passed through the sea -**The Red Sea, under the guidance of Moses, and by the miraculous interposition of God; [Exodus 14:21-22](/kjv/exodus/14/21-22). This was also a proof of the divine protection and favor, and is so adduced by the apostle. His object is to accumulate the evidences of the divine favor to them, and to show that they had as many securities against apostasy as the Corinthians had, on which they so much relied.

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