1 Corinthians 10:18

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Corinthians 10:18

Behold Israel - Look at the Jews. The design here is to illustrate the sentiment which he was establishing, by a reference to the fact that among the Jews those who partook of the same sacrifices were regarded as being one people, and as worshipping one God. So, if they partook of the sacrifices offered to idols, they would be regarded also as being fellow-worshippers of idols with them.After the flesh - See Romans 4:1. The phrase “after the flesh” is designed to denote the Jews who were not... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Corinthians 10:18

1 Corinthians 10:18. Behold Consider, by way of illustration; Israel after the flesh How it is with the present Jews, the natural descendants of Jacob, who worship God by sacrifices, according to the Mosaic law. He says, after the flesh, to distinguish them from the spiritual Israel, consisting of believers of all nations, called the Israel of God, Galatians 6:16. Are not they who eat of the sacrifices Who feast upon the remainders of the sacrifices offered at the altar; see Leviticus... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 10:14-22

Avoid idol feasts (10:14-22)In view of the dangers of idolatry, there is only one wise course to take in relation to idolatrous feasts, and that is to have nothing to do with them (14-15). Those who receive bread and wine in the Lord’s Supper are united with Christ in one body and spiritually share in him (16-17). Likewise in the Israelite sacrificial system those who eat the food of the sacrifices are united with the altar on which the sacrifices are offered (18). Christians cannot say,... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 1 Corinthians 10:18

Behold = See. Greek. blepo , as in 1 Corinthians 10:12 . after = according to. App-104 . partakers . Greek. koinonos. Elsewhere, 1 Corinthians 10:20 . Matthew 23:30 . Luke 5:10 . 2 Corinthians 1:7 ; 2 Corinthians 8:23 .Philemon 1:17 . Hebrews 10:33 . 1Pe 5:1 . 2 Peter 1:4 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 10:18

Behold Israel after the flesh: have not they that eat the sacrifices communion with the altar?"The question is not the intention of the actor, but the import of the act, and the interpretation universally put upon it."[28] Paul thus removed the evaluation of idol worship altogether from the consideration of any "intention" in the heart of the worshiper, the act itself being universally understood as worship either of God or of idols. Here again the question of "What is worship?" demands... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - 1 Corinthians 10:18

18. Israel after the flesh—the literal, as distinguished from the spiritual, Israel (Romans 2:29; Romans 4:1; Romans 9:3; Galatians 4:29). partakers of the altar—and so of God, whose is the altar; they have fellowship in God and His worship, of which the altar is the symbol. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Corinthians 10:1-22

3. The sinfulness of idolatry 10:1-22Paul continued dealing with the subject of going to idol temples to participate in pagan feasts in this section. In it he gave a warning to the believer who considered himself strong, the one who knew there were really no gods but the true God. Such a person felt free to accept the invitation of a pagan neighbor to dine in a pagan temple (1 Corinthians 8:10). The apostle cautioned this element in the Corinthian church because, even though there are no other... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Corinthians 10:14-22

The incompatibility of Christianity and idolatry 10:14-22The apostle proceeded to warn his readers of the danger of idolatry further (cf. 1 Corinthians 10:7). This paragraph concludes the long argument that Paul began in 1 Corinthians 8:1 concerning going to temple feasts. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Corinthians 10:18

We can see the partnership of those who partake of sacrifices with everything the altar stands for in Judaism (cf. Deuteronomy 14:22-27). Paul referred to Israel literally as "Israel according to the flesh." He contrasted all the physical Israelites with those who are Jewish Christians (cf. Philippians 3:3). This description lends no support to the idea that the church replaces Israel in the program of God. "Israel" always refers to Jewish people in the New Testament.Paul’s line of reasoning... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 10:1-33

(b) Food offered to Idols(iii) Historical Illustrations and Practical AdviceSt. Paul has been speaking of the need of earnestness and self-discipline, and the danger of failure; he now holds out the fate of the Israelites as a warning against self-confidence. The Corinthians were tempted to the very same sins for which Israel suffered.All of the Israelites received great blessings from God, types of the sacramental privileges Christians enjoy, yet most of them perished in the wilderness because... read more

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