1 Corinthians 10:19-20

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Corinthians 10:15-22

In this passage the apostle urges the general caution against idolatry, in the particular case of eating the heathen sacrifices as such, and out of any religious respect to the idol to whom they were sacrificed. I. He prefaces his argument with an appeal to their own reason and judgment: ?I speak to wise men, judge you what I say, 1 Cor. 10:15. You are great pretenders to wisdom, to close reasoning and argument; I can leave it with your own reason and conscience whether I do not argue justly.?... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 Corinthians 10:14-22

10:14-22 So then, my beloved ones, avoid everything that has to do with idols. I speak as I would to sensible men; pass your own judgment on what I am saying. Is not this blessed cup on which we ask the blessing, a very sharing in the blood of Jesus Christ? Is not the bread which we break a very sharing in the body of Christ? Just as the broken bread is one, so we, though we are many, are one body. For we all share in the one bread. Look at the nation of Israel in the racial sense. Do not... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 10:19

What say I then ?.... Or may be objected to, or inferred from, what I say; that an idol is anything, or that which is sacrificed to idols is anything ? to which must be answered, as the Syriac version reads, לא , "no", by no means; by running the parallel between Christians having communion with the body and blood of Christ, in the Lord's supper, through eating the bread and drinking the wine, the Israelites partaking of the altar, by eating of the sacrifices of it, and men's joining... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 10:20

But I say ,.... This is my sense and meaning, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice unto devils, and not to God ; reference is had to Deuteronomy 32:17 for what the Gentiles sacrificed, though they did not sacrifice intentionally to the idols of gold, silver, wood, and stone, but to God in them, as they pretended; yet inasmuch as in such worship and sacrifices they were directed, instigated, influenced, and assisted by devils, who took up their residence in these... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 10:19

What say I then? - A Jewish phrase for, I conclude; and this is his conclusion: that although an idol is nothing, has neither power nor influence, nor are things offered to idols any thing the worse for being thus offered; yet, as the things sacrificed by the Gentiles are sacrificed to demons and not to God, those who partake of them have fellowship with demons: those who profess Christianity cannot have fellowship both with Christ and the devil. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 10:19

Verse 19 19.What do I say then? It might seem at first view as if the Apostle either argued inconclusively, or ascribed to idols something of existence and of power. Now it might readily be objected — “What comparison is there between the living God and idols? God connects us with himself by the sacraments. Be it so. How comes it that idols, which are nothing, (1 Corinthians 8:4,) have so much power, as to be able to do the like? Do you think that idols are anything, or can do anything?” He... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 10:20

Verse 20 20.But the things (585) that the Gentiles sacrifice. To complete the answer, a negative must be understood in this way: “I do not say that an idol is anything, nor do I imagine it to be endued with any virtue, but I say that the Gentiles sacrifice to the devil and not to gods those things which they do sacrifice, and hence I estimate the work by their wicked and impious superstition. For we must always look to the intention with which a thing is done. He, then, who connects himself... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 10:14-22

Wariness in Christian walk. A burning question amongst Corinthian Christians was whether they were justified in partaking of sacrifices offered to idols. With this the apostle deals in several parts of these Epistles. Note the course of his argument here. I. HE LIFTS THE VEIL FROM IDOLATRY . He is quite willing to allow that an idol is nothing in itself, and that meats offered to an idol are in themselves as though they had not been so offered. But he thrusts upon the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 10:14-33

Argument further enforced; fellowship with Christ by means of the communion; idolatrous feasts a communion with demons; law, expediency, conscience. "Wherefore," says St. Paul, as a deduction from the foregoing argument, "my dearly beloved," his heart kindled anew towards his brethren, "flee from idolatry." This dread of idolatry is the key to what follows. Idolatry, in those days, was a sin that included all sins, and Corinth was behind no city in the charm and splendour it threw around... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 10:15-22

The inherent disgracefulness of any tampering with idolatry. read more

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