1 Corinthians 10:2

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 10:2

Baptism unto Moses. The expression used here is a singular and suggestive one, and one that seems to require an enlargement of our associations with the term "baptized." "Were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea." It may be noted that more precisely the passage should read, "all baptized themselves unto Moses." St. Paul sees, in the incidents of the crossing of the Red Sea under the guidance of the pillar cloud, a symbol of that Christian confession which puts us wholly... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Corinthians 10:2

And were all baptized - In regard to the meaning of the word “baptized,” see the note at Matthew 3:6. We are not to suppose that the rite of baptism, as we understand it, was formally administered by Moses, or by any other person, to the Jews, for there is not the least evidence that any such rite was then known, and the very circumstances here referred to forbid such an interpretation. They were baptized “in the cloud” and “in the sea,” and this cannot be understood as a religious rite... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Corinthians 10:1-3

1 Corinthians 10:1-3. Moreover Or now; brethren That you may be induced to attend to the exhortation which I have been giving you, and may run your Christian race with resolution, zeal, and diligence, and not become reprobates, consider how highly favoured your fathers were, who were God’s elect and peculiar people, and nevertheless were rejected by him. They were all under the cloud, that eminent token of God’s gracious presence with them, which defended them from the Egyptians;... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 10:1-13

Warnings from history (10:1-13)Paul now illustrates from the history of Israel that some might join in the fellowship of God’s people, but miss out on the final blessing. All the people of Israel were united with Moses in their escape from Egypt and all enjoyed God’s provision through none other than Christ himself. But only two, Joshua and Caleb, entered into the blessing of the promised land. The rest disobeyed and were punished (10:1-5). (For relevant stories see Exodus 13:17-22; Exodus... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 1 Corinthians 10:2

baptized . App-115 . . Moses . See 1 Corinthians 9:9 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 10:2

And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea.By this bold comparison, Paul made the marvelous deliverance of Israel through the Red Sea from the pursuing armies of Pharaoh as a figure, or type, of Christian baptism. It should be carefully noted that the figure in evidence here is not baptism, that being the reality of which the great deliverance of Israel was the figure. Nowhere in the New Testament is baptism ever referred to as any kind of "figure" or "sign." "The voluntary... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - 1 Corinthians 10:2

1 Corinthians 10:2. And were all baptized unto Moses— The Apostle is here warning the Corinthians against the commission of some vices, from too great a dependance on their Christian privileges. And this he does by reminding them of the Israelites; many of whom, though they enjoyed similar privileges, yet by their sins fell under the displeasure of God. The like expression is used by our Apostle in speaking of Christian baptism, Gal 3:27 where he says, "As many of you as have been baptized into... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - 1 Corinthians 10:2

2. And—"And so" [BENGEL]. baptized unto Moses—the servant of God and representative of the Old Testament covenant of the law: as Jesus, the Son of God, is of the Gospel covenant (John 1:17; Hebrews 3:5; Hebrews 3:6). The people were led to believe in Moses as God's servant by the miracle of the cloud protecting them, and by their being conducted under him safely through the Red Sea; therefore they are said to be "baptized unto" him (Hebrews 3:6- :). "Baptized" is here equivalent to "initiated":... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Corinthians 10:1-2

Paul did not want his readers to overlook a very important possibility as they thought about eating special meals in idol temples. He reminded them that their fathers in the faith, believers in Israel, were also all under the protective influence of God. The Corinthians knew these facts from the Old Testament, but they did not appreciate their significance sufficiently. First, the cloud that led them in their wilderness wanderings symbolized God’s loving care and evidenced His prolonged... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Corinthians 10:1-5

The tragic example of Israel 10:1-5The point of this example is that God’s people can practice idolatry, and persisting in idolatry has dire consequences. Paul stressed the similarity of experience that the church, the Corinthian church particularly, and Israel shared by pointing out that each group had its own "baptism" and "Lord’s Supper." Israel had five advantages, according to the following verses. read more

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