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1 Corinthians 10:18

in 1 Corinthians 10

Consider the people of Israel: Are not those who eat the sacrifices fellow partakers in the altar?

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

Behold Israel after the flesh: have not they that eat the sacrifices communion with the altar?

KJV

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

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This verse in 1 Corinthians 10

Commentary

9 notes on this verse

A commentator

Theophylact of Ohrid

Commentary on 1 Corinthians · Written before 1107.

From the simplest example, learn that what you are doing is communion with idols. He said "Israel according to the flesh," because Christians are according to the spirit. Note this as well: he did not say of the Jews that they are partakers of God, …

This site's exposition

Consider the people of Israel

on 1 Corinthians 10:18-20

Under Israel's law those who eat the sacrifices are fellow partakers in the altar, joined to its meaning. The sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, so sharing the feast is sharing with what stands behind it.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers1 voice

A commentator

John Chrysostom

Homily on 1 Corinthians 24 · Written before 407.

proposed

"Behold Israel after the flesh: have not they which eat the sacrifices communion with the altar?" Again, from the old covenant he leads them unto this point also. For because they were far beneath the greatness of the things which had been spoken, he persuades them both from former things and from those to which they were accustomed. And he says well, "according to the flesh," as though they themselves were according to the Spirit. And what he says is of this nature: "even from persons of the grossest sort ye may be instructed that they who eat the sacrifices, have communion with the altar." Dost thou see how he intimates that they who seemed to be perfect have not perfect knowledge, if they know not even this, that the result of these sacrifices to many oftentimes is a certain communion and friendship with devils, the practice drawing them on by degrees? For if among men the fellowship of salt and the table becomes an occasion and token of friendship, it is possible that this may happen also in the case of devils. But do thou, I pray, consider, how with regard to the Jews he said not, "they are partakers with God," but, "they have communion with the altar;" for what was placed thereon was burnt: but in respect to the Body of Christ, not so. But how? It is "a Communion of the Lord's Body." For not with the altar, but with Christ Himself, do we have communion.

The Puritans and the Awakening4 voices

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

Those who were admitted to eat of the offerings were reckoned to partake of the sacrifice itself, as made for them, and to be sanctified thereby; and therefore surely to worship God, and be in alliance or covenant with him, even the God of Israel, to whom the sacrifice was made: this was a symbol or token of holding communion with him.

A commentator

John Wesley

1703–1791

Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament (1755)

proposed

Consider Israel after the flesh - Christians are the spiritual "Israel of God." Are not they who eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar - Is not this an act of communion with that God to whom they are offered? And is not the case the same with those who eat of the sacrifices which have been offered to idols?
Behold Israel after the flesh,....

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

He lets them yet know that though they must not eat of things sacrificed to idols as such, and out of any regard to the idol, yet they might buy such flesh in the markets, or eat it at the table of heathen acquaintances, without asking any questions; for that the heathens' abuse of them did not render the creatures of God unfit to be the food of his servants.
2 more voices on this verse

The Nineteenth Century2 voices

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

Behold Israel after the flesh - The Jews not yet converted to Christianity: the latter being Israel after the Spirit. As the design of the apostle was to withdraw his converts at Corinth from all temptations to idolatry, he produces two examples to show the propriety of his endeavors. 1. All who join together in celebrating the Lord’s Supper, and are partakers of that one bread, give proof by this that they are Christians, and have fellowship with Christ.
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 Rom 4:1. The phrase “after the flesh” is designed to denote the Jews who were not converted to Christianity; the natural descendants of Israel, or Jacob. Are not they which eat of the sacrifices - A portion of the sacrifices offered to God was eaten by the offerer, and another portion by the priests. Some portions of the animal, as the fat, were burnt; and the remainder, unless it was a holocaust, or whole burnt-offering, was then the property of the priests who had officiated, or of the persons who had brought it; Exo 29:13, Exo 29:22; Lev, Lev 3:4, Lev 3:10, Lev 3:15; Lev 4:9; Lev 7:3-4; Lev 8:26. The right shoulder and the breast was the part which was assigned to the priests; the remainder belonged to the offerer. Partakers of the altar - Worshippers of the same God. They are united in their worship, and are so regarded. And in like manner, if you partake of the sacrifices offered to idols, and join with their worshippers in their temples, you will be justly regarded as “united” with them in their worship, and partaking with them in their abominations.

The words behind it

14 Greek words

Every Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

16 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

1 Corinthians 9:13Do you not know that those who work in the temple eat of its food, and those who serve at the altar partake of its offerings?5 worksGalatians 6:16Peace and mercy to all who walk by this rule, even to the Israel of God.4 worksLeviticus 3:11Then the priest is to burn them on the altar as food, an offering made by fire to the LORD.4 worksPhilippians 3:3–5For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh—4 worksLeviticus 7:6Every male among the priests may eat of it. It must be eaten in a holy place; it is most holy.4 worksEphesians 2:11–12Therefore remember that formerly you who are Gentiles in the flesh and called uncircumcised by the so-called circumcision (that done in the body by human hands)—4 works
The other 10 cross-references, with their words ▾
Leviticus 3:3–5From the peace offering he is to bring an offering made by fire to the LORD: the fat that covers the entrails, all the fat that is on them,3 worksRomans 4:1What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, has discovered?3 works2 Corinthians 11:18–22Since many are boasting according to the flesh, I too will boast.3 worksRomans 4:12And he is also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised, but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.3 worksRomans 1:3regarding His Son, who was a descendant of David according to the flesh,3 works1 Samuel 9:12–13“Yes, he is ahead of you,” they answered. “Hurry now, for today he has come to the city because the people have a sacrifice on the high place.2 worksRomans 9:3–8For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my own flesh and blood,2 worksExodus 18:12Then Moses’ father-in-law Jethro brought a burnt offering and sacrifices to God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat bread with Moses’ father-in-law in the presence of God.2 worksLeviticus 7:11–17Now this is the law of the peace offering that one may present to the LORD:1 works1 Samuel 2:13–16or for the custom of the priests with the people. When any man offered a sacrifice, the servant of the priest would come with a three-pronged meat fork while the meat was boiling1 works

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    Galatians 6:16

    Peace and mercy to all who walk by this rule, even to the Israel of God.

    it leads to

    • Galatians 3:29

      And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise.

    • Philippians 3:3

      For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh—

    • Romans 9:6–8

      It is not as though God’s word has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel.

    • Galatians 3:7–9

      Understand, then, that those who have faith are sons of Abraham.

    • 1 Peter 2:5–9

      you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

  • Through

    Leviticus 3:11

    Then the priest is to burn them on the altar as food, an offering made by fire to the LORD.

    it leads to

    • Leviticus 21:6

      They must be holy to their God and not profane the name of their God. Because they present to the LORD the offerings made by fire, the food of their God, they must be…

    • Leviticus 21:17

      “Say to Aaron, ‘For the generations to come, none of your descendants who has a physical defect may approach to offer the food of his God.

    • Leviticus 21:8

      You are to regard him as holy, since he presents the food of your God. He shall be holy to you, because I the LORD am holy—I who set you apart.

Where this verse is studied

On this page

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About 1 Corinthians

The Last Supper, Leonardo da Vinci, 1495 to 1498. Public domain.
The Last Supper, Leonardo da Vinci, 1495 to 1498. Public domain.
1 Corinthians: the study guide →Read 1 Corinthians 10 →
This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on 1 Corinthians 24; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 1 Corinthians.

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