1 Corinthians 10:11
in 1 Corinthians 10Now these things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Now these things happened unto them by way of example; and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages are come.
KJV
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.
⋯
This verse in 1 Corinthians 10
Commentary
18 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
For ensamples - Greek: “types” (τύποι tupoi). The same word which is used in 1Co 10:6. This verse is a repetition of the admonition contained in that verse, in order to impress it more deeply on the memory; see the note at 1Co 10:
This site's exposition
Now these things happened to
on 1 Corinthians 10:11-13
Paul gives the rule for reading the passage: these things were written down as warnings for us. Its target is the one who thinks he is standing firm, any Corinthian who counted his knowledge or freedom a guard against falling.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers5 voices
"And she said to her maids, Bring me oil." For faith and love prepare oil and unguents to those who are washed. But what were these unguents, but the commandments of the holy Word? And what was the oil, but the power of the Holy Spirit, with which believers are anointed as with ointment after the layer of washing? All these things were figuratively represented in the blessed Susannah, for our sakes, that we who now believe on God might not regard the things that are done now in the Church as strange, but believe them all to have been set forth in figure by the patriarchs of old, as the apostle also says: "Now these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they were written for our instruction, on whom the ends of the world are come."
Thus, too, He imposed upon the [Jewish] people the construction of the tabernacle, the building of the temple, the election of the Levites, sacrifices also, and oblations, legal monitions, and all the other service of the law. He does Himself truly want none of these things, for He is always full of all good, and had in Himself all the odour of kindness, and every perfume of sweet-smelling savours, even before Moses existed.
But the fact is, the apostle's conclusion corresponds to the beginning: "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." What a Creator! how prescient already, and considerate in warning Christians who belong to another god! Whenever cavils occur the like to those which have been already dealt with, I pass them by; certain others I despatch briefly.
For as it was on our account and for our learning that these events are described in the Scriptures, so for our sakes also were they done-(even ours, I say), "upon whom the ends of the world are come." In this way it was that even then He knew full well what human feelings and affections were, intending as He always did to take upon Him man's actual component substances, body and soul, making inquiry of Adam (as if He were ignorant), "Where art thou, Adam? " -repenting that He had made man, as if He had lacked foresight; tempting Abraham, as if ignorant of what was in man; offended with persons, and then reconciled to them; and whatever other (weaknesses and imperfections) the heretics lay hold of (in their assumptions) as unworthy of God, in order to discredit the Creator, not considering that these circumstances are suitable enough for the Son, who was one day to experience even human sufferings-hunger and thirst, and tears, and actual birth and real death, and in respect of such a dispensation "made by the Father a little less than the angels.
If, then he shows plainly that even wives themselves are so to be had as if they be not had, on account of the straits of the times, what would be his sentiments about these vain appliances of theirs? Why, are there not many, withal, who so do, and seal themselves up to eunuchhood for the sake of the kingdom of God, spontaneously relinquishing a pleasure so honourable, and (as we know) permitted? Are there not some who prohibit to themselves (the use of) the very "creature of God," abstaining from wine and animal food, the enjoyments of which border upon no peril or solicitude; but they sacrifice to God the humility of their soul even in the chastened use of food? Sufficiently, therefore, have you, too, used your riches and your delicacies; sufficiently have you cut down the fruits of your dowries, before (receiving) the knowledge of saving disciplines. We are they "upon whom the ends of the ages have met, having ended their course." We have been predestined by God, before the world was, (to arise) in the extreme end of the times.
11 more voices on this verse
The Church Fathers3 voices
Therefore, by means of the wide licence of those days, materials for subsequent emendations were furnished beforehand, of which materials the Lord by His Gospel, and then the apostle in the last days of the (Jewish) age, either cut off the redundancies or regulated the disorders.
And yet that "blindness" then was felt long before "the ends of the world." What, then, will the case be if God now keep us from the vices which of old were detestable before Him? "The time," says (the apostle), "is compressed.
"Now all these things happened unto them by way of example; and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages are come." Again he terrifies them speaking of the "ends," and prepares them to expect things greater than had already taken place. "For that we shall suffer punishment is manifest," saith he, "from what hath been said, even to those who disbelieve the statements concerning hell-fire; but that the punishment also will be most severe, is evident, from the more numerous blessings which we have enjoyed, and from the things of which those were but figures. Since, if in the gifts one go beyond the other, it is most evident that so it will be in the punishment likewise." For this cause he both called them types, and said that they were "written for us" and made mention of an "end" that he might remind them of the consummation of all things. For not such will be the penalties then as to admit of a termination and be done away, but the punishment will be eternal; for even as the punishments in this world are ended with the present life, so those in the next continually remain. But when he said, "the ends of the ages," he means nothing else than that the fearful judgment is henceforth nigh at hand.
The Medieval Church2 voices
What is the hour of supper, except the end of the world? In which we certainly are, as Paul long ago testifies, saying: "We are those upon whom the ends of the ages have come." If therefore it is already the hour of supper when we are called, the less should we excuse ourselves from the banquet of God, the more we perceive that the end of the age has drawn near. For the more we consider that nothing remains, the more we ought to fear lest the time of grace that is at hand be lost.
He frightens them also in the case when he says that this was written as instruction for us, that we too must expect punishments, and all the more terrible ones the greater the gifts we have been deemed worthy of, and also when he presents …
The Puritans and the Awakening4 voices
On whom the ends of the ages are come - The expression has great force. All things meet together, and come to a crisis, under the last, the gospel, dispensation; both benefits and dangers, punishments and rewards. It remains, that Christ come as an avenger and judge.
Not only the laws and ordinances of the Jews, but the providences of God towards them, were typical. Their sins against God, and backslidings from him, were typical of the infidelity of many under the gospel. God's judgments on them were types of spiritual judgments now.
Now all these things happened unto them,....
He resumes his former argument ( ch. viii. ), about eating things offered to idols; and shows that it was utterly inconsistent with true Christianity, that it was downright gross idolatry, to eat them as things offered to idols; it is having fellowship with devils, which cannot consist with having fellowship with God,
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
The oldest manuscripts read, "by way of example." the ends of the world--literally, "of the ages"; the New Testament dispensation in its successive phases (plural, "ends") being the winding up of all former "ages." No new dispensation shall appear till Christ comes as Avenger and Judge; till then the "ends," being many, include various successive periods (compare Heb 9:26).
Upon whom the ends of the world are come - Τα τελη των αιωνων· The end of the times included within the whole duration of the Mosaic economy. For although the word αιων means, in its primary sense, endless being, or duration; yet, in its accommodated sense, it is applied to any round or duration that is complete in itself: and here it evidently means the whole duration of the Mosaic economy. “Thus, therefore,” says Dr. Lightfoot, “the apostle speaks in this place that those things, which were transacted in the beginning of the Jewish ages, are written for an example to you upon whom the ends of those ages are come; and the beginning is like to the end, and the end to the beginning. Both were forty years; both consisted of temptation and unbelief; and both ended in the destruction of the unbelievers - that, in the destruction of those who perished in the wilderness; this, in the destruction of those that believed not: viz. the destruction of their city and nation.” The phrase סוף יומיא soph yomaiya, the end of days, says the Targum of Jerusalem, Gen 3:15, means ביומוי דמלכא משיחא beyomoi demalca Meshicha, in the days of the King Messiah. We are to consider the apostle’s words as referring to the end of the Jewish dispensation and the commencement of the Christian, which is the last dispensation which God will vouchsafe to man in the state of probation.
The words behind it
17 Greek wordsEvery 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.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ταῦτα | tauta | These things | G3778 → | 1381 times |
| δὲ | de | now | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| τυπικῶς | tupikos | typologically | ||
| συνέβαινεν | sunebainen | it was happening | G4819 → | |
| ἐκείνοις, | ekeinois | to them, | G1565 → | 260 times |
| ἐγράφη | egraphe | were written | G1125 → | 189 times |
| δὲ | de | then | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| πρὸς | pros | for | G4314 → | 700 times |
| νουθεσίαν | nouthesian | admonition | G3559 → | |
| ἡμῶν | hemon | of us | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| εἰς | eis | to | G1519 → | 1755 times |
| οὓς | hous | whom | G3739 → | 1405 times |
| τὰ | ta | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| τέλη | tele | ends | G5056 → | 40 times |
| τῶν | ton | of the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| αἰώνων | aionon | ages | G165 → | 121 times |
| κατήντηκεν.¶ | katenteken | has come. | G2658 → |
ταῦταThese things
tautaG3778 →1381 times
δὲnow
deG1161 →2765 times
τυπικῶςtypologically
tupikos
συνέβαινενit was happening
sunebainenG4819 →
ἐκείνοις,to them,
ekeinoisG1565 →260 times
ἐγράφηwere written
egrapheG1125 →189 times
δὲthen
deG1161 →2765 times
πρὸςfor
prosG4314 →700 times
νουθεσίανadmonition
nouthesianG3559 →
ἡμῶνof us
hemonG3165 →1936 times
εἰςto
eisG1519 →1755 times
οὓςwhom
housG3739 →1405 times
τὰthe
taG3588 →19766 times
τέληends
teleG5056 →40 times
τῶνof the
tonG3588 →19766 times
αἰώνωνages
aiononG165 →121 times
κατήντηκεν.¶has come.
katentekenG2658 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach 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
Romans 13:11And do this, understanding the occasion. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.
it leads to
- 1 Peter 4:7
The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear-minded and sober, so that you can pray.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:5–8
For you are all sons of the light and sons of the day; we do not belong to the night or to the darkness.
- Ephesians 5:14
So it is said: “Wake up, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
- Mark 13:35–37
Therefore keep watch, because you do not know when the master of the house will return—whether in the evening, at midnight, when the rooster crows, or in the morning.
- 1 Corinthians 15:34
Sober up as you ought, and stop sinning; for some of you are ignorant of God. I say this to your shame.
- 1 Peter 4:7
Through
Romans 15:4For everything that was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures, we might have hope.
it leads to
- 2 Timothy 3:16–17
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
- Romans 4:23–24
Now the words “it was credited to him” were written not only for Abraham,
- 2 Timothy 3:16–17
Through
Philippians 4:5Let your gentleness be apparent to all. The Lord is near.
it leads to
- James 5:8–9
You, too, be patient and strengthen your hearts, because the Lord’s coming is near.
- James 5:8–9
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies36
On this verse
On this chapter
About 1 Corinthians
This page draws on 17 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); Charles Hodge, An Exposition of the First Epistle to the Corinthians; Gregory the Dialogist, Forty Gospel Homilies, Homily 36; Hippolytus of Rome, Hippolytus Exegetical Fragments; Irenaeus, Irenaeus Against Heresies Book 4; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homilies on First Corinthians; John Chrysostom, Homily on 1 Corinthians 23; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Tertullian, Against Marcion Book V; Tertullian, Against Praxeas; Tertullian, On the Apparel of Women Book II; Tertullian, To His Wife Book I and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 1 Corinthians.