1 Corinthians 10:14
in 1 Corinthians 10Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Wherefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.
KJV
Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.
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This verse in 1 Corinthians 10
Commentary
12 notes on this verseThus the crown also is made out to be an offering to idols; for with this ceremony, and dress, and pomp, it is presented in sacrifice to idols, its originators, to whom its use is specially given over, and chiefly on this account, that what has no place among the things of God may not be admitted into use with us as with others. Wherefore the apostle exclaims, "Flee idolatry: " certainly idolatry whole and entire he means.
This site's exposition
Therefore, my beloved, flee
on 1 Corinthians 10:14-15
The whole wilderness argument lands in one command, flee from idolatry. Paul uses the same verb elsewhere of sexual immorality, so idolatry is a danger to run from.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers4 voices
Paul is exhorting the Corinthians to avoid any connection with idolatry, so that not only their bodies but their minds as well might be separated from it in order to destroy any form of temptation. For anyone involved in idolatry will expect something out of …
When the apostle says: "Flee from the worship of idols," he means idolatry whole and entire. Look closely at a thicket and see how many thorns lie hidden beneath the leaves!
"Wherefore, my brethren, flee from idolatry." Again he courts them by the name of kindred, and urges them to be rid of this sin with all speed. For he did not say, simply, depart, but "flee;" and he calls the matter "idolatry," and no longer bids them quit it merely on account of the injury to their neighbor, but signifies that the very thing of itself is sufficient to bring a great destruction.
A commentator
Severian of GabalaPAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH · Written before 425.
proposed
You see that everything Paul has been saying up to now is to reinforce this single point.
The Medieval Church1 voice
Since he had given them a sufficient rebuke, he now softens it by calling them beloved. However, he forbids them to eat food sacrificed to idols not only because it is harmful to the brethren, but condemns this practice in itself, calling it idolatry, and …
5 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Wherefore, my dearly beloved,....
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 Century3 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Resuming the argument, 1Co 10:7; 1Co 8:9, 10. flee--Do not tamper with it by doubtful acts, such as eating idol meats on the plea of Christian liberty. The only safety is in wholly shunning whatever borders on idolatry (2Co 6:16, 17).
Therefore - flee from idolatry - This is a trial of no great magnitude; to escape from so gross a temptation requires but a moderate portion of grace and circumspection.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Wherefore - In view of the dangers and temptations that beset you; in view of your own feebleness and the perils to which you would be exposed in the idol temples, etc. Flee from idolatry - Escape from the service of idols; from the feasts celebrated in honor of them; from the temples where they are worshipped. This was one of the dangers to which they were especially exposed; and Paul therefore exhorts them to escape from everything that would have a tendency to lead them into this sin. He had told them, indeed, that God was faithful; and yet he did not expect that God would keep them without any effort of their own. He therefore exhorts them to flee from all approaches to it, and from all the customs which would have a tendency to lead them into idolatrous practices. He returns, therefore, in this verse, to the particular subject discussed in 1Co 8:1-13 - the propriety of partaking of the feasts in honor of idols; and shows the danger which would follow such a practice. That danger he sets forth in view of the admonitions contained in this chapter, from 1Co 10:1 to 1Co 10:12. The remainder of the chapter is occupied with a discussion of the question stated in 1Co 8:1-13, whether it was right for them to partake of the meat which was used in the feasts of idolaters.
The words behind it
7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Διόπερ, | dioper | Therefore, | G1355 → | |
| ἀγαπητοί | agapetoi | beloved | G27 → | 61 times |
| μου, | mou | of mine, | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| φεύγετε | pheugete | do flee | G5343 → | |
| ἀπὸ | apo | from | G575 → | 640 times |
| τῆς | tes | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| εἰδωλολατρίας. | eidololatrias | idolatry. | G1495 → |
Διόπερ,Therefore,
dioperG1355 →
ἀγαπητοίbeloved
agapetoiG27 →61 times
μου,of mine,
mouG3165 →1936 times
φεύγετεdo flee
pheugeteG5343 →
ἀπὸfrom
apoG575 →640 times
τῆς<the>
tesG3588 →19766 times
εἰδωλολατρίας.idolatry.
eidololatriasG1495 →
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
Revelation 21:8But to the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and sexually immoral and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This…
it leads to
- 1 Corinthians 6:9–10
Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who submit to or perform homosexual…
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Revelation 2:11
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who overcomes will not be harmed by the second death.
- Ephesians 5:5–6
For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure, or greedy person (that is, an idolater), has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
- 1 Corinthians 6:9–10
Through
2 Corinthians 7:1Therefore, beloved, since we have these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that defiles body and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
it leads to
- 1 Thessalonians 4:7
For God has not called us to impurity, but to holiness.
- 1 Peter 2:11
Beloved, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from the desires of the flesh, which war against your soul.
- James 4:8
Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
- Proverbs 8:13
To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate arrogant pride, evil conduct, and perverse speech.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:7
Through
1 Peter 2:11Beloved, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from the desires of the flesh, which war against your soul.
it leads to
- 1 John 2:15–17
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
- 1 John 2:15–17
Where this verse is studied
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About 1 Corinthians
This page draws on 12 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); Ambrosiaster, COMMENTARY ON PAUL'S EPISTLES; 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 (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Severian of Gabala, PAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH; Tertullian, De Corona; Tertullian, THE CHAPLET 10 and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 1 Corinthians.