CORINTHIANS
CHAPTER 10
Christ is the God of Israel and the spiritual Rock that guided them—Ancient Israel rebelled against Christ—Paul contrasts true and false sacraments.
1 MOREOVER, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;
3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat; [ "Gospel Ordinances from the Beginning Perhaps our friends will say that the Gospel and its ordinances were not known till the days of John, the son of Zacharias, in the days of Herod, the king of Judea. But we will here look at this point: For our own part we cannot believe that the an cients in all ages were so ignorant of the system of heaven as many suppose, since all that were ever saved, were saved through the power of this great plan of redemption, as much before the coming of Christ as since; if not, God has had different plans in operation (if we may so express it), to bring men back to dwell with Himself; and this we cannot believe, since there has been no change in the constitution of man since he fell; and the ordinance or institution of offering blood in sacrifice, was only designed to be performed till Christ was offered up and shed His blood —as said before—that man might look forward in faith to that time. It will be noticed that, according to Paul, (see Gal. 3:8) the Gospel was preached to Abraham. We would like to be informed in what name the Gospel was then preached, whether it was in the name of Christ or some other name. If in any other name, was it the Gospel? And if it was the Gospel, and that preached in the name of Christ, had it any ordinances? If not, was it the Gospel? And if it has ordinances what were they ? Our friends may say, perhaps, that there were never any ordinances except those of offering sacrifices before the coming of Christ, and that it could not be possible before the Gospel to have been administered while the law of sacrifices of blood was in force. But we will recollect that Abraham offered sacrifice, and notwithstanding this, had the Gospel preached to him. That the offering of sacrifice was only to point the mind forward to Christ, we infer from these remarkable words of Jesus to the Jews: “Your Father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad” (John 8:56). so, then, because the ancients offered sacrifice it did not hinder their hearing the Gospel; but served, as we said before, to open their eyes, and enable them to look forward to the time of the coming of the Savior, and rejoice in His redemption. We find also, that when the Israelites came out of Egypt they had the Gospel preached to them, according to Paul in his letter to the Hebrews, which says: “For unto us was the Gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it” (see Heb. 4:2). It is said again, in Gal. 3:19, that the law (of Moses, or the Levitical law) was “added” because of transgression. What, we ask, was this law added to, if it was not added to the Gospel? It must be plain that it was added to the Gospel, since we learn that they had the Gospel preached to them. From these few facts, we conclude that whenever the Lord revealed Himself to men in ancient days, and commanded them to offer sacrifice to Him, that it was done that they might look forward in faith to the time of His coming, and rely upon the power of that atonement for a remission of their sins. And this they have done, thousands who have gone before us, whose garments are spotless, and who are, like Job, waiting with an assurance like his, that they will see Him in the latter day upon the earth, even in their flesh. We may conclude, that though there were different dispensations, yet all things which God communicated to His people were calculated to draw their minds to the great object, and to teach them to rely upon God alone as the author of their salvation, as contained in His law" (Teachings Of The Prophet Joseph Smith pg 59-61) ]
4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they [ The children of Israel. ] drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: [ The water that came forth from the rocks when Moses struck the rock. ] and that Rock was Christ.
[ Notice how bold Paul is here - the Rock was/is Jesus Christ. He does not say it represents Christ, no he suggests that it was Christ that provided for them. ]
6 Now these things were our examples, [ "examples" typicos or as a type. The children of Israel are the example of what not to do. ] to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
[ Or can we learn from them, can we be better than they were? They seemed to murmur and complain that Gid only provided them witha manna, and they wanted quail. They always were wanting more than what they had, more water, better food, to be in the promised land already... ]
7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, [ Exodus 32:6. ] The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.
[ Or they lived their lives by the motto to eat drink and be merry. Paul is using the scriptures as an example of what not to be or do. ]
8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.
9 Neither let us tempt Christ, [ Because he was the God of the Old testament that the children of Israel dealt with. ] as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.
10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them [ So not everyone was bad - just some of them. ] also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
11 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 is rendered in greek as the ends of the ages. Or the time to which all previous ages looked with anticipation. The JST suggests that it is our day here not Pauls day. JST says they were written for our admonition and also for those upon whom the end of the world shall come. ]
12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
[ Beware of over confidence in yourself, the children if Israel maybe were a little overconfident in themselves since they were the chosen people. This is very powerful in the sense that he does not just say if you are standing, but puts it that if you even think to stand, then you need to be careful. You think that you know the old testament but are you really heeding its words of warning? Do you somehow think that you are in a better place than they are? Oh be careful. ]
13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, [ I think that this is a way of saying that, yes we all have temptations, so are harder for one over another. But God in his wisdom knows this and provides a still small voice to suggest now might be a good time to get out of here. What we do is up to us, but if we leave when prompted we we not be tempted too long for us to withstand it. ] that ye may be able to bear it.
[ This does not say that you will never be tempted beyond your ability to withstand, no he is suggesting that you will get a warning, a chance to escape and then it is up to you. If you do not escape then you may sin. ]
15 I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.
[ Or of you are as wise as you proclaim please be wise enough to keep the commandments. ]
16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?
19 What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing?
20 But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.
21 Ye cannot drink the cup [ This is a direct reference to the jewish wedding traditions. In which after the marriage contract was arranged by the father's, after the bride price was established, after the bridegroom gave the bride to be a generous gift, the bridegroom would sit down with the bride to be and poor a glass of wine(symbolic of blood). Then the bride would have 30 seconds to decide whether to drink the glass of wine or not. To drink the cup meant that she accepted all of the covenants (the marriage agreements) and was ready to become bethrothed, if she did not drink within that 30 seconds the bridegroom would simple leave never to be seen of again. If she did drink then they were considered married. At that point the groom would often recite the formal statement "Thou art set apart(consecrated) for me according to the law of Moses and Israel". ] of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils.
23 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.
24 Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s bwealth.
27 If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake.
28 But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof:
29 Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man’s conscience?
33 Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the bprofit of many, that they may be saved.