The big picture
1 Corinthians 10 opens in verse 1 with “Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 17 with “For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one…”, and closes in verse 33 with “Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of…” Repeated or prominent terms include conscience, drink, Christ, devils, sacrifice. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
1 Corinthians · King James Version · 331 Corinthians 10:1-7
1–7: Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all…
1 Corinthians 10:1–7 opens with “Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under…” and reaches “Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 1 Corinthians 10 develops its own movement around conscience, drink, Christ, devils, sacrifice, with particular weight carried by drink, spiritual, cloud.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all…” Naming Moreover keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
1 Corinthians 10:1-7
King James Version1Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;
2And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
3And did all eat the same spiritual meat;
4And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
5But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
6Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
7Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.
1 Corinthians 10:8-14
8–14: Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell…
1 Corinthians 10:8–14 opens with “Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and…” and reaches “Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 1 Corinthians 10 develops its own movement around conscience, drink, Christ, devils, sacrifice, with particular weight carried by some, able, destroyed.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
1 Corinthians 10:8-14
King James Version8Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.
9Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.
10Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
11Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
12Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
13There 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, that ye may be able to bear it.
14Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.
1 Corinthians 10:15-21
15–21: I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.
1 Corinthians 10:15–21 opens with “I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.” and reaches “Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 1 Corinthians 10 develops its own movement around conscience, drink, Christ, devils, sacrifice, with particular weight carried by devils, bread, partakers.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 3 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.” The line’s distinctive content terms include judge, wise. Its relationship to verses 16 shows what work it does in this passage.
“The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.
1 Corinthians 10:15-21
King James Version15I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.
16The 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?
17For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.
18Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?
19What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing?
20But 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.
21Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils.
1 Corinthians 10:22-28
22–28: Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?
1 Corinthians 10:22–28 opens with “Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?” and reaches “But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 1 Corinthians 10 develops its own movement around conscience, drink, Christ, devils, sacrifice, with particular weight carried by sake, conscience, asking.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.
1 Corinthians 10:22-28
King James Version22Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?
23All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.
24Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth.
25Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake:
26For the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof.
27If 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.
28But 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:
1 Corinthians 10:29-33
29–33: Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my…
1 Corinthians 10:29–33 opens with “Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another…” and reaches “Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 1 Corinthians 10 develops its own movement around conscience, drink, Christ, devils, sacrifice, with particular weight carried by conscience, profit, church.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 2 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
1 Corinthians 10:29-33
King James Version29Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man’s conscience?
30For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks?
31Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
32Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:
33Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
1 Corinthians 10:1 begins with “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;”
Where the chapter turns
1 Corinthians 10:16 forms a natural hinge: “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…”
The final note
1 Corinthians 10:33 leaves the reader with “Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words conscience, drink, Christ, devils, sacrifice, sake help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
Why list the nations before introducing Abram?
The blessing promised through Abram will concern the families of the earth, not an isolated group.
What organizes the table?
Families, lands, nations and languages recur, linking people with place and relationship.
KJV words made clear
- behold
- look, or pay close attention
- unto
- to
- hath
- has
- wherefore
- for that reason
- lest
- so that something does not happen
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.