1 Corinthians 10 1

1 Corinthians 10:1 kjv

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;

1 Corinthians 10:1 nkjv

Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea,

1 Corinthians 10:1 niv

For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea.

1 Corinthians 10:1 esv

For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea,

1 Corinthians 10:1 nlt

I don't want you to forget, dear brothers and sisters, about our ancestors in the wilderness long ago. All of them were guided by a cloud that moved ahead of them, and all of them walked through the sea on dry ground.

1 Corinthians 10 verses

1 Corinthians 10 1 Meaning

First Corinthians 10:1 initiates a critical cautionary lesson drawn from the history of Israel in the wilderness. It serves as an admonition to the Corinthian believers, reminding them that their ancestors, despite experiencing profound divine guidance and miraculous deliverance through the pillar of cloud and the parting of the Red Sea, ultimately failed due to disobedience. This verse emphasizes that spiritual privileges and visible signs of God's presence do not guarantee salvation or immunity from divine judgment if accompanied by rebellion and lack of faith. It directly counters spiritual complacency and arrogance, setting the stage for Paul's warning against falling into similar errors.

1 Corinthians 10 1 Context

First Corinthians chapter 10 forms a crucial part of Paul’s response to the Corinthian church's questions and problems, specifically addressing the issue of eating food offered to idols (Ch. 8-10). Having stressed the importance of sacrificing individual freedoms for the sake of a brother's conscience (Ch. 8) and demonstrating his own example of self-discipline (Ch. 9), Paul shifts to a historical cautionary tale. Verse 1 introduces the Exodus generation as a spiritual archetype for the New Covenant believer. The Corinthians, many of whom were proud of their "knowledge" and confident in their spiritual security due to baptism and participation in the Lord's Supper (which Paul alludes to in 10:2-4), risked falling into the same complacency as the Israelites who witnessed incredible miracles yet succumbed to idolatry and lust. Paul directly counters their potential presumption, reminding them that external religious acts do not exempt one from God’s judgment if they live in sin.

1 Corinthians 10 1 Word analysis

• For (γάρ - gar): This conjunction logically links the present warning with Paul's preceding discussion on self-discipline (1 Cor 9:27). It indicates that the following historical account serves as the reason or explanation for why believers must be vigilant to avoid falling away.
• I do not want you to be unaware (οὐ γὰρ θέλω ὑμᾶς ἀγνοεῖν - ou gar thelō hymas agnoein): This is a strong Pauline idiom used to introduce a critical, often neglected, truth or to correct a misunderstanding. It signifies that what follows is an essential teaching they must comprehend and integrate into their lives. It suggests that some Corinthians were likely unaware or had forgotten these lessons.
• brothers (ἀδελφοί - adelphoi): A warm and familial address by Paul to his fellow believers. It maintains an affectionate tone even amidst a stern warning, affirming their shared spiritual kinship and God's family.
• that our fathers (ὅτι οἱ πατέρες ἡμῶν - hoti hoi pateres hēmōn): Refers specifically to the Israelites who departed from Egypt during the Exodus. Paul uses "our" (ἡμῶν) to include himself and the Corinthian Christians, irrespective of their ethnic background, implying that God's covenant history and its lessons apply to all believers who share in God's redemptive plan. This connects Gentile Christians spiritually to the lineage of faith.
• were all under the cloud (πάντες ὑπὸ τὴν νεφέλην ἦσαν - pantes hypo tēn nephelēn ēsan): "All" emphasizes that this experience of divine presence and guidance was universal among that generation of Israelites. The cloud (the pillar of cloud by day) was a tangible manifestation of God's presence, leading, protecting, and overshadowing His people (Exod 13:21-22; 14:19-20). It symbolized divine covering and guidance.
• and all passed through the sea (καὶ πάντες διὰ τῆς θαλάσσης διῆλθον - kai pantes dia tēs thalássēs diēlthon): "All" again stresses the collective experience. This refers to the miraculous crossing of the Red Sea (Exod 14), which signified God's powerful act of salvation and deliverance, separating Israel from slavery in Egypt. It was a pivotal moment of redemption and a communal act of faith (Heb 11:29).
• all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea: The repetition of "all" underscores the universality of these profound spiritual experiences for the Israelite community. This directly confronts any Corinthian who might feel secure because they too participated in universal Christian rites (like baptism or the Lord's Supper), illustrating that outward privilege does not guarantee inward faithfulness or immunity from judgment. Despite experiencing such divine favor, many Israelites failed morally and spiritually.

1 Corinthians 10 1 Bonus section

The events of the cloud and the Red Sea were considered typological by Paul, foreshadowing New Covenant realities. While not explicitly stated in verse 1, it prepares for verse 2 where he directly connects "all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea," showing that Old Testament history provides object lessons for the Church. The focus here is a polemic against the Corinthian spiritual arrogance that their 'knowledge' (gnosis) of idols being nothing, or their participation in sacred Christian rites, made them immune to spiritual danger. The Old Testament examples are not just stories, but warnings for "us, on whom the end of the ages has come" (1 Cor 10:11). These instances highlight the enduring principle that privilege demands responsibility; God's favor is not an excuse for sin but a call to deeper obedience.

1 Corinthians 10 1 Commentary

1 Corinthians 10:1 lays the foundational premise for Paul's extended warning to the Corinthians. By referencing the Exodus generation's unique spiritual privileges—divine guidance under the cloud and miraculous deliverance through the Red Sea—Paul draws a parallel to the Corinthians' own Christian experiences, particularly baptism. The point is not that these events were flawed, but that possessing such outward blessings and divine encounters did not prevent the Israelites from succumbing to idolatry, immorality, and rebellion, ultimately leading to divine judgment. This verse combats spiritual complacency, serving as a solemn reminder that a history of God's favor or participation in communal Christian rites does not secure one against personal sin and its consequences. It demands vigilance and ongoing faithful obedience from every individual believer, urging them not to presume upon God's grace or imagine themselves beyond the reach of temptation.