Paul considers all the spiritual problems and sins manifested in the life of the Corinthian church to be a "human trial," that is, one in which there is nothing unusual, nothing supernatural, and nothing especially terrible...
Paul considers all the spiritual problems and sins manifested in the life of the Corinthian church to be a "human trial," that is, one in which there is nothing unusual, nothing supernatural, and nothing especially terrible. The word "trial" in such a context is usually translated into Russian as "temptation," but the corresponding Greek word (like its Hebrew equivalent) means precisely "trial," although it can also contain the meaning we have in mind today when we speak of temptations. For us, however, temptations are more often connected with our own sins, while trials are usually associated with a kind of exam, a test of our faith and our faithfulness.
Yet, strictly speaking, the difference between a trial and a temptation is determined only by whether we pass the exam or fail it. If we do not fail, we speak (sometimes with pride) of a trial we have passed through; if we fail, we call the trial a temptation, grieving that our sins have once again turned out to be stronger than we are. But for the first Christians, as can be seen, there was no sharp distinction here, and Paul is no exception.
And this is not surprising: for the apostle, Christianity is not a religion where there is room, on the one hand, for vivid preaching and heroic self-sacrifice, and on the other, for a secret struggle with one's own sin, secret because it is awkward and shameful to speak about such things aloud. For Paul, Christianity is life in the Kingdom. And it does not matter what keeps a person from living this life in fullness: fear of possible or real persecution, resentment at rejection by those around him who live the life of "this world," or one of those passions or vices that have seized the mind and heart, about which the apostle says that among Christians it is improper even to mention them.
In every case, the issue is something incompatible with the life of the Kingdom and therefore something that must be overcome. That means the issue is always a trial. And that it is "human," characteristic of people, is unfortunately also true: Paul is speaking about things that, for fallen people, are all too typical, despite their ugliness. But the apostle knows something else as well: for those for whom the life of the Kingdom is more important than everything else, such trials are fully surmountable. For unlike people, God is faithful to the promises once given and to the union-covenant once established.
10
10:1 Now - That ye may not become reprobates, consider how highly favoured your fathers were, who were God's elect and peculiar people, and nevertheless were rejected by him. They were all under the cloud - That eminent token of God's gracious presence, which screened them from the heat of the sun by day, and gave them light by night. And all passed through the sea - God opening a way through the midst of the waters. Exo 13:21, Exo 14:22
10:2 And were all, as it were, baptized unto Moses - initiated into the religion which he taught them. In thecloud and in the sea - Perhaps sprinkled here and there with drops of water from the sea or the cloud, by which baptism might be the more evidently signified.
10:3 And all ate the same manna, termed spiritual meat, as it was typical,
- Of Christ and his spiritual benefits:
- Of the sacred bread which we eat at his table.
Exo 16:15.10:4 And all drank the same spiritual drink - Typical of Christ, and of that cup which we drink. For they drank out of the spiritual or mysterious rock, the wonderful streams of which followed them in their several journeyings, for many years, through the wilderness. And that rock was a manifest type of Christ - The Rock of Eternity, from whom his people derive those streams of blessings which follow them through all this wilderness. Exo 17:6.
10:5 Yet - Although they had so many tokens of the divine presence. They were overthrown - With the most terrible marks of his displeasure.
10:6 Now these things were our examples - Showing what we are to expect if, enjoying the like benefits, we commit the like sins. The benefits are set down in the same order as by Moses in Exodus; the sins and punishments in a different order; evil desire first, as being the foundation of all; next, idolatry, Co1 10:7, Co1 10:14; then fornication, which usually accompanied it, Co1 10:8; the tempting and murmuring against God, in the following verses. As they desired - Flesh, in contempt of manna. Num 11:4
10:7 Neither be ye idolaters - And so, "neither murmur ye," Co1 10:10. The other cautions are given in the first person;but these in the second. And with what exquisite propriety does he vary the person! It would have been improper to say, Neither let us be idolaters; for he was himself in no danger of idolatry; nor probably of murmuring against Christ, or the divine providence. To play - That is, to dance, in honour of their idol. Exo 32:6.
10:8 And fell in one day three and twenty thousand - Beside the princes who were afterwards hanged, and those whom the judges slew so that there died in all four and twenty thousand. Num 25:1, Num 25:9.
10:9 Neither let us tempt Christ - By our unbelief. St.Paul enumerates five benefits, Co1 10:1-4; of which the fourth and fifth were closely connected together; and five sins, the fourth and fifth of which were likewise closely connected. In speaking of the fifth benefit, he expressly mentions Christ; and in speaking of the fourth sin, he shows it was committed against Christ. As some of them tempted him - This sin of the people was peculiarly against Christ; forwhen they had so long drank of that rock, yet they murmured for want of water. Num 21:4, etc
10:10 The destroyer - The destroying angel. Num 14:1, Num 14:36
10:11 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. And even these ends include various periods, succeeding each other.
10:12 The common translation runs, Let him that thinketh he standeth; but the word translated thinketh, most certainly strengthens, rather than weakens, the sense.
10:13 Common to man - Or, as the Greek word imports, proportioned to human strength. God is faithful - In giving the help which he hath promised. And he will with the temptation - Provide for your deliverance.