1CO 10:1-13

Warnings from Israelʼs Past

1For I do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, that all our fathers were under the cloud and all passed through the sea, [10:2] and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, [10:3] and all ate the same spiritual food, [10:4] and all drank the same spiritual drink — for they drank from the spiritual rock that followed them, and that rock was Christ. [10:5] Yet with most of them God was not pleased — for they were struck down in the wilderness. [10:6] Now these things became patterns for us, so that we would not be desirers of evil things, as they desired. [10:7] And do not become idolaters, as some of them were — as it is written: "The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play." [10:8] And let us not commit sexual immorality, as some of them committed sexual immorality and twenty-three thousand fell in one day. [10:9] And let us not test Christ, as some of them tested him and were destroyed by the serpents. [10:10] And do not grumble, as some of them grumbled and were destroyed by the destroyer. [10:11] Now these things happened to them as patterns, and were written for our instruction — upon whom the ends of the ages have come. [10:12] So then, let the one who thinks he stands take care that he does not fall. [10:13] No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to humanity; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able — but with the temptation will also make the way out, so that you may be able to endure it.

In the world it was spoken into

For the Corinthian audience, steeped in Greco-Roman culture but familiar with Jewish scripture, Paul’s reference to Israel’s wilderness generation would have evoked a shared narrative of divine provision and failure. The mention of baptism 'in the cloud and in the sea' would resonate with their understanding of initiation rituals, while the 'spiritual food' and 'spiritual drink' would recall the manna and water from the rock, symbols of God’s sustenance. The term (types) would be understood as patterns or examples, a concept familiar in both Jewish midrash and Greco-Roman moral instruction. The warning against idolatry, sexual immorality, and testing God would directly challenge Corinthian practices, where temple feasts and sexual license were commonplace. The assurance that 'no temptation has overtaken you except what is common to humanity' would offer comfort in a city rife with moral and social pressures, reminding them of God’s faithfulness even in trials.

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How other translations render this

1CO 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;
BSB: I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud, and that they all passed through the sea.
Koinōnos: For I do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, that all our fathers were under the cloud and all passed through the sea,

1CO 10:2

KJV: And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
BSB: They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.
Koinōnos: and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea,

1CO 10:3

KJV: And did all eat the same spiritual meat;
BSB: They all ate the same spiritual food
Koinōnos: and all ate the same spiritual food,

1CO 10:4

KJV: And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
BSB: and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.
Koinōnos: and all drank the same spiritual drink — for they drank from the spiritual rock that followed them, and that rock was Christ.

1CO 10:5

KJV: But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
BSB: Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them, for they were struck down in the wilderness.
Koinōnos: Yet with most of them God was not pleased — for they were struck down in the wilderness.

1CO 10:6

KJV: Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
BSB: These things took place as examples to keep us from craving evil things as they did.
Koinōnos: Now these things became patterns for us, so that we would not be desirers of evil things, as they desired.

1CO 10:7

KJV: Neither 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.
BSB: Do not be idolaters, as some of them were. As it is written: “The people sat down to eat and to drink, and got up to indulge in revelry.”
Koinōnos: And do not become idolaters, as some of them were — as it is written: "The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.

1CO 10:8

KJV: Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.
BSB: We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died.
Koinōnos: And let us not commit sexual immorality, as some of them committed sexual immorality and twenty-three thousand fell in one day.

1CO 10:9

KJV: Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.
BSB: We should not test Christ, as some of them did, and were killed by snakes.
Koinōnos: And let us not test Christ, as some of them tested him and were destroyed by the serpents.

1CO 10:10

KJV: Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
BSB: And do not complain, as some of them did, and were killed by the destroying angel.
Koinōnos: And do not grumble, as some of them grumbled and were destroyed by the destroyer.

1CO 10:11

KJV: 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.
BSB: Now these things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come.
Koinōnos: Now these things happened to them as patterns, and were written for our instruction — upon whom the ends of the ages have come.

1CO 10:12

KJV: Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
BSB: So the one who thinks he is standing firm should be careful not to fall.
Koinōnos: So then, let the one who thinks he stands take care that he does not fall.

1CO 10:13

KJV: 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, that ye may be able to bear it.
BSB: No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide an escape, so that you can stand up under it.
Koinōnos: No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to humanity; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able — but with the temptation will also make the way out, so that you may be able to endure it.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Translator's notes

1CO 10:6

types:The word translated 'types' refers to an impression or a pattern, like a stamp leaves an imprint. It suggests these past events serve as examples or models for understanding future events.
desirers:The term used here for 'desirers' implies a strong, often negative, craving or longing, particularly for things that are forbidden or inappropriate.

1CO 10:8

shall we commit sexual immorality:The phrase 'shall we commit sexual immorality' uses a word that broadly covers all forms of illicit sexual activity, not just one specific act.

1CO 10:13

Temptation:The word translated 'Temptation' can mean both a trial or test, and a temptation to do wrong. It encompasses both the challenge and the enticement.