1 Corinthians 10:17

New Testament Epistle (Pauline) ASV (1901)

What does 1 Corinthians 10:17 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “seeing that we, who are many, are one bread, one body: for we are all partake of the one bread.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

seeing that we, who are many, are one bread, one body: for we are all partake of the one bread.
1 Corinthians 10:17 — American Standard Version

Context — 1 Corinthians 10

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
17seeing that we, who are many, are one bread, one body: for we are all partake of the one bread.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“For we being many, are one bread and one body, etc.] The several members of the church of Christ; particular believers are indeed many, considered in themselves, in their own persons; yet by virtue of their union to Christ, which is manifested by their communion with him, they are one bread with him, the bread of life, and one body with his, signified by the bread; they are of one and the same mass and lump, they are incorporated together, they are flesh of his flesh, and one spirit with him: or they are one bread and body among themselves; as bread consists of many grains of corn which have been ground and kneaded together, and make up one loaf; and as the members of an human body are many,…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“one bread--rather, "loaf." One loaf alone seems to have been used in each celebration. and one body--Omit "and"; "one loaf [that is], one body." "We, the many (namely, believers assembled; so the Greek), are one bread (by our partaking of the same loaf, which becomes assimilated to the substance of all our bodies; and so we become), one body" (with Christ, and so with one another). we . . . all--Greek, "the whole of us."”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“For we - We Christians. “Being many.” Greek “The many” (οἱ πολλοί hoi polloi). This idea is not, as our translation would seem to indicate, that Christians were numerous, but that “all” (for οἱ πολλοί hoi polloi is here evidently used in the sense of παντες pantes, “all”) were united, and constituted one society. Are one bread - One loaf; one cake. That is, we are united, or are one. There is evident allusion here to the fact that the loaf or cake was composed of many separate grains of wheat, or portions of flour united in one; or, that as one loaf was broken and partaken by all, it was implied that they were all one. We are all one society; united as one, and for the same object. Our…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“For it is this communion which makes us all one. We being many are yet, as it were, but different parts of one and the same broken bread, which we receive to unite us in one body. 1 Corinthians 10:18”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“we being: Co1 12:12, Co1 12:27; Rom 12:5; Gal 3:26-28; Eph 1:22, Eph 1:23, Eph 2:15, Eph 2:16, Eph 3:6, Eph 4:12, Eph 4:13; Eph 4:25; Col 2:19, Col 3:11, Col 3:15 that: Co1 10:3, Co1 10:4, Co1 10:21, Co1 11:26-28 1 Corinthians 10:18”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification