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1 Corinthians 10:18

New Testament Epistle (Pauline) ASV (1901)

What does 1 Corinthians 10:18 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Behold Israel after the flesh: have not they that eat the sacrifices communion with the altar?” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Behold Israel after the flesh: have not they that eat the sacrifices communion with the altar?
1 Corinthians 10:18 — American Standard Version

Context — 1 Corinthians 10

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
15I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.
16The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not a communion of the body of Christ?
17seeing that we, who are many, are one bread, one body: for we are all partake of the one bread.
18Behold Israel after the flesh: have not they that eat the sacrifices communion with the altar?
19What say I then? that a thing sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything?
20But [I say], that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have communion with demons.
21Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of demons: ye cannot partake of the table of the Lord, and of the table of demons.
← 1 Corinthians 10:171 Corinthians 10:19 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Behold Israel after the flesh, etc.] So the apostle calls them, to distinguish them from the Israel of God, the spiritual Israel, whether Jews or Gentiles; who are born again, believe in the true Messiah, worship God in a spiritual manner, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in fleshly things; but these were the descendants of Jacob or Israel by carnal generation, were carnal men, in the flesh, in a state of unregeneracy, and were employed in a carnal worship, in the observance of carnal commandments and ordinances; these the apostle directs to, to see, consider, and take notice of what they were doing; from whence some instruction might be taken, for the further clearing of the…”
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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
“Israel after the flesh--the literal, as distinguished from the spiritual, Israel (Rom 2:29; Rom 4:1; Rom 9:3; Gal 4:29). partakers of the altar--and so of God, whose is the altar; they have fellowship in God and His worship, of which the altar is the symbol.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Behold Israel - Look at the Jews. The design here is to illustrate the sentiment which he was establishing, by a reference to the fact that among the Jews those who partook of the same sacrifices were regarded as being one people, and as worshipping one God. So, if they partook of the sacrifices offered to idols, they would be regarded also as being fellow-worshippers of idols with them. After the flesh - See Romans 4:1. The phrase “after the flesh” is designed to denote the Jews who were not converted to Christianity; the natural descendants of Israel, or Jacob. Are not they which eat of the sacrifices - A portion of the sacrifices offered to God was eaten by the offerer, and another…”
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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
“Consider Israel after the flesh - Christians are the spiritual "Israel of God." Are not they who eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar - Is not this an act of communion with that God to whom they are offered? And is not the case the same with those who eat of the sacrifices which have been offered to idols? 1 Corinthians 10:19”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Israel: Rom 4:1, Rom 4:12, Rom 9:3-8; Co2 11:18-22; Gal 6:16; Eph 2:11, Eph 2:12; Phi 3:3-5 are: Co1 9:13; Lev 3:3-5, Lev 3:11, Lev 7:11-17; Sa1 2:13-16, Sa1 9:12, Sa1 9:13 1 Corinthians 10:19”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification