1 Corinthians 10:1-13 Moreover, brothers, I would not that you should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud… Is it not perfectly simple to explain this figure by the numerous passages in which the Lord is called the Rock of Israel (Deuteronomy 32:4, 15, 18; Isaiah 17:10; Isaiah 26:4)? Only the title of Rock of Israel is given by Paul not to Jehovah, but to Christ. The passage forms one analogy to the words (John 12:41), where the apostle applies to Jesus the vision of Isaiah (chap. Isaiah 6.). Christ is represented in these passages by Paul and John as pre-existent and presiding over the theocratic history. In chap. 1 Corinthians 8:6 Paul had designated Christ as the Being by whom God created all things. Here he represents Him as the Divine Being who accompanied God's people in the cloud through the wilderness, and who gave them the deliverances which they needed. We have the same view here as appears in "the angel of the Lord," so often identified in Genesis with the Lord Himself, and yet distinct from Him, in the Being who is called in Isaiah (Isaiah 63:9) "the angel of His presence," and in Malachi (Malachi 3:1) "the angel of the covenant, Adonai," the mediator between God and the world, especially with view to the work of salvation. It is easy to understand the relation there is between the mention of this great theocratic fact and the idea which the apostle wishes to express in our passage. The spiritual homogeneity of the two covenants, and of the gifts accompanying them, rests on this identity of the Divine Head of both. The practical consequence is obvious at a glance: Christ lived in the midst of the ancient people, and the people perished. How can you Christians think yourselves secure from the same lot? (Prof. Godet.) Parallel Verses 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; |
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