Metaphysical Bible Interpretation of I Corinthians Chapter 10
Metaphysically Interpreting I Corinthians 10:1-22
10:1For I would not, brethren, have you ignorant, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 10:2and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 10:3and did all eat the same spiritual food; 10:4and did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of a spiritual rock that followed them: and the rock was Christ. 10:5Howbeit with most of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
10:6Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. 10:7Neither 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. 10:8Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. 10:9Neither let us make trial of the Lord, as some of them made trial, and perished by the serpents. 10:10Neither murmur ye, as some of them murmured, and perished by the destroyer. 10:11Now these things happened unto them by way of example; and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages are come. 10:12Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. 10:13There hath no temptation taken you but such as man can bear: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation make also the way of escape, that ye may be able to endure it.
10:14Wherefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. 10:15I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say. 10:16The 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? 10:17seeing that we, who are many, are one bread, one body: for we are all partake of the one bread. 10:18Behold Israel after the flesh: have not they that eat the sacrifices communion with the altar? 10:19What say I then? that a thing sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? 10:20But 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. 10:21Ye 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. 10:22Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?
June 2, 1940: I Cor. 10:6-7
What forms of idolatry are most often found existing at the present time? The desire and the effort to live for pleasure are prevalent modern forms of idolatry.
November 5, 1950: I Cor. 10:12-13
What is the “way of escape” from every temptation? It is the sublimation of desire, and this way lies in the control by us of our thoughts as we master each step in the elevating process with the help of the Christ Spirit.
Metaphysically Interpreting I Corinthians 10:23-33
10:23All things are lawful; but not all things are expedient. All things are lawful; but not all things edify. 10:24Let no man seek his own, but each his neighbor's good. 10:25Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, eat, asking no question for conscience' sake, 10:26for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof. 10:27If one of them that believe not biddeth you to a feast, and ye are disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience' sake. 10:28But if any man say unto you, This hath been offered in sacrifice, eat not, for his sake that showed it, and for conscience sake: 10:29conscience, I say, not thine own, but the other's; for why is my liberty judged by another conscience?10:30If I partake with thankfulness, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks?
10:31Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. 10:32Give no occasions of stumbling, either to Jews, or to Greeks, or to the church of God: 10:33even as I also please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of the many, that they may be saved.
June 23, 1918: I Cor. 10:23-33
Should one always adhere in thought and act to the letter of the Law? One should have as an ideal the Absolute Truth and should endeavor to fulfill the Law in all activities. In applying the Law, Divine Wisdom and Love should decide all things.
How may one have the assurance of doing the right thing under all circumstances? He must seek to understand the Divine Law of [be]ing, to do all things to the glory of God, to exalt the Christ. This demands that one be temperate in all things.
What is one's attitude toward others when one's “neighbor's good” is considered in connection with one's “obedience to the Law”? An intelligent application of the Law cultivates a right spirit, makes one broad-minded, forgiving, tactful and harmonious in all the affairs of life.
In this attitude is one negative or swayed by circumstances to the point of breaking the Law, or causing another to stumble? No. Cultivating the Christ spirit makes one positive in Truth. And to all that seems incomplete from his viewpoint he quietly says, “suffer it to be so now,” at the same time keeping himself poised in his spiritual mastery. “I, if I be lifted up, . . . will draw all men unto me.”
In the matter of diet do men ever make an occasion of “stumbling” to their fellowmen? Yes. So long as men demand meat they cause other men to stumble or fall from the Christ Life in killing animals for food. This desire for flesh is sense appetite, or intemperance.
Does Paul advise the eating of meat because it is before one? No. He emphasizes the point that one should be guided by “conscience.” The argument in the text was to settle a matter of Jewish doctrine, and cannot consistently be taken as authority on modern diet.
September 18, 1921: I Cor. 10: 23-33
Explain: “All things are lawful; but not all things edify.” Everything is related to the one Law, but conditions may be such that it would not be wise to insist upon complete and instant conformity to that Law.
What is one of the great adjustments of the Law mentioned in this lesson? “Let. . . . man seek his . . . neighbor's good.” To work for the spiritual good of another, and at the same time not to interfere with his perfect freedom, harmonizes the law of good in both the within and the without, the subjective and the objective.
What is true temperance? To be truly temperate is to be equalized and balanced in all our thinking. When our thoughts of wisdom are tempered with love, when our thoughts of joy are poised and centered in peace and freedom, there is no desire for false stimulants in mind or in body.
In the matter of associating with others, what point should be carefully considered? Each one is working out his own salvation, therefore, we should not judge what another should eat, or drink, or do. But, in our association with all people we should keep in mind the one Presence and the one Power and in all ways identify ourselves with its Law.
Transcribed by Lloyd Kinder on 11-16-2013
