1 Corinthians 10:19

What am I saying then? That a thing sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything?

World English Bible
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Other translations

WEBBE

What am I saying then? That a thing sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything?

BSB

Am I suggesting, then, that food sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything?

KJV

What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing?

ASV

What say I then? that a thing sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything?

BBE

Do I say, then, that what is offered to images is anything, or that the image is anything?

Original Greek

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The early church

But having said that they have "communion with the altar," afterwards fearing lest he should seem to discourse as if the idols had any power and could do some injury, see again how he overthrows them, saying, "What say I then? That an idol is any thing? or that a thing sacrificed to idols is any thing?" As if he had said, "Now these things I affirm, and try to withdraw you from the idols, not as though they could do any injury or had any power: for an idol is nothing; but I wish you to despise them." "And if thou wilt have us despise them," saith one, "wherefore dost thou carefully withdraw us from them?" Because they are not offered to thy Lord.
John Chrysostom · d. 407Homilies on 1 Corinthians

Commentary

Matthew Henry · Verses 15–22

Did not the joining in the Lord's supper show a profession of faith in Christ crucified, and of adoring gratitude to him for his salvation ? Christians, by this ordinance, and the faith therein professed, were united as the grains of wheat in one loaf of bread, or as the members in the human body, seeing they were all united to Christ, and had fellowship with him and one another. This is confirmed from the Jewish worship and customs in sacrifice. The apostle applies this to feasting with idolaters. Eating food as part of a heathen sacrifice, was worshipping the idol to whom it was made, and having fellowship or communion with it; just as he who eats the Lord's supper, is accounted to partake in the Christian sacrifice, or as they who ate the Jewish sacrifices partook of what was offered on their altar. It was denying Christianity; for communion with Christ, and communion with devils, could never be had at once. If Christians venture into places, and join in sacrifices to the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life, they will provoke God.

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Cross-references

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Topics

Cross-references: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. Hebrew and Greek data from STEPBible.org (Tyndale House, Cambridge), CC BY 4.0. Library: sources.