1 Corinthians 10:15

¶ I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.

I speak {G3004} as {G5613} to wise men {G5429}; judge {G2919} ye {G5210} what {G3739} I say {G5346}.

I speak to you as sensible people; judge for yourselves what I am saying.

I speak to reasonable people; judge for yourselves what I say.

I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.

In 1 Corinthians 10:15, the Apostle Paul makes a powerful appeal to the Corinthians' spiritual maturity and intellect. He invites them to critically evaluate his preceding arguments and upcoming warnings, trusting in their God-given capacity for discernment rather than simply demanding obedience. This verse serves as a crucial transition, setting the stage for deeper theological explanations regarding Christian conduct and worship.

Context

This verse comes at a pivotal point in Paul's discourse on Christian liberty and responsibility. In the preceding verses (1 Corinthians 10:1-14), Paul uses the historical examples of Israel's failures in the wilderness (idolatry, immorality, murmuring) as a solemn warning against similar pitfalls for the Corinthians. He emphasizes that despite their spiritual privileges, they could still fall away if they indulged in temptation. He concludes the previous section with a direct command to "flee from idolatry". Having laid this foundation, Paul now prepares to explain *why* participation in pagan idol feasts is incompatible with their identity in Christ and participation in the Lord's Supper. His appeal to them as "wise men" is not flattery, but a challenge to engage their spiritual understanding in light of the serious implications of their actions.

Key Themes

  • Spiritual Discernment: Paul assumes the Corinthians possess the spiritual capacity to understand and judge the truth of his teachings. He is not dictating blindly but appealing to their reason, guided by the Holy Spirit. This highlights the Christian's responsibility to develop and exercise discernment in matters of faith and practice.
  • Accountability for Understanding: By asking them to "judge," Paul places the onus on them to actively weigh his arguments. This emphasizes that believers are not to passively accept teaching but to critically evaluate it against God's revealed truth.
  • Divine Wisdom: The "wisdom" Paul refers to is not worldly intellectualism, but a spiritual understanding granted by God, enabling them to comprehend divine truths and make godly choices. This contrasts with the worldly wisdom often discussed in 1 Corinthians 1 and 1 Corinthians 2.

Linguistic Insights

  • "Wise men" (sophos - σοφός): In this context, Paul uses sophos not to commend their worldly intelligence, but their spiritual capacity to understand profound truths. He is challenging them to live up to the spiritual wisdom they claim or should possess as believers in Christ.
  • "Judge ye" (krinō - κρίνω): The verb krinō here means to discern, evaluate, or decide. It's an invitation for them to weigh his arguments carefully and arrive at the correct conclusion, rather than a negative command to criticize or condemn him. It implies an expectation of agreement based on sound reasoning and spiritual insight.

Practical Application

This verse holds significant relevance for believers today:

  • Active Engagement with Scripture: We are called to be "noble Bereans", diligently searching the Scriptures to verify what is taught. We should not blindly accept any teaching but test it against the unchanging Word of God (1 Thessalonians 5:21).
  • Cultivating Spiritual Discernment: Just as Paul appealed to the Corinthians' wisdom, believers today are expected to grow in spiritual discernment. This comes through prayer, consistent study of God's Word, and reliance on the Holy Spirit to guide our understanding and decisions.
  • Responsibility for Our Choices: Paul's challenge reminds us that we are accountable for the choices we make, especially concerning our worship, associations, and spiritual practices. We must consider the implications of our actions on our relationship with God and our testimony to the world.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • 1 Thessalonians 5:21

    Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.

  • 1 Corinthians 8:1

    ¶ Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.

  • Job 34:2

    Hear my words, O ye wise [men]; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge.

  • Job 34:3

    For the ear trieth words, as the mouth tasteth meat.

  • 1 Corinthians 14:20

    Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.

  • 1 Corinthians 11:13

    Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered?

  • 1 Corinthians 6:5

    I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?

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