What is the meaning of 1 Corinthians 10:15? I speak to reasonable people “I speak to reasonable people” (1 Corinthians 10:15) shows Paul’s confidence that believers can think clearly and weigh his words. • Scripture consistently invites believers to use God-given minds. Isaiah 1:18 records the Lord saying, “Come now, let us reason together.” • Paul’s pattern was to “reason with them from the Scriptures” (Acts 17:2), underscoring that faith never bypasses thoughtful engagement. • Godly wisdom is described as “pure, peace-loving, considerate” (James 3:17), framing the kind of reasonableness Paul expects. • By addressing the Corinthians this way, Paul elevates them from mere listeners to active participants, reminding them that the Holy Spirit equips every Christian with discernment (1 John 2:27). Judge for yourselves what I say “Judge for yourselves what I say” calls for personal evaluation based on Scripture. • The Bereans modeled this: they “examined the Scriptures daily to see if these teachings were true” (Acts 17:11). • John gives the same charge: “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits” (1 John 4:1). • Mature believers have “their senses trained to distinguish between good and evil” (Hebrews 5:14). • In the immediate context (1 Corinthians 10:16-22), Paul warns against fellowship with idols while partaking of the Lord’s Table. He is urging the church to weigh his argument, see the incompatibility, and choose faithfulness. • This judging is never a rejection of apostolic authority; it is the responsible act of confirming that the message aligns with the unchanging Word (Galatians 1:8). • Discernment guards the church from false teaching (Matthew 7:15-20) and keeps individual believers from drifting (Hebrews 2:1). summary Paul honors the Corinthians as thoughtful believers and asks them to apply Spirit-guided discernment to his teaching. God calls every Christian to reason from Scripture and confirm truth, protecting the fellowship and deepening obedience. |
    |