1 Corinthians 10:18Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Notice how, concerning the Jews, he did not say that they were sharers of God, but "participants of the altar," because what was offered was burned. But concerning the Body of Christ he does not speak so. How then? It is communion of the Lord’s Body, because we become sharers not of the altar, but of Christ Himself. Having said, "participants of the altar," he feared lest someone think that he was speaking of idols as having some power and being able to cause harm. See how he next rejects this thought and says, "What am I saying then? That an idol is anything, or that what is offered to idols is anything?" (1 Cor 10:19). I say this, he continues, and turn you away from idols, not because they can cause any harm or have any power. They are nothing. But I want you to despise them. If he wants us to despise them, you will say, why does he turn us away from them with such intensity? Because their sacrifices are not offered to your Master.

This is already an authoritative decree. Earlier he had said, "Judge for yourselves," as though offering counsel. But when he has set before them the whole danger of tables of things sacrificed to idols, he no longer leaves room for their reasoning. He writes a decree: "Do not dare any longer to touch these demonic sacrifices" (Bishop Theophan).

Likewise all who partook of Old Testament sacrifices entered into spiritual communion. Therefore the participants in idol sacrifices also undoubtedly enter into communion. But in whose name does this communion occur? In the opinion of the heathen, it occurs in the name of gods. In Christian consciousness, it does not occur in God’s name. Therefore it occurs in the name of His adversary, and the supreme adversary of God is the devil. Consequently, whoever serves many gods serves demons, or devils generally. But the Apostle states this conclusion more positively. First he affirms that the heathen sacrifice to demons, and only then adds, "and not to God." Thus the thought that idolatry is service to demons is not merely an inference. It is a revealed truth, casting great light on the whole pitiful history of heathen superstitions and sacrifices. These often consisted of human victims: innocent children and chosen youths and maidens. Truly this was a demonic suggestion. Speaking briefly and almost in passing about the Mystery of Communion, the Apostle nevertheless did not fail to speak of its deepest meaning and significance. In this meaning it differs essentially from all sacrifices. By calling it the Eucharist, he showed that here, through the sacred blessing, there is a mystical change of the bread into the Lord’s Body and of the wine into His Blood. Therefore those who commune enter into the closest union with the Lord. They themselves constitute one body of the Church, whose head is Christ. And all this is presented as a truth known to all Christians and as a generally accepted matter. Noting the Apostle’s thought about the union of Christians, Chrysostom says: "As bread, composed of many grains, becomes one, so that although grains are in it, they are not seen, and their difference is imperceptible because of their union, so we are united with one another and with Christ. For we are nourished by one and the same Body, that, having put off the former dead flesh, we might be prepared through this table for immortal life."

They descended according to the flesh from Abraham and Jacob, who was first called Israel. They are distinguished from spiritual Israel, the Christians, who behold God and are gathered through the preaching of faith from all nations. The law concerning sacrifices in Israel was this: only a portion of what was brought to the altar was placed on the altar and burned. The rest was used as food by the priests. Thus God laid down the law, saying that those who serve the altar should be nourished from the altar. Therefore He did not assign an inheritance to the tribe of Levi, which was appointed to perform the temple services. Rather, He said: I am your portion. That is, the land feeds those tribes, but I will feed you. Thus the priests and Levites were nourished from God’s table. This table was the altar. God’s portion was consumed by fire. The priests’ portion was consumed by the priests themselves, according to God’s blessing, as they received it from the altar, as from God’s table. This is why the Apostle called them sharers of the altar, that is, of the Lord’s table. Through this they did not enter into essential communion with God, although they belonged to God, but only with the altar. With spiritual Israel it is not so. Here the sacrifice of the Body and Blood of Christ is offered. Those who eat from this sacrifice are sharers not of the altar, but of Christ Himself. Chrysostom says: "There those who eat from the sacrifice become sharers only of the altar. With us it is not so. How is it, then? Eating from our sacrifice is communion of the Body of Christ. For we become partakers not of the altar, but of Christ Himself."