1 Corinthians 10:4Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Therefore he says, "that followed." Do you see Paul's wisdom, and how he explains that Christ is the giver of both gifts? In this way he brings the type near to the truth.

He says that Christ gave those gifts, and He also sets forth this table. He led them through the sea, and He leads you through Baptism. There He supplied manna and water, and to you the Body and Blood.

Such are His gifts. Let us see, then, whether He spared the Israelites when they proved unworthy of His gifts. No.

"For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them; and the Rock was Christ." As for the food, no confirmation was needed, for its extraordinary character was evident in itself. But regarding the drink, confirmation was needed, because only the manner of bringing it forth was extraordinary.

Therefore he says that the nature of the rock did not give the water. Otherwise it would have poured it forth before. Rather, another Rock accomplished everything, namely Christ. By the word "followed," he expressed this thought: Christ was everywhere present with them and performed all the miracles.

He also called Christ that Rock because, like a rock, the side of our Lord was pierced by the blow of a spear. From it blood and water trickled forth (Jn 19:34), the blood for the cleansing and drink of all nations.

The rod is an image of the Cross. Pharaoh is an image of the devil. The Egyptians are images of the demons. The manna is an image of the Divine Food, and the water from the rock is an image of the saving Blood.

For as the Hebrews, after passing through the Red Sea, tasted extraordinary food and wondrous drink, so we, after saving Baptism, partake of the Divine Mysteries.

Question 28. Why is the rock called Christ?

Because it became an image of the Master Christ. So too the sea is called Baptism, although no one was baptized in it. For the people of Israel passed through it without being wetted by water, or rather, covered with dust.

"For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ."

By this the Apostle means that the rock itself did not serve them in this way. Rather, God's grace caused that rock, beyond all expectation, to pour forth streams of water.

For if the rock had followed them, or if the water from the rock had followed them, why would they again have had need of water?

"For," blessed Theodoret objects, "if the rock followed them, or if the water from the rock followed them, why would they again have had need of water?"

If we dwell only on the word "followed," α̉κολουθούσης, which is the most obscure point for interpretation here, we may say this. The miracle of bringing forth water was repeated many times in the wilderness.

One may say that it followed the Israelites, as the manna followed them. Among the rabbis, this following of the miracle was represented as the following of the rock itself.

They were baptized "in the cloud and in the sea" (1 Cor 10:2). "And all ate the same spiritual food," that is, the miraculously sent manna (1 Cor 10:3).

"And all drank the same spiritual drink," miraculously drawn from the rock. "For they drank," in a typological sense, "from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ" (1 Cor 10:4).

"But with many of them," the Apostle observes, "God was not well pleased, for they were struck down in the wilderness" (1 Cor 10:5).

In the history of the Hebrews, saved and then destroyed for murmuring, idolatry, and fornication with pagans, the Apostle points to types for future times. He observes that hidden in them is "instruction for us," Christians, "upon whom the ends of the ages have come" (1 Cor 10:11).

The Apostle therefore beseeches the Corinthians to flee pagan temptations, which are so numerous at feasts, and to abandon all self-confidence. Let them not think that they cannot be compared with the Hebrews, as though they would not yield to sinful temptations at pagan idol-feasts.

"Let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. My beloved, flee from idolatry" (1 Cor 10:14).

Israel passing through the sea corresponded to those being baptized. The pursuing Egyptians represented the demons, and Pharaoh himself served as an image of the devil. The manna prefigured the Body of the Lord, and the water the Blood of the Lord, from Whose side blood and water flowed."

Explaining how the Hebrews were baptized into Moses, St John Chrysostom says: "Since the Apostle wishes to bring the type near to the truth, he also calls the type by the name of the truth."

That is, he says "into Moses," but by this we must understand not Moses himself, but the Lord. As he says below: "They drank from the spiritual Rock, and the Rock was Christ" (Theophan).

"The rock did not pour forth water by its own nature. Otherwise it would have poured it forth before. Rather, another spiritual Rock did all this, that is, Christ, Who continually accompanied them and performed all the miracles.

Therefore he says, 'that followed.' Thus he brings the type near to the truth" (Chrysostom).

Although this was perceptible to the senses, it was given spiritually, not according to the laws of nature, but according to grace, that is, by the power of God.

Concerning the food, the manna, he added nothing by way of explanation. It was plainly unlike ordinary food, not only in the way it was received, but also in its very substance.

But concerning the drink, in which only the manner of receiving was miraculous and required explanation, after saying, 'they drank the same spiritual drink,' he added: 'for they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them.' Then he adds again: 'and the Rock was Christ.'

The rock did not pour forth water by its own nature. Otherwise it would have poured it forth before. Rather, another spiritual Rock did all this, that is, Christ, Who continually accompanied them and performed all the miracles.

Therefore he says, 'that followed.' Do you see Paul's wisdom, and how he explains that Christ is the giver of both gifts? In this way he brings the type near to the truth.

He says that Christ gave those gifts to the Israelites, and He also sets forth this table. He led them through the sea, and He also leads you through the water of Baptism.

He supplied them with manna and water, and to you He sets forth the Body and the Blood. Such are His gifts" (St Chrysostom).

Even if we do not grasp the type and the truth with complete clarity, detail by detail, no harm is done. The general thought is clear: the Israelites received gifts from God which, in a higher sense, correspond to the gifts given to Christians.

For the Apostle's purpose, this is enough.

"Why does he say this? To show that, just as such great gifts did not profit the Israelites, so Baptism and participation in the spiritual Mysteries will not profit the Corinthians if their life does not correspond to such grace.

For this reason he points to the types of Baptism and the Mysteries" (St Chrysostom). See 1 Cor 10:2.