Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Corinthians 10:10
Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
10. Neither murmur ye ] See Exo 16:2; Exo 17:2; Num 14:2-29; Num 16:41.
of the destroyer ] The angel of death. Cf Exo 12:23, Wis 18:25 , where nearly the same Greek word is used in the Septuagint as here. Cf. also Genesis 19; 2Sa 24:16; 1Ch 21:12; 1Ch 21:15-16 ; 1Ch 21:20; 2Ki 19:35; 2Ch 32:21; Act 12:23. Estius concludes from Judges 5, 9, that this was the Archangel Michael, but the passage does not seem to warrant the conclusion.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Neither murmur ye – Do not repine at the allotments of Providence, or complain of His dealings.
As some of them also murmured – Num 14:2. The ground of their complaining was, that they had been disappointed; that they had been brought out of a land of plenty into a wilderness of want; and that instead of being conducted at once to the land of promise, they were left to perish in the desert. They therefore complained of their leaders, and proposed to return again into Egypt.
And were destroyed of the destroyer – That is, they were doomed to die in the wilderness without seeing the land of Canaan; Exo 14:29. The destroyer here is understood by many to mean the angel of death, so often referred to in the Old Testament, and usually called by the Jews Sammael. The work of death, however, is attributed to an angel in Exo 12:23; compare Heb 11:28. It was customary for the Hebrews to regard most human events as under the direction of angels. In Heb 2:14, he is described as he that had the power of death; compare the Book of Wisdom 18:22, 25. The simple idea here, however, is, that they died for their sin, and were not permitted to enter the promised land,
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 10. Neither murmur ye] How the Israelites murmured because of the manna, which their souls despised as a light bread-something incapable of affording them nourishment, c., and because they had been brought out of Egypt into the wilderness, and pretended that the promises of God had failed and how they were destroyed by serpents, and by the destroyer or plague; may be seen at large in the texts referred to in the margin on this and the preceding verses. It appears from what the apostle says here, that the Corinthians were murmuring against God and his apostle for prohibiting them from partaking of the idolatrous feasts, just as the Israelites did in the wilderness in reference to a similar subject. See the history of Phineas, with Zimri and Cosbi, and the rebellion of Corah and his company, c., c.
Destroyed of the destroyer.] The Jews suppose that God employed destroying angels to punish those rebellious Israelites they were five in number, and one of them they call Meshachith, the destroyer which appears to be another name for Samael, the angel of death, to whose influence they attribute all deaths which are not uncommon or violent. Those who die violent deaths, or deaths that are not in the common manner of men, are considered as perishing by immediate judgments from God.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Murmuring signifies the speaking against a person or thing, out of dislike, impatience, or discontent. It was a sin the Jews were very much guilty of, as may be read, Exo 15:24; 16:7,8; 17:3; Num 14:27; 16:11,41. The apostle may either refer to all their murmurings, when he saith they
were (as the punishment of their sin) destroyed of the destroyer, or to that more universal murmuring upon the ill report the spies brought up of the land of Canaan, of which we read, Num 14:1-45.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
10. some of them . . . murmureduponthe death of Korah and his company, who themselves were murmurers(Num 16:41; Num 16:49).Their murmurs against Moses and Aaron were virtually murmurs againstGod (compare Exo 16:8; Exo 16:10).Paul herein glances at the Corinthian murmurs against himself, theapostle of Christ.
destroyedfourteenthousand seven hundred perished.
the destroyerTHE samedestroying angel sent by God as in Exo 12:23;2Sa 24:16.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Neither murmur ye,…. Against the true apostles of Christ, and faithful ministers of the word; nor against the laws and ordinances of Christ, or providences of God; so some of the members of this church did, or were inclined to do:
as some of them also murmured: as against the Lord, so against Moses and Aaron. The people of Israel were very prone unto, and often guilty of this sin; but what the apostle here has respect unto, is either their murmuring upon the report the spies made of the good land, in Nu 14:1, or that of Korah and his company against Moses and Aaron, as principal officers, who were for setting all upon a level; and of all the people against them, for the death of these men, Nu 16:1,
and were destroyed of the destroyer; meaning either some judgment of God upon them, as the earth’s opening and swallowing up Korah and all that belonged unto him; and the fire that came down from heaven, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense; and the plague which swept away fourteen thousand and seven hundred of those that murmured against Moses and Aaron, on the account of the death of the said persons; and any other judgment by which the carcasses of those fell in the wilderness, that murmured upon the report of the spies; or else since angels were usually employed by God, in inflicting such judgments, by the destroyer may be meant an angel, such an one as smote the firstborn in Egypt, and bears the same name, Heb 11:28 and as smote Israel with a pestilence upon David’s numbering the people, and was about to have destroyed Jerusalem, had he not been restrained, 2Sa 24:15 and as, smote an hundred fourscore and five thousand in the camp of the Assyrians, in one night, 2Ki 19:35. So that though an angel may be intended, it is not necessary, on account of the character given him, to understand an evil angel; it is true indeed, that Satan is by the Jews a called , “the destroyer”; and Samuel, the same with Satan, is called “the angel of death”; to which the allusion is in Heb 2:14 and evil angels are frequently styled , “destroying angels” b; as distinct from ministering ones, and to which some think the apostle here refers.
a T. Bab. Beracot, fol. 16. 2. b T. Bab. Kiddushin, fol. 72. 1. Beracot, fol. 51. 1.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Neither murmur ye ( ). Implying that some of them were murmuring. For this late picturesque onomatopoetic verb see on Mt 20:11. The reference seems to be to Nu 16:41f. after the punishment of Korah.
By the destroyer ( ). This word, from (late verb from , destruction) occurs only here, so far as known. The reference is to the destroying angel of Ex 12:23 ( ).
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Murmur [] . See on Joh 6:41.
The destroyer [ ] . The destroying angel, who is called oJ ojloqreuwn, Exo 12:23.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) Neither murmur ye. (mede gonguzete) “Neither murmur, whisper, or complain ye.” Such expresses ingratitude and a wrong relation of one to both his God, and his fellowman and indicates a personal selfishness and covetousness toward one’s own way, so prominent among the Pharisees and Sadducees, Luk 5:30; Luk 15:2; Luk 19:7.
2) “As some of them also murmured. (kathaper tines auton egongusan) “In like manner or after the pattern of some of them who murmured.” They murmured about water to drink, bread to eat, and burial place, Exo 15:24; Exo 16:2-3. They murmured in their tents before their children, against God. Deu 1:27.
3) “And were destroyed by the destroyer. (kai apolonte hupo tou olethreutou) “And they were destroyed by the destroyer.” Exo 16:20; Exo 17:9-16; Num 16:35; Num 16:49; Num 25:9; Numbers 31. Their sins were willful and presumptuous sins, Heb 10:26; Rom 6:1.
GRUMBLE-HOUSE
Grumble-House is on the North side of Dismal Street. It is surrounded by a stone wall, which fails to admit the sunlight of God’s Grace. It is located near a forest which is haunted by the screeching of discontent. There are many rodents on the premises which spoil the fruits of the Spirit. The lamp of joy is never seen in any of its gloomy rooms. Owing to their spirit of heaviness, the inmates of Grumble House have no garments of Praise; but are clad in the beggarly elements of the world. As they have never learned Eph 5:19, their only song is like the croaking of a raven; because it does not proceed from hearts overflowing with thankfulness to God for all His goodness and mercy.
I will not grumble, grunt, or growl; Or sit and mope like some old owl: Because life’s inconvenient things Do test the strength of soaring wings With which to rise above the roof Of Grumble-House; and thus give proof That I belong to Pleasant-Town; And wear a smile, but ne’er a frown. Thus will my aged wrinkled face Reflect my Father’s loving grace.
– Church of Christ Advocate
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
10. Neither murmur ye Others understand this to be the murmuring that arose, when the twelve, who had been sent to spy out the land, disheartened, on their return, the minds of the people. But as that murmuring was not punished suddenly by any special chastisement from the Lord, but was simply followed by the infliction of this punishment — that all were excluded from the possession of the land, it is necessary to explain this passage otherwise. It was a most severe punishment, it is true, to be shut out from entering the land, (554) but the words of Paul, when he says that they were destroyed by the destroyer, express another kind of chastisement. I refer it, accordingly, to the history, which is recorded in the sixteenth chapter of Numbers. [Num 16:1 ]. For when God had punished the pride of Korah and Abiram, the people raised a tumult against Moses and Aaron, as if they had been to blame for the punishment which the Lord had inflicted. This madness of the people God punished by sending down fire from heaven, which swallowed up many of them — upwards of fourteen thousand. It is, therefore, a striking and memorable token of God’s wrath against rebels and seditious persons, that murmur against him.
Those persons, it is true, murmured against Moses; but as they had no ground for insulting him, and had no occasion for being incensed against him, unless it was that he had faithfully discharged the duty which had been enjoined upon him by God, God himself was assailed by that murmuring. Let us, accordingly, bear in mind that we have to do with God, and not with men, if we rise up against the faithful ministers of God, and let us know that this audacity (555) will not go unpunished.
By the destroyer you may understand the Angel, who executed the judgment of God. Now he sometimes employs the ministry of bad angels, sometimes of good, in punishing men, as appears from various passages of Scripture. As Paul here does not make a distinction between the one and the other, you may understand it of either.
(554) “ De n’entrer point en la iouissance de la terre promise;” — “Not to enter on the enjoyment of the promised land.”
(555) “ Ceste temerite outrecuidee;” — “This presumptuous rashness.”
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(10) Neither murmur ye.The reference here is to Num. 16:41-47, and the historical event alluded toviz., the murmuring of the Israelites against their God-given leaders, Moses and Aaronis analogous to the murmuring of the Corinthians against their Apostle, St. Paul. It is noticeable that St. Paul attributes the death of the people to the Destroyeri.e., Gods messenger sent to destroywhile in Numbers they are said to have perished by the plague. Every pestilence that swept over nations to purify them was a messenger from God. Thus in Psa. 78:50 God is said to give their life over to the pestilence, which in Exo. 12:23 is spoken of as the destroyer.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
10. Murmured Korah and his company murmured against Moses and Aaron, (and so against God,) and more than 14,000 of the people were destroyed. Num 16:49. By analogy this warns the Corinthians to beware of those who would excite a captious rebellion and schism, not only against the gospel and the Church, but against the authority of Christ’s true apostles.
Destroyer In the pestilence following the crime of Korah and his company no personal destroyer is mentioned; but one is presupposed as executing that divine judgment, perhaps from the analogy of Exo 12:23, where the destroyer, the divine executioner of death for sin, is mentioned.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘Nor murmur you, as some of them murmured, and perished by the destroyer.’
The final example is of their dissatisfied murmurings. Examples of this accompanied by judgment are found in Num 11:1-3; Num 14:1-38; Num 16:41 but they ‘murmured’ on numerous occasions. The change to ‘you’ might seem to indicate that he has in mind their murmuring against him, as the people had against Moses, and this would favour Num 14:1-38 as being in mind, as would the connection of that passage with the people dying in the wilderness (compare 1Co 10:5 above). But the point is the same. The people murmured against Moses and against God and were severely punished and perished in the wilderness. In the nicest possibly way he indicates what happens to people who murmur against their God-given leaders.
‘The Destroyer (‘olothreutes).’ Exo 12:23 LXX speaks of ‘the destroyer’ (‘olothreuon), and the destroying angel who utilised pestilence is described in 1Ch 21:12; 1Ch 21:15. In Jewish literature ‘the Destroyer’ is linked with the incident in Numbers 16. Thus the emphasis is on the fact that they were destroyed directly by God’s instrument. God Himself was responsible for what happened.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
1Co 10:10. Of the destroyer The Jews generally interpret this of him, whom they stile “The danger of death,” under the name of Sammael. See Exo 12:23. Heb 11:28. Locke and Hammond.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
1Co 10:10 . Nor murmur , etc.; expression of contumacious discontent (Mat 20:11 ; Phi 2:14 ), without right or reason. Against whom ? is discovered from the narrative , to which Paul here refers us. That this is to be found not in Num 14 (the more common view), but in Num 16:41 ; Num 16:49 (Calvin, de Wette, Osiander, Neander, Maier, Ewald), is clear, in the first place, because . . . denotes a violent death, which does not tally with Num 14 ; and, in the second, because cannot apply to the whole people (except Caleb and Joshua), which it would have to do according to Num 14 . If, however, what Paul has here in view is the murmuring against Moses and Aaron after the death of Korah and his company (Num 16:41 ; Num 16:49 ), then his prohibition must refer not to discontent against God (which was, moreover, referred to already in 1Co 10:9 ), but only to murmuring against the divinely commissioned teachers (Paul, Apollos, and others), who, in their position and authoritative exercise of discipline, corresponded to the type of Moses and Aaron as the theocratic leaders and teachers of the rebellious people. And it is for this reason that he uses the second person here, although the first both precedes and follows it. Amidst the self-conceit and frivolity which were so rife at Corinth, and under the influences of the party-spirit that prevailed, there could not fail to be perverse dispositions of the kind indicated, which would find abundant expression. Comp the evils prevalent in the same community at a later date, against which Clement contends in his epistle.
. . .] namely, the 14,700, whose destruction (Num 16:46 ff.) is ascribed to the plague ( ) of God. Paul defines this more closely as wrought by the Destroyer (Hesychius, ), who is the executor of the divine plague, just as in Exo 12:23 the executes the plague ( ) of God, this personal rendering of (according to others, pernicies ), which was the traditional one from the earliest times among Jews and Christians alike, being followed by the apostle also. The ( , Exo 12:23 ; Heb 11:28 ; Wis 18:25 . Comp 2Sa 24:16 ; Isa 37:36 ; Job 33:22 , al [1611] ; Act 12:23 ) is the angel commissioned by God to carry out the slaughter; and he again is neither to be conceived of as an evil angel (a conception still foreign to the old Hebrew theology in general; see also 1Ch 21:12 ; 2Ch 32:21 ; 2Ma 15:22-23 ), nor rationalized into a pestilence. The Rabbinical doctrine of the (see Eisenmenger, entdecktes Judenth . I. p. 854 ff.) developed itself out of the Hebrew idea.
, and the words formed from it, belong to the Alexandrian Greek. See Bleek on Heb. II. p. 809. But the reading ., although in itself more correct, is very weakly attested here.
[1611] l. and others; and other passages; and other editions.
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
Ver. 10. As some of them also ] viz. Num 14:1-5 And God said Amen to it,1Co 10:281Co 10:28 . May he not justly say the same to our detestable God-damn-me’s? “As truly as I live, saith the Lord, as ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you.”
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
10. ] has been by Estius, Grot., al., and De Wette, understood of murmuring against their teachers , as the Israelites against Moses and Aaron, Num 14:2 ; Num 16:41 . But not to mention that this was in fact murmuring against God , such a reference would require something more specific than the mere word . The warning is substantially the same as the last, but regards more the spirit, and its index the tongue. Theophyl.: , , , ; similarly Chrys.
The destruction referred to must be that related Num 16:41 ff. when the pestilence (which though it is not so specified there , was administered on another occasion by a destroying angel, 2Sa 24:16-17 , see also Exo 12:23 ) took off 14,700 of the people. The punishment of the unbelieving congregation in Num 14 , to which this is commonly referred, does not seem to answer to the expression . , nor to the , seeing that all except Joshua and Caleb were involved in it.
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
murmur. Greek. gonguzo. Occurs here and six times in the Gospels.
destroyer. Greek. olothreutes. Only here, but the verb is found in Heb 11:28, of the destroying angel, and also in Exo 12:23 and other places in the Septuagint.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
10.] has been by Estius, Grot., al., and De Wette, understood of murmuring against their teachers, as the Israelites against Moses and Aaron, Num 14:2; Num 16:41. But not to mention that this was in fact murmuring against God, such a reference would require something more specific than the mere word . The warning is substantially the same as the last, but regards more the spirit, and its index the tongue. Theophyl.: , , , ; similarly Chrys.
The destruction referred to must be that related Num 16:41 ff. when the pestilence (which though it is not so specified there, was administered on another occasion by a destroying angel, 2Sa 24:16-17, see also Exo 12:23) took off 14,700 of the people. The punishment of the unbelieving congregation in Numbers 14, to which this is commonly referred, does not seem to answer to the expression . , nor to the , seeing that all except Joshua and Caleb were involved in it.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
1Co 10:10. , do not murmur) comp. 1Co 10:22. Moses and Aaron were the secondary objects of murmuring in the Old Testament.-, murmured) Num 16:41. With Moses, murmuring preceded the temptation; but Paul places murmuring after the temptation in the last place, as being most like to that sin, into which the Corinthians were liable to fall. He who is weaker [than the Lord], ought not to murmur; comp. 1Co 10:22; Exo 16:8; Exo 16:10, at the end of the ver.-, perished) ibid. 10:49.-, destroyer) Comp. Wis 18:22; Wis 18:25; Heb 11:28, note.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
1Co 10:10
1Co 10:10
Neither murmur ye,-To murmur is to complain in a discontented rebellious spirit.
as some of them murmured,-The fact here recited is that of the revolt of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram who murdered because they were not permitted to serve in the priestly office. They envied others who were entrusted with higher trusts than they. [In quoting this example, Paul possibly had in view the irritation felt by a party among the Corinthians against himself and his fellow laborers who disapproved of their taking part in heathen rejoicings. This party chafed at their severity, which gave rise to so painful a situation for Christians in relation to their idolatrous friends.]
and perished by the destroyer.-Korah, Dathan, and Abiram were swallowed up by the earth. (Num 16:1-35). [The destroyer means the pestilence which destroyed fourteen thousand and seven hundred persons. (Num 16:49). The pestilence in Davids day was administered by a destroying angel. (2Sa 24:16-17). The angel in Exo 12:23 is called the destroyer. It should be noted, (1) that in all the sins specified in the foregoing, Paul says, some of them, showing that it was not true of all the Israelites of that day; (2) that he regards all these sins as connected with and growing out of lusting. (Compare Jas 1:14-15; 1Jn 2:16-17).]
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
murmur: Exo 15:24, Exo 16:2-9, Exo 17:2, Exo 17:3, Num 14:2, Num 14:27-30, Num 16:41, Psa 106:25, Phi 2:14, Jud 1:16
were: Num 14:37, Num 16:46-49
destroyer: Exo 12:23, 2Sa 24:16, 1Ch 21:15, 2Ch 32:21, Mat 13:39-42, Act 12:23, 2Th 1:7, 2Th 1:8, Heb 11:28, Rev 16:1
Reciprocal: Exo 16:8 – the Lord heareth Exo 23:20 – Angel Num 11:1 – And when Num 20:2 – gathered Job 15:21 – the destroyer Job 33:22 – his life Mar 14:5 – And they Joh 6:41 – murmured Act 6:1 – there
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
AGAINST MURMURING
Neither murmur ye.
1Co 10:10
Peevishness and discontent are not Christ-like. His wish for us, Do all things without murmurings. Take no anxious thought. Fret not thyself. Selfishness the root of discontent.
I. Insignificant provocations.Petty worries, crossings, injuries ruffle the spirit; yet little things are your Lords care.
II. Many grumblings come from troubles
(a) Exaggerated.
(b) Imaginary.
(c) Anticipated.
Look at things as they are. Your Father knoweth.
III. If real anxieties cause fretting, then remember complainings aggravate. Israel in wilderness (Exodus 15, 16, 17).
IV. Helps to content.
(a) Rest in God.
(b) Cultivate praise.
(c) Try to lighten burdens of others.
Rev. F. S. Legg.
Fuente: Church Pulpit Commentary
1Co 10:10. Murmur is from GOGGUZO, which Thayer defines, “to murmur, mutter, grumble, say anything in a low tone,” and he explains it at this place to mean, “those who discontentedly complain.” The instance Paul refers to is in Num 14:1-4. The word is used of members of the church who manifest an unfavorable attitude toward things in general, yet will not specify anything they can show to be unscriptural.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
1Co 10:10. Neither murmur ye, as some of them[2] murmured, and perished by the destroyer. The reference here is not so much to the rebellion of Korah and Dathan (Numbers 16), as most critics think,for there was nothing in the Corinthian Church analogous to this,but rather to that rebellion which broke out on the return of the spies, when the Lord sware that they should not enter into His rest (Numbers 13, 14), than which nothing could better fit in with the other warnings here given.he might be led unconsciously to substitute Lord here for Christ. On these grounds such critics as De Wette, Neander, Billroth, Osiander, and Stanley adhere to the received text here. Still, since the external evidence for Lord here decidedly preponderates, and there is nothing obliging us to resist it, we must adopt it. And Meyer does so, contrary to his usual practice in such cases.
[2] Also in the received text is certainly not genuine.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Neither murmur ye, as some of them murmured, and perished by the destroyer. [Num 14:2; Num 14:29; Num 16:41-49 . The Israelites murmured against God by rebelling against and rejecting his servants; and the Corinthians were at this time murmuring against Paul, the servant of Christ. They were also liable to complain of their separation from the pagan world, just as many to-day speak resentfully when the pulpit proclaims those Christian principles which are restrictive of worldly excesses. The angel of death is called the destroyer (Exo 12:23; 2Sa 24:16). The Jews commonly called this angel Sammael. The “all” of grace and privilege, found in 1Co 10:1-4; stands in sad contrast to the “some of them” of deflection and apostasy found in 1Co 10:7-10 . God showed mercy to all, but some disobeyed in one way and some in another until almost all had proved unworthy of his mercy.]
Fuente: McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries (New Testament)
SANCTIFICATION TAKES OUT THE MURMUR
10. Murmur ye not as some of them murmured, and were destroyed by the destroyer. Unsanctified people are never satisfied. In the winter it is too cold, in the summer too hot, in the spring too wet, and in the fall too dry. Sanctified people are always perfectly pleased with the weather and everything else which God manages. They shout amid the snow storms of winter, so beautifully emblematic of the blood-washed robes they wear. They praise the Lord for the sultry summer heat, so delectably relieved by the delicious cooling shade-trees which God planted with His own hands, that we might gather under them and press the Holiness camp-meetings through all the long sultry summer. They leap and shout amid the refreshing vernal showers, assured that their Heavenly Father is sending them down to awaken the sweet May flowers from their long winter sleep. They give glory to God amid all the clouds of dust which eclipse an autumnal sun, bringing on the delectable Indian summer, affording blessed opportunity to gather in the delicious fruits of the prolific summer and store them away for the oncoming winter, whose dreary icy tread will be cheered by an abundant supply of potatoes, nuts and apples. Lord, help us to get saved from all our fret and worry.
Fuente: William Godbey’s Commentary on the New Testament
Verse 10
Numbers 14:2-4,15:1-3.
Fuente: Abbott’s Illustrated New Testament
Fourth, the Israelites grumbled frequently against the Lord during the wilderness wanderings. Moses recorded 10 separate instances in Exodus and Numbers. However the occasion Paul had in mind was when God sent fire that consumed some of the people on the edge of the camp (Num 11:1-3). Here Paul added that God executed His wrath by using an angel, a fact that Moses did not mention in Numbers. The Septuagint translators used the same term, "the destroyer" (Gr. olothreutes), to describe the angel who executed the Egyptians’ first-born on the night of the Exodus (Exo 12:23; cf. Heb 11:28).
Many instances of the Corinthian Christians’ dissatisfactions with God’s provisions for them come out in this epistle. Not the least of these was their rejection of some of the Lord’s servants who had come to minister to them because they preferred some others (1Co 1:10 to 1Co 4:21). They did not appreciate Paul’s earlier instruction to break off company with idolaters and the sexually immoral (1Co 5:9-11). Another example is the impatience of the "strong" in the church with the "weak" (1Co 8:1-3). Grumbling is a telltale sign of selfishness and discontent with what God has given us.