Charles Ellicott Commentary 1 Corinthians 10:9

"Neither let us make trial of the Lord, as some of them made trial, and perished by the serpents." — 1 Corinthians 10:9 (ASV)

Neither let us tempt Christ.: Better, Neither let us tempt the Lord, as some of them tempted, and perished by serpents. There is much controversy about whether the word here is “God,” “Christ,” or “the Lord,” as each has a certain amount of manuscript support. On the whole, the reading adopted here (the Lord) seems from internal evidence to have been the most likely true reading.

It is possible that the word “God” crept into the text, having been added as a marginal explanation to overcome the supposed difficulty involved in applying the words that follow, “they also tempted,” to Christ. For in what sense could it have been said that the Israelites tempted Christ?

However, there is no reason to connect “some of them tempted” (the word “also” is not in the original) with the object of the previous clause, and it is noticeable that the second word translated “tempted” is not the same as the first. “Let us not tempt” is, in the original, an intensified form of the verb, which is used in its simple form in “some of them tempted.” The reading “Christ” may have entered the text as an explanation that by the word “Lord,” Saint Paul meant the Redeemer.

The real meaning of the passage, however, is evident. The Israelites, by their longing for the things left behind in Egypt, tested God, and God asserted Himself by punishing them. (See Numbers 21:4-6.)

So, with such a warning before them, Christians must be on their guard not to tempt their Lord by longing for those worldly and physical pleasures from which He, by His death, has delivered them.

Some of the Corinthian Christians, by their conduct regarding eating, drinking, and indulging in sensuality, seemed to long for the liberty concerning things they had enjoyed before conversion, rather than enjoying the spiritual blessings and feeding on the spiritual sustenance Christ had provided for them.

Were destroyed of serpents.: Better, and were destroyed by the serpents. The article before “serpents” indicates that the reference is to a particular and well-known fact.