Paul's conversations with the Corinthians take on various tones throughout his letters. At times he harangues, sometimes he pleads; elsewhere he criticizes, cajoles or convinces.

In today's text, Paul is continuing his response to the questions some Corinthians had posed previously about eating meat that had been offered to idols. Paul has already urged the Corinthians to be like athletes (9:25) and "exercise self-control in all things." But he now turns to established Scriptural examples to demonstrate the serious ramifications that this situation may have on the life of faith. Paul uses the examples of the sins of the Israelites during their period of wilderness wanderings to warn those participating in idol feasts (10:14-22).

After opening with one of his standard transitions (v.1), Pau…