1 Corinthians 10:16 (ASV)

Passage

The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not a communion of the body of Christ?

Nearby Context

1 Corinthians 10:14 Wherefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.

1 Corinthians 10:15 I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.

1 Corinthians 10:16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not a communion of the body of Christ?

1 Corinthians 10:17 seeing that we, who are many, are one bread, one body: for we are all partake of the one bread.

1 Corinthians 10:18 Behold Israel after the flesh: have not they that eat the sacrifices communion with the altar?

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "blessing", "communion", "blood", "christ", "bread", and "break". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "blessing" and "communion", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 15's "I speak as to wise men judge..." into verse 17's "seeing that we who are many are...", so "blessing" and "communion" belong inside that flow. In 1 Corinthians context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "blessing" and "communion" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.