1 Corinthians 10:6 (ASV)

Passage

Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.

Nearby Context

1 Corinthians 10:4 and did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of a spiritual rock that followed them: and the rock was Christ.

1 Corinthians 10:5 Howbeit with most of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

1 Corinthians 10:6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.

1 Corinthians 10:7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.

1 Corinthians 10:8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "things", "examples", "intent", "should", "lust", "after", and "evil". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "things" and "examples", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 5's "Howbeit with most of them God was..." into verse 7's "Neither be ye idolaters as were some...", so "things" and "examples" 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 "things" and "examples" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.