The Meaning of 1 Corinthians 10:15 Explained

1 Corinthians 10:15

KJV: I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.

YLT: as to wise men I speak -- judge ye what I say:

Darby: I speak as to intelligent persons: do ye judge what I say.

ASV: I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

I speak  as  to wise men;  judge  ye  what  I say. 

What does 1 Corinthians 10:15 Mean?

Verse Meaning

This statement prepares for what follows. The apostle was confident that the Corinthians had the wisdom to understand the correctness of what he was about to tell them. He believed they could make correct judgments about what they should do. Still, to follow his logic they would need to use their minds. As we have seen, the Corinthians considered themselves very wise. They should judge for themselves that Paul was right.

Context Summary

1 Corinthians 10:11-22 - Have No Fellowship With Evil
By the end of the world is meant the end of one great era and the beginning of another. The Jewish dispensation was passing, the Christian age coming. What gracious encouragement shines in 1 Corinthians 13:1-13! Our faithful God! The tempter must get permission before assailing us, Luke 22:32. No temptation is unprecedented, and as others have conquered so may we, Hebrews 4:15. The pressure of temptation is always accompanied by a corresponding store of grace, if only our eyes were open to perceive it.
To abstain from idol feasts was the clear duty of all Christians. By partaking of heathen sacrifices which were offered to demons, they became one with the demons and their votaries; just as in the Lord's Supper we show our oneness not only with the Savior but with each other. It was clear, therefore, that the Corinthian Christians could not consistently partake of idol feasts and the Lord's Supper. What an incentive is given here to frequent and reverent participation in the Lord's Supper! It proclaims our union with Him and His people, and it gives us a distaste for all that is alien to its spirit. [source]

Chapter Summary: 1 Corinthians 10

1  The sacraments of the Jews are types of ours;
7  and their punishments,
11  examples for us
13  We must flee from idolatry
21  We must not make the Lord's table the table of demons;
24  and in all things we must have regard for our brothers

Greek Commentary for 1 Corinthians 10:15

As to wise men [ως προνιμοις]
No sarcasm as in 2 Corinthians 11:19, but plea that they make proper use of the mind (πρεν — phren) given them. [source]
Wise [φρονίμοις]
See on wisdom, Luke 1:17; see on wisely, Luke 16:8. The warning against the sacrificial feasts and the allusion in 1 Corinthians 10:3suggest the eucharistic feast. An act of worship is sacramental, as bringing the worshipper into communion with the unseen. Hence he who practices idolatry is in communion with demons (1 Corinthians 10:20), as he who truly partakes of the Eucharist is in communion with Christ. But the two things are incompatible (1 Corinthians 10:21). In citing the Eucharist he appeals to them as intelligent (wise) men, concerning a familiar practice. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 1 Corinthians 10:15

2 Timothy 2:7 Consider [νοει]
Present active imperative of νοεω — noeō old verb, to put your mind (νους — nous) on. See Ephesians 3:4 and like command in 1 Corinthians 10:15. [source]

What do the individual words in 1 Corinthians 10:15 mean?

As to sensible [ones] I speak judge for yourselves what I say
ὡς φρονίμοις λέγω κρίνατε ὑμεῖς φημι

φρονίμοις  to  sensible  [ones] 
Parse: Adjective, Dative Masculine Plural
Root: φρόνιμος  
Sense: intelligent, wise.
λέγω  I  speak 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 1st Person Singular
Root: λέγω 
Sense: to say, to speak.
κρίνατε  judge 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Imperative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: κρίνω  
Sense: to separate, put asunder, to pick out, select, choose.
ὑμεῖς  for  yourselves 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Nominative 2nd Person Plural
Root: σύ  
Sense: you.
φημι  I  say 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 1st Person Singular
Root: φημί  
Sense: to make known one’s thoughts, to declare.