1 Corinthians 10:11

Ensamples. An archaic word meaning “examples.” In fact the word here translated “ensamples” is rendered “examples” in v. 6. This does not mean that the Israelites underwent their many and varied experiences merely to provide examples for Christians, but simply that their experience serves as a suitable example to impress the church with the importance of avoiding the mistakes they made.

For our admonition. Literally, “for admonition unto us.” That is, to warn all Christians of all ages not to confide in their own strength or wisdom. The folly of Israel in disobeying God led to their downfall in the wilderness, and later in their history, to their being carried captive to Babylon (see Jer. 17:23, 27; 25:4-11). The warning to Christians to learn the lesson of Israel’s wilderness experience is peculiarly appropriate in the light of the near approach of the second advent of Christ. Many of the Israelites perished when they had almost completed the journey to Canaan (see Num. 25:9). They were the people whom God had specially favored by giving them knowledge of His law and of Himself beyond any knowledge possessed by any other people in the world, yet they failed to maintain their loyalty to Him. Christians, to whom has been entrusted the gospel of Jesus Christ, and the prophetic knowledge of His soon coming, should beware lest they allow the delusions of sinful human nature to cause them to fail of reaching the heavenly Canaan (see Rom. 11:20; 1 Cor. 10:12; Heb. 3:12-14).

Ends of the world. Gr. tele ton aidnon, “ends of the ages,” that is, the expiration of the great past periods of God’s dealings with man. In Heb. 9:26 the first advent of Christ is spoken of as having taken place at “the end of the world” (Gr. sunteleia ton aidnon, literally, “consummation of the ages”). The message of the apostle Paul was relevant in his day as is shown by the pronoun “our.” It is increasingly relevant today inasmuch as men now living have the advantage of the accumulated records of all preceding epochs of sacred history, and are living in the time when the purpose of God is to be climaxed by the second coming of Jesus.