Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.

1 CORINTHIANS 10:14KJV
Know the Bible

1 Corinthians 10:14 (KJV)

What does 1 Corinthians 10:14 mean?

In 1 Corinthians 10:14, Paul tells the Corinthian believers to stay away from the worship of idols, objects treated as gods. His affectionate address, “my dearly beloved,” gives the warning a personal tone: he is speaking to people he cares about.

“Wherefore” connects the command to the warning Paul has just given, including the promise of a way to bear temptation in verse 13. The word “flee” pictures a person getting away from danger rather than remaining close to it.

The Greek behind 1 Corinthians 10:14

  • “flee” — φεύγω (pheugō): The Greek carries the sense of running away or escaping. Here, the command calls for decisive departure, not merely caution.
  • “idolatry” — εἰδωλολατρία (eidōlolatria): The word refers to the worship or service of idols. In the surrounding discussion, Paul connects the issue with meals involving food offered to idols.

Why 1 Corinthians 10:14 matters

  • Paul treats the Corinthian believers as people able to consider his reasons. After calling them “my dearly beloved,” he asks them to judge what he says in verse 15.
  • The warning has a specific setting in Corinth. In verses 18–21, Paul discusses eating in connection with sacrifices and explains why sharing in the Lord’s table and the table of demons cannot go together.

Where else these words appear

“Wherefore” Greek G1355 · used in 3 verses

  • 1 Corinthians 8:13 Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.
  • 1 Corinthians 14:13 Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.

“idolatry” Greek G1495 · used in 4 verses

  • Galatians 5:20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
  • Colossians 3:5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
  • 1 Peter 4:3 For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:

“flee” Greek G5343 · used in 31 verses

  • Matthew 2:13 And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.
  • Mark 14:52 And he left the linen cloth, and fled from them naked.
  • 1 Corinthians 6:18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.

“beloved” Greek G27 · used in 61 verses

  • Matthew 3:17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
  • 2 Corinthians 7:1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
  • 1 Peter 2:11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;