Christ, the Spiritual Rock

Rethinking Scripture Through Paul’s Eyes

Mar 22, 2025

📖 “For they drank from the spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ.” —1 Corinthians 10:4

Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 are startling. He tells the Corinthians that the Israelites in the wilderness drank from a spiritual rock that followed them—a rock that, according to Paul, was Christ himself.

For many of us raised with a literalist approach to Scripture, this verse presents a challenge. Is Paul saying that a physical rock actually rolled alongside the Israelites for 40 years, gushing water on demand? How does this fit with our understanding of the Old Testament?

This passage is a perfect example of how Paul, like other Jewish interpreters of his time, engaged with Scripture in creative and theological ways. Drawing from The Bible Tells Me So by Peter Enns, let’s explore what Paul is doing here—and what it means for how we read the Bible today.

The Rock That Followed Them: An Ancient Jewish Tradition

Before we can fully grasp Paul’s statement, we need to step into the world of early Jewish interpretation.

📜 Ancient Jewish tradition held that the rock Moses struck in the wilderness (Exodus 17:6) was not just a one-time event, but a miraculous, moveable fountain that followed the Israelites on their journey.

This idea wasn’t something Paul invented. It was a common Jewish belief—an interpretive tradition that early Jewish readers would have known. When Paul says, “the rock was Christ,” he is drawing from this tradition and reinterpreting it through the lens of Jesus.

Paul’s Christological Interpretation (the Jesus Lens)

What is Paul doing here? He is not offering a historical retelling of Exodus. Instead, he is reading the Old Testament through the lens of Christ.

Paul is making a bold claim: Christ was present in Israel’s journey long before his incarnation. The life-sustaining rock in the wilderness was more than a source of water—it was a symbol of God’s presence and provision, a foreshadowing of Christ himself.
In the New Testament, Jesus is also described as the giver of living water:
📖 “Whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst.” —John 4:14

For Paul, this rock is not just a rock. It is an early glimpse of Christ, the true source of life.

Reading the Bible with Open Eyes

Peter Enns points out that Paul’s use of the Old Testament is surprising and unsettling—especially for those of us trained to read Scripture in a straightforward, rulebook-style way.

Instead of treating Exodus as a historical report, Paul interprets it through Jesus, giving it new meaning. He does this because, for him, the resurrection of Jesus changes everything—including how he reads Scripture.

💡 This raises a question for us:

Do we read the Bible as a rigid book of facts, or do we allow it to be a living and dynamic revelation—one that points us to Christ in unexpected ways?

Lessons for Today

The Bible is Meant to Be Interpreted
Paul is not “proof-texting” or offering a literal historical account—he is reimagining the story in light of Jesus. This reminds us that the Bible is not just a set of facts, but an invitation into a deeper spiritual journey.
Christ is Present Throughout Scripture
Paul sees Jesus not as a new idea, but as the fulfillment of what God has been doing all along. The rock in Exodus is just one example of how Christ was present before his incarnation. This invites us to look for Christ in all of Scripture.
📖 “Beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.” —Luke 24:27
God’s Actions Are Often Unexpected
No one in Israel expected their life-giving rock to be the Messiah in disguise. Likewise, no one expected the Messiah to be crucified. Paul’s use of this story challenges us to recognize that God often works in ways we do not anticipate.
Scripture Calls for Creative Engagement
Paul’s interpretation of the rock isn’t about forcing a rigid reading—it’s about seeing the deeper spiritual truth. This encourages us to approach the Bible with curiosity, openness, and a willingness to wrestle with its meaning.

Seeing the Rock Today

Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 10 remind us that Scripture is more than just history—it is a living witness to Christ.

The Israelites drank from the spiritual rock that was Christ. Today, we drink from the same source—the living water that never runs dry.

The question is: Do we have eyes to see?