Did Israel tempt Christ in the wilderness? (1 Corinthians 10:9)

Some Trinitarian and Oneness commentators have claimed 1 Corinthinans 10:9 as evidence for Jesus having existed in the Old Testament.

The problem stems from two sources – firstly a textual variant in the Greek manuscripts between Lord and Christ. This is probably another example of the problems caused by nomina sacra abbreviations in the copying of manuscripts – in this case from KurioS to XristoS, i.e. from KS to XS. In any case the result can be seen in the broad split between modern Bible versions taking two solutions to the textual problem.

Good News and NRSV are representative of the two approaches:

• We must not put the Lord to the test, as some of them did – and they were killed by snakes. (Good News)
• We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did, and were destroyed by serpents. (NRSV)

In the above the Good News editors have decided to follow the Greek manuscripts with Lord, KS, while the NRSV has decided to follow those manuscripts with Christ, XS.

The second issue is whether even if Paul wrote ‘put Christ to the test’, the subject of that clause is ‘we’, us, today. There is no suggestion of Christ being involved in any testing before his birth. The ‘as some of them did’ can be read as a simple comparison to the Israelites behaviour. 

⁶ Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did. ⁷ Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.” ⁸ We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. ⁹ We must not put Christ [some manuscripts ‘the Lord’] to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, ¹⁰ nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. ¹¹ Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. ¹² Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. ¹³ No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. (ESV)

So whatever the manuscript variants, the real problem here becomes apparent. Why do Trinitarian and Oneness proof verses always rely on either manuscript problems or translation problems? Why is there no verse which clearly says what Trinitarian and Oneness readers want to find – a single Bible verses that says plainly “Jesus is God”? There is one, and there will never be one.