Jamieson, Fausset and Brown on 1 Corinthians 10:11

11. Now ... these things ... ensamples--resuming the thread of 1Co 10:6. The oldest manuscripts read, "by way of example."

the ends of the world--literally, "of the ages"; the New Testament dispensation in its successive phases (plural, "ends") being the winding up of all former "ages." No new dispensation shall appear till Christ comes as Avenger and Judge; till then the "ends," being many, include various successive periods (compare He 9:26). As we live in the last dispensation, which is the consummation of all that went before, our responsibilities are the greater; and the greater is the guilt, Paul implies, to the Corinthians, which they incur if they fall short of their privileges.