1 Corinthians 10

Warning from the wilderness generation

1 Brothers and sisters, I want you to be sure of the fact that our ancestors were all under the cloud and they all went through the sea.2 All were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.3 All ate the same spiritual food,4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. They drank from a spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ.5 However, God was unhappy with most of them, and they were struck down in the wilderness.6 These things were examples for us, so we won’t crave evil things like they did.7 Don’t worship false gods like some of them did, as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink and they got up to play .t8 Let’s not practice sexual immorality, like some of them did, and twenty-three thousand died in one day.9 Let’s not test Christ, like some of them did, and were killed by the snakes.10 Let’s not grumble, like some of them did, and were killed by the destroyer.11 These things happened to them as an example and were written as a warning for us to whom the end of time has come.12 So those who think they are standing need to watch out or else they may fall.

13 No temptation has seized you that isn’t common for people. But God is faithful. He won’t allow you to be tempted beyond your abilities. Instead, with the temptation, God will also supply a way out so that you will be able to endure it.

Avoid false gods to glorify God

14 So then, my dear friends, run away from the worship of false gods!15 I’m talking to you like you are sensible people. Think about what I’m saying.16 Isn’t the cup of blessing that we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? Isn’t the loaf of bread that we break a sharing in the body of Christ?17 Since there is one loaf of bread, we who are many are one body, because we all share the one loaf of bread.18 Look at the people of Israel. Don’t those who eat the sacrifices share from the altar?19 What am I saying then? That food sacrificed to a false god is anything, or that a false god is anything?20 No, but this kind of sacrifice is sacrificed to demons and not to God. I don’t want you to be sharing in demons.21 You can’t drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you can’t participate in the table of the Lord and the table of demons.

22 Or should we make the Lord jealous? We aren’t stronger than he is, are we?
23 Everything is permitted, but everything isn’t beneficial. Everything is permitted, but everything doesn’t build others up.24 No one should look out for their own advantage, but they should look out for each other.25 Eat everything that is sold in the marketplace, without asking questions about it because of your conscience.26  The earth and all that is in it belong to the Lord .t27 If an unbeliever invites you to eat with them and you want to go, eat whatever is served, without asking questions because of your conscience.28 But if someone says to you, "This meat was sacrificed in a temple," then don’t eat it for the sake of the one who told you and for the sake of conscience.29 Now when I say "conscience" I don’t mean yours but the other person’s. Why should my freedom be judged by someone else’s conscience?30 If I participate with gratitude, why should I be blamed for food I thank God for?31 So, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, you should do it all for God’s glory.32 Don’t offend either Jews or Greeks, or God’s church.

33 This is the same thing that I do. I please everyone in everything I do. I don’t look out for my own advantage, but I look out for many people so that they can be saved.

1 Corinthians 10

Learning from Israel’s Failures

1 For I do not want you to be unaware,t brothers and sisters,t that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea,2 and all were baptizeds into Moses in the cloud and in the sea,3 and all ate the same spiritual food,4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they were all drinking from the spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ.5 But God was not pleased with most of them, for they were cut down in the wilderness.6 These things happened as examples for us, so that we will not crave evil things as they did.7 So 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.”ts8 And let us not be immoral, as some of them were, and twenty-three thousand died in a single day.s9 And let us not put Christss to the test, as some of them did, and were destroyed by snakes.s10 And do not complain, as some of them did, and were killed by the destroying angel.ts11 These things happened to them as examples and were written for our instruction, on whom the ends of the ages have come.12 So let the one who thinks he is standing be careful that he does not fall.

13 No trial has overtaken you that is not faced by others.t And God is faithful: Het will not let you be tried beyond what you are able to bear,t but with the trial will also provide a way out so that you may be able to endure it.

Avoid Idol Feasts

14 So then, my dear friends, flee from idolatry.15 I am speaking to thoughtful people. Consider what I say.16 Is not the cup of blessing that we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is not the bread that we break a sharing in the body of Christ?17 Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all share the one bread.18 Look at the people of Israel.t Are not those who eat the sacrifices partners in the altar?19 Am I saying that idols or food sacrificed to them amount to anything?20 No, I mean that what the pagans sacrificet is to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be partners with demons.21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot take part in the table of the Lord and the table of demons.

22 Or are we trying to provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we really stronger than he is?t
23 “Everything is lawful,” but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is lawful,”s but not everything builds others up.t24 Do not seek your own good, but the good of the other person.25 Eat anything that is sold in the marketplace without questions of conscience,26 for the earth and its abundance are the Lord’s.s27 If an unbeliever invites you to dinner and you want to go, eat whatever is served without asking questions of conscience.28 But if someone says to you, “This is from a sacrifice,” do not eat, because of the one who told you and because of consciences –29 I do not mean yours but the other person’s. For why is my freedom being judged by another’s conscience?30 If I partake with thankfulness, why am I blamed for the foodt that I give thanks for?31 So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.32 Do not give offense to Jews or Greeks or to the church of God,33 just as I also try to please everyone in all things. I do not seek my own benefit, but the benefitt of many, so that they may be saved.