1Brothers and sisters, I want you to know something about our people who lived long ago. They were all led by the cloud. They all walked through the Red Sea.2They were all baptised into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.3They all ate the same spiritual food.4They all drank the same spiritual water. They drank from the spiritual rock that went with them. That rock was Christ.5But God was not pleased with most of them. Their bodies were scattered in the desert.6Now those things happened as examples for us. They are supposed to keep us from wanting evil things. The people of Israel wanted these evil things.7So don’t worship statues of gods, as some of them did. It is written, ‘The people sat down to eat and drink. Then they got up to dance wildly in front of their god.’ (Ex 32:6)8We should not commit sexual sins, as some of them did. In one day 23,000 of them died.9We should not test the Messiah, as some of them did. They were killed by snakes.10Don’t speak against God. That’s what some of the people of Israel did. And they were killed by the destroying angel.11Those things happened to them as examples for us. They were written down to warn us. That’s because we are living at the time when God’s work is being completed.12So be careful. When you think you are standing firm, you might fall.13You are tempted in the same way all other human beings are. God is faithful. He will not let you be tempted any more than you can take. But when you are tempted, God will give you a way out. Then you will be able to deal with it.
Sharing in the Lord’s Supper
14My dear friends, run away from statues of gods. Don’t worship them.15I’m talking to people who are reasonable. Judge for yourselves what I say.16We give thanks for the cup at the Lord’s Supper. When we do, aren’t we sharing in the blood of Christ? When we break the bread, aren’t we sharing in the body of Christ?17Just as there is one loaf, so we who are many are one body. We all share the one loaf.18Think about the people of Israel. Don’t those who eat the offerings share in the altar?19Do I mean that food sacrificed to a statue of a god is anything? Do I mean that a statue of a god is anything?20No! But what is sacrificed by those who worship statues of gods is really sacrificed to demons. It is not sacrificed to God. I don’t want you to be sharing with demons.21You can’t drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too. You can’t have a part in both the Lord’s table and the table of demons.22Are we trying to make the Lord jealous? Are we stronger than he is?
The believer’s freedom
23You say, ‘I have the right to do anything.’ But not everything is helpful. Again you say, ‘I have the right to do anything.’ But not everything builds us up.24No one should look out for their own interests. Instead, they should look out for the interests of others.25Eat anything sold in the meat market. Don’t ask if it’s right or wrong.26Scripture says, ‘The earth belongs to the Lord. And so does everything in it.’ (Ps 24:1)27Suppose an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go. Then eat anything that is put in front of you. Don’t ask if it’s right or wrong.28But suppose someone says to you, ‘This food has been sacrificed to a statue of a god.’ Then don’t eat it. Keep in mind the good of the person who told you. And don’t eat because of a sense of what is right and wrong.29I’m talking about the other person’s sense of what is right and wrong, not yours. Why is my freedom being judged by what someone else thinks?30Suppose I give thanks when I eat. Then why should I be blamed for eating food I thank God for?31So eat and drink and do everything else for the glory of God.32Don’t do anything that causes another person to trip and fall. It doesn’t matter if that person is a Jew or a Greek or a member of God’s church.33Follow my example. I try to please everyone in every way. I’m not looking out for what is good for me. I’m looking out for the interests of others. I do it so that they might be saved.
1 Corinthians 10
English Standard Version
Warning Against Idolatry
1For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers,[1] that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, (Ex 13:21; Ex 14:22)2and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea,3and all ate the same spiritual food, (Ex 16:15; Ex 16:35; De 8:3; Ne 9:15; Ne 9:20; Ps 78:24; Ps 78:25; Ps 105:40; Joh 6:31)4and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. (Ex 17:6)5Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown[2] in the wilderness. (Nu 14:29; Nu 14:37; Nu 26:64; Ps 106:26; Heb 3:17; Jud 1:5)6Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did. (Nu 11:4; Nu 11:33; Ps 78:18; Ps 106:14)7Do 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.” (Ex 32:4; Ex 32:6; 1Co 10:14)8We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. (Nu 25:1; Nu 25:9; Ps 106:29; Ac 15:20; 1Co 6:18)9We must not put Christ[3] to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, (Ex 17:2; Ex 17:7; Nu 21:5; Nu 21:6; Ps 78:18)10nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. (Ex 12:23; Nu 14:2; Nu 14:29; 2Sa 24:16; 1Ch 21:15; Ps 78:49)11Now 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. (Ro 4:23; Ro 13:11)12Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. (Ro 11:20; 2Pe 3:17)13No 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. (Da 3:17; 1Co 1:9; 2Pe 2:9)14Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. (1Co 10:7)15I speak as to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. (1Co 8:1)16The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? (Mt 26:26; Mt 26:27; Ac 2:42; Ac 20:7; 1Co 11:23; 1Co 11:25)17Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread. (Ro 12:5; 1Co 12:12; 1Co 12:20; Eph 4:4; Eph 4:16; Col 3:15)18Consider the people of Israel:[4] are not those who eat the sacrifices participants in the altar? (Le 3:3; Le 7:15; Ro 1:3; Ro 4:1; Ro 9:5; 2Co 11:18; Heb 13:10)19What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? (1Co 8:4)20No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons. (De 32:17)21You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. (De 32:38; Isa 65:11; 2Co 6:15)22Shall we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he? (De 32:21; Ec 6:10; Eze 22:14)
Do All to the Glory of God
23“All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up. (1Co 6:12; 1Co 8:9)24Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor. (Ro 15:1; 1Co 9:23; 1Co 10:33; 1Co 13:5; 2Co 12:14; Php 2:21)25Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience. (1Co 8:7)26For “the earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.” (Ex 9:29; Ex 19:5; De 10:14; Job 41:11; Ps 24:1; Ps 50:12)27If one of the unbelievers invites you to dinner and you are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience. (Lu 10:8)28But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience—29I do not mean your conscience, but his. For why should my liberty be determined by someone else’s conscience? (Ro 14:16; 1Co 8:9; 1Co 9:19)30If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks? (Ro 14:6; 1Ti 4:3)31So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. (Col 3:17; 1Pe 4:11)32Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, (Ac 20:28; Ro 14:13; 1Co 8:13; 1Co 11:16; 2Co 6:3)33just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved. (1Co 9:22; 1Co 10:24; Ga 1:10)