1 Corinthians 10

Warnings from Israel’s Past

10Now I want you to know, brothers, that our fathers ^dwere all under the cloud, ^eall passed through the sea, ^f2and all were baptized ^ginto Moses ^hin the cloud and in the sea. ³They all ate the same spiritual food, ⁱ⁴and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from a spiritual rock ^jthat followed them, and that rock was Christ. ^k5But God was not pleased with most of them, for they were struck down in the wilderness. ^l

⁶Now these things became examples for us, so that we will not desire ^mevil things as they did. ^no7Don’t become idolaters ^pas some of them were; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and got up to play. ^qrs8Let us not commit sexual immorality ^tas some of them did, ^uand in a single day 23,000 people fell dead. ^v9Let us not test Christ as some of them did ^wand were destroyed by snakes. ^x10Nor should we complain ^yas some of them did, ^zaand were killed by the destroyer. ^bc11Now these things happened to them as examples, and they were written as a warning to us, ^don whom the ends of the ages ^ehave come. ^f12So, whoever thinks he stands must be careful not to fall. ^g13No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to humanity. God is faithful, ^hand He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation He will also provide a way of escape ⁱso that you are able to bear it.

Warning against Idolatry

¹⁴Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry. ¹⁵I am speaking as to wise people. Judge for yourselves what I say. ¹⁶The cup ^jof blessing ^kthat we give thanks for, is it not a sharing in the blood of Christ? The bread ^lthat we break, is it not a sharing in the body of Christ? ¹⁷Because there is one bread, we who are many are one ^mbody, for all of us share that one bread. ¹⁸Look at the people of Israel. ⁿDo not those who eat the sacrifices participate in what is offered on the altar? ^o19What am I saying then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? ²⁰No, but I do say that what they ^psacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God. I do not want you to participate with demons! ²¹You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot share in the Lord’s table and the table of demons. ²²Or are we provoking the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He? ^q

Christian Liberty

²³“Everything is permissible,” ^rsbut not everything is helpful. “Everything is permissible,” ^tbut not everything builds up. ²⁴No one should seek his own good, but the good of the other person. ^u

²⁵Eat everything that is sold in the meat market, asking no questions for conscience’ sake, ²⁶for the earth is the Lord’s, ^vand all that is in it. ^wx27If one of the unbelievers invites you over and you want to go, eat everything that is set before you, without raising questions of conscience. ²⁸But if someone says to you, “This is food offered to an idol,” do not eat it, ^yout of consideration for the one who told you, and for conscience’ sake. ^z29I do not mean your own conscience, but the other person’s. For why is my freedom judged ^aby another person’s conscience? ³⁰If I partake with thanks, ^bwhy am I slandered because of something I give thanks for?

³¹Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for God’s glory. ^c32Give no offense ^dto the Jews or the Greeks or the church of God, ³³just as I also try to please all people in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, ^eso that they may be saved.