1 Corinthians 10:14–28

Sharing in the Body and Blood of Christ

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.

¹⁶When we give thanks for the cup at the Lord’s Supper, 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 eat from the one loaf.

¹⁸Think about the people of Israel. Don’t those who eat the offerings share in the altar? ¹⁹Do I mean that what is offered to a statue of a god is anything? Do I mean that a statue of a god is anything? ²⁰No! But what is offered by those who worship statues of gods is really offered to demons. It is not offered 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, “Everything is permitted.” But not everything is good for us. Again you say, “Everything is permitted.” But not everything builds us up. ²⁴We should not look out for our own interests. Instead, we should look out for the interests of others.

²⁵Eat anything that is 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.”

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 offered to a statue of a god.” Then don’t eat it. Keep in mind the good of the one who told you. And don’t eat because of a sense of what is right and wrong.