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1 Corinthians 10

Warning Against Idolatry

1 For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers ^{▼

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Or brothers and sisters} that our fathers were all under ^bthe cloud, and all ^cpassed through the sea, 2 and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3 and ^dall ate the same ^espiritual food, 4 and ^fall drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. 5 Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for ^gthey were overthrown ^{▼

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Or were laid low} in the wilderness.

6 Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as ⁱthey did. 7 ^jDo not be idolaters ^kas some of them were; as it is written ^l“The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.” 8 ^mWe must not indulge in sexual immorality ⁿas some of them did, and ^otwenty-three thousand fell in a single day. 9 We must not put Christ ^{▼

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Some manuscripts the Lord} to the test, ^qas some of them did and ^rwere destroyed by serpents, 10 nor grumble ^sas some of them did and ^twere destroyed by ^uthe Destroyer. 11 Now these things happened to them as an example, but ^vthey were written down for our instruction ^won whom the end of the ages has come. 12 Therefore ^xlet anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. ^yGod is faithful, and ^zhe 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.

14 Therefore, my beloved ^aaflee from idolatry. 15 I speak ^abas to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. 16 ^acThe cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? ^adThe bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? 17 Because there is one bread, we who are many are ^aeone body, for we all partake of the one bread. 18 Consider ^afthe people of Israel: ^{▼

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Greek Consider Israel according to the flesh} ^ahare not those who eat the sacrifices participants in the altar? 19 What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that ^aian idol is anything? 20 No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice ^ajthey offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons. 21 ^akYou cannot drink the cup of the Lord and ^althe cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and ^amthe table of demons. 22 ^anShall we provoke the Lord to jealousy? ^aoAre we stronger than he?

Do All to the Glory of God

23 ^ap“All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up. 24 ^aqLet no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor. 25 ^arEat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience. 26 For ^as“the earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.” 27 If one of the unbelievers invites you to dinner and you are disposed to go ^ateat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience. 28 But 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— 29 I do not mean ^auyour conscience, but his. For ^avwhy should my liberty be determined by someone else’s conscience? 30 If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that ^awfor which I give thanks?

31 So, whether you eat or drink, or ^axwhatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 ^ayGive no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to ^azthe church of God, 33 just as ^baI try to please everyone in everything I do, ^bbnot seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.