1 Corinthians 10
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Warnings from Israel’s Past
10 Now I want you to know, brothers, that our fathers(A) were all under the cloud,(B) all passed through the sea,(C) 2 and all were baptized(D) into Moses(E) in the cloud and in the sea. 3 They all ate the same spiritual food,(F) 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from a spiritual rock(G) that followed them, and that rock was Christ.(H) 5 But God was not pleased with most of them, for they were struck down in the wilderness.(I)
6 Now these things became examples for us, so that we will not desire(J) evil things as they did.[a](K) 7 Don’t become idolaters(L) as some of them were; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and got up to play.[b](M)[c] 8 Let us not commit sexual immorality(N) as some of them did,[d] and in a single day 23,000 people fell dead.(O) 9 Let us not test Christ as some of them did[e] and were destroyed by snakes.(P) 10 Nor should we complain(Q) as some of them did,[f](R) and were killed by the destroyer.[g](S) 11 Now these things happened to them as examples, and they were written as a warning to us,(T) on whom the ends of the ages(U) have come.(V) 12 So, whoever thinks he stands must be careful not to fall.(W) 13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to humanity. God is faithful,(X) and 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(Y) so that you are able to bear it.
Warning against Idolatry
14 Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry. 15 I am speaking as to wise people. Judge for yourselves what I say. 16 The cup(Z) of blessing(AA) that we give thanks for, is it not a sharing in the blood of Christ? The bread(AB) that we break, is it not a sharing in the body of Christ? 17 Because there is one bread, we who are many are one(AC) body, for all of us share that one bread. 18 Look at the people of Israel.[h] Do not those who eat the sacrifices participate in what is offered on the altar?(AD) 19 What am I saying then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? 20 No, but I do say that what they[i] sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God. I do not want you to participate with demons! 21 You 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. 22 Or are we provoking the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He?(AE)
Christian Liberty
23 “Everything is permissible,”[j][k] but not everything is helpful. “Everything is permissible,”[l] but not everything builds up. 24 No one should seek his own good, but the good of the other person.(AF)
25 Eat everything that is sold in the meat market, asking no questions for conscience’ sake, 26 for the earth is the Lord’s,(AG) and all that is in it.(AH)[m] 27 If one of the unbelievers invites you over and you want to go, eat everything that is set before you, without raising questions of conscience. 28 But if someone says to you, “This is food offered to an idol,” do not eat it,(AI) out of consideration for the one who told you, and for conscience’ sake.[n] 29 I do not mean your own conscience, but the other person’s. For why is my freedom judged(AJ) by another person’s conscience? 30 If I partake with thanks,(AK) why am I slandered because of something I give thanks for?
31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for God’s glory.(AL) 32 Give no offense(AM) to the Jews or the Greeks or the church of God, 33 just as I also try to please all people in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many,(AN) so that they may be saved.
Footnotes
- 1 Corinthians 10:6 Lit they desired
- 1 Corinthians 10:7 Or to dance
- 1 Corinthians 10:7 Ex 32:6
- 1 Corinthians 10:8 Lit them committed sexual immorality
- 1 Corinthians 10:9 Lit them tested
- 1 Corinthians 10:10 Lit them complained
- 1 Corinthians 10:10 Or the destroying angel
- 1 Corinthians 10:18 Lit Look at Israel according to the flesh
- 1 Corinthians 10:20 Other mss read Gentiles
- 1 Corinthians 10:23 Other mss add for me
- 1 Corinthians 10:23 See note at 1Co 6:12-13.
- 1 Corinthians 10:23 Other mss add for me
- 1 Corinthians 10:26 Ps 24:1
- 1 Corinthians 10:28 Other mss add “For the earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it.”
1 Corinthians 10
King James Version
10 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;
2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat;
4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.
8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.
9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.
10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
11 Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
14 Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.
15 I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.
16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?
17 For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.
18 Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?
19 What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing?
20 But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.
21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils.
22 Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?
23 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.
24 Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth.
25 Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake:
26 For the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof.
27 If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake.
28 But if any man say unto you, this is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof:
29 Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience?
30 For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks?
31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
32 Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:
33 Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.
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