1 Corinthians 10:19-29

English Standard Version

¹⁹What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that ^(A)an idol is anything? ²⁰No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice ^(B)they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons. ²¹^(C)You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and ^(D)the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and ^(E)the table of demons. ²²^(F)Shall we provoke the Lord to jealousy? ^(G)Are we stronger than he?

Do All to the Glory of God

²³^(H)“All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up. ²⁴^(I)Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor. ²⁵^(J)Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience. ²⁶For ^(K)“the earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof.” ²⁷If one of the unbelievers invites you to dinner and you are disposed to go, ^(L)eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience. 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 ^(M)your conscience, but his. For ^(N)why should my liberty be determined by someone else's conscience?

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1 Corinthians 10:19-29

New International Version

¹⁹Do I mean then that food sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything?^(A) ²⁰No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons,^(B) not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons. ²¹You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord’s table and the table of demons.^(C) ²²Are we trying to arouse the Lord’s jealousy?^(D) Are we stronger than he?^(E)

The Believer’s Freedom

²³“I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial.^(F) “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive. ²⁴No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.^(G)

²⁵Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience,^(H) ²⁶for, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.”^[a]^(I)

²⁷If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is put before you^(J) without raising questions of conscience. ²⁸But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, both for the sake of the one who told you and for the sake of conscience.^(K) ²⁹I am referring to the other person’s conscience, not yours. For why is my freedom^(L) being judged by another’s conscience?