前车之鉴

10 弟兄姊妹,我希望你们知道,我们的祖先曾经在云下走过红海, 都在云下、在海中受洗跟从了摩西。 他们都吃过同样的灵粮, 都喝过同样的灵水,因为他们从那与他们同行的属灵磐石中得水喝,那磐石就是基督。 尽管如此,他们当中大多数人不讨上帝的喜悦,倒毙在旷野。

如今这些事正好警戒我们,叫我们不要像他们那样贪恋罪恶, 也不要像他们当中的人那样去祭拜偶像,正如圣经上说:“百姓坐下吃喝,起来狂欢。” 我们也不要淫乱,像他们当中的人那样,结果一天就死了两万三千人。 也不要试探主,像他们当中的人那样,结果被蛇咬死了。 10 也不要发怨言,像他们当中的人那样,结果被灭命的天使毁灭了。 11 发生在他们身上的这些事都是鉴戒,之所以记录下来是为了警戒我们这活在末世的人。 12 所以,自以为站得稳的人要小心,免得跌倒。

13 你们遇见的诱惑无非是人们常见的。上帝是信实的,祂绝不会让你们遇见无法抵挡的诱惑,祂必为你们开一条出路,使你们经得住诱惑。

切勿祭拜偶像

14 所以,我亲爱的弟兄姊妹,你们要远避祭拜偶像的事。 15 你们都是明白事理的人,可以判断我说的对不对。 16 领圣餐时,我们为那福杯献上感谢,这不表示我们有份于基督的血吗?我们吃掰开的饼,这不表示我们有份于基督的身体吗? 17 我们人数虽多,却同属一个身体,因为我们同享一个饼。

18 你们看以色列人[a],那些吃祭物的难道不是有份于祭坛吗? 19 我这话是什么意思呢?是说偶像和祭偶像的食物有什么特别吗? 20 当然不是,我的意思是那些异教徒所献的祭是祭鬼魔的,而不是献给上帝的。我不愿意你们与鬼魔有任何关系。 21 你们不能又喝主的杯又喝鬼魔的杯,不能又吃主的圣餐又吃祭鬼魔的食物。 22 我们想惹主嫉妒吗?难道我们比祂更有能力吗?

信徒的自由

23 凡事我都可以做,但并非事事都有益处;凡事我都可以行,但并非事事都造就人。 24 无论是谁,不要为自己谋利,要为别人谋利。

25 市场上卖的肉,你们都可以吃,不必为良心的缘故而询问什么, 26 因为世界和其中的万物都属于主。 27 如果有非信徒邀请你们吃饭,你们又愿意去,那么,桌上摆的各样食物,你们只管吃,不必为良心的缘故而询问什么。 28 不过,如果有人告诉你这些是献给偶像的祭物,你为了那告诉你的人和良心的缘故,就不要吃。 29 不过我指的不是你的良心,而是那人的良心。或许有人说:“我的自由为什么要受别人的良心限制呢? 30 如果我存感恩的心吃,为什么还要受批评呢?”

31 所以,你们或吃或喝,无论做什么,都要为上帝的荣耀而做。 32 不要成为犹太人、希腊人或上帝教会的绊脚石, 33 就像我凡事尽量让人满意,不求自己的好处,只求众人的好处,以便他们可以得救。

Footnotes

  1. 10:18 以色列人”希腊文是“从血统上讲是以色列人”。

10 For I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea.

And all in Moses were baptized, in the cloud, and in the sea:

And did all eat the same spiritual food,

And all drank the same spiritual drink; (and they drank of the spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ.)

But with most of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the desert.

Now these things were done in a figure of us, that we should not covet evil things as they also coveted.

Neither become ye idolaters, as some of them, as it is written: The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.

Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed fornication, and there fell in one day three and twenty thousand.

Neither let us tempt Christ: as some of them tempted, and perished by the serpents.

10 Neither do you murmur: as some of them murmured, and were destroyed by the destroyer.

11 Now all these things happened to them in figure: and they are written for our correction, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

12 Wherefore he that thinketh himself to stand, let him take heed lest he fall.

13 Let no temptation take hold on you, but such as is human. And God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that which you are able: but will make also with temptation issue, that you may be able to bear it.

14 Wherefore, my dearly beloved, fly from the service of idols.

15 I speak as to wise men: judge ye yourselves what I say.

16 The chalice of benediction, which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? And the bread, which we break, is it not the partaking of the body of the Lord?

17 For we, being many, are one bread, one body, all that partake of one bread.

18 Behold Israel according to the flesh: are not they, that eat of the sacrifices, partakers of the altar?

19 What then? Do I say, that what is offered in sacrifice to idols, is any thing? Or, that the idol is any thing?

20 But the things which the heathens sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God. And I would not that you should be made partakers with devils.

21 You cannot drink the chalice of the Lord, and the chalice of devils: you cannot be partakers of the table of the Lord, and of the table of devils.

22 Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he? All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient.

23 All things are lawful for me, but all things do not edify.

24 Let no man seek his own, but that which is another's.

25 Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, eat; asking no question for conscience' sake.

26 The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof.

27 If any of them that believe not, invite you, and you will be willing to go; eat of any thing that is set before you, asking no question for conscience' sake.

28 But if any man say: This has been sacrificed to idols, do not eat of it for his sake that told it, and for conscience' sake.

29 Conscience, I say, not thy own, but the other's. For why is my liberty judged by another man's conscience?

30 If I partake with thanksgiving, why am I evil spoken of, for that for which I give thanks?

31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatsoever else you do, do all to the glory of God.

32 Be without offence to the Jews, and to the Gentiles, and to the church of God:

33 As I also in all things please all men, not seeking that which is profitable to myself, but to many, that may be saved.