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

and all were baptised unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;

and all ate the same spiritual food,

and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they drank of a spiritual rock which followed [them]: (now the rock was the Christ;)

yet God was not pleased with the most of them, for they were strewed in the desert.

But these things happened [as] types of us, that we should not be lusters after evil things, as they also lusted.

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

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

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

10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them murmured, and perished by the destroyer.

11 Now all these things happened to them [as] types, and have been written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages are come.

12 So that let him that thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.

13 No temptation has taken you but such as is according to man's nature; and God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above what ye are able [to bear], but will with the temptation make the issue also, so that [ye] should be able to bear [it].

14 Wherefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.

15 I speak as to intelligent [persons]: do *ye* judge what I say.

16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not [the] communion of the blood of the Christ? The bread which we break, is it not [the] communion of the body of the Christ?

17 Because we, [being] many, are one loaf, one body; for we all partake of that one loaf.

18 See Israel according to flesh: are not they who eat the sacrifices in communion with the altar?

19 What then do I say? that what is sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything?

20 But that what [the nations] sacrifice they sacrifice to demons, and not to God. Now I do not wish you to be in communion with demons.

21 Ye cannot drink [the] Lord's cup, and [the] cup of demons: ye cannot partake of [the] Lord's table, and of [the] table of demons.

22 Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?

23 All things are lawful, but all are not profitable; all things are lawful, but all do not edify.

24 Let no one seek his own [advantage], but that of the other.

25 Everything sold in the shambles eat, making no inquiry for conscience sake.

26 For the earth [is] the Lord's and its fulness.

27 But if any one of the unbelievers invite you, and ye are minded to go, all that is set before you eat, making no inquiry for conscience sake.

28 But if any one say to you, This is offered to holy purposes, do not eat, for his sake that pointed it out, and conscience sake;

29 but conscience, I mean, not thine own, but that of the other: for why is my liberty judged by another conscience?

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

31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatever ye do, do all things to God's glory.

32 Give no occasion to stumbling, whether to Jews, or Greeks, or the assembly of God.

33 Even as *I* also please all in all things; not seeking my own profit, but that of the many, that they may be saved.

Warnings From Israel’s History

10 For I do not want you to be ignorant(A) of the fact, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud(B) and that they all passed through the sea.(C) They were all baptized into(D) Moses in the cloud and in the sea. They all ate the same spiritual food(E) and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock(F) that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.(G)

Now these things occurred as examples(H) to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. Do not be idolaters,(I) as some of them were; as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.”[a](J) We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died.(K) We should not test Christ,[b](L) as some of them did—and were killed by snakes.(M) 10 And do not grumble, as some of them did(N)—and were killed(O) by the destroying angel.(P)

11 These things happened to them as examples(Q) and were written down as warnings for us,(R) on whom the culmination of the ages has come.(S) 12 So, if you think you are standing firm,(T) be careful that you don’t fall! 13 No temptation[c] has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful;(U) he will not let you be tempted[d] beyond what you can bear.(V) But when you are tempted,[e] he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

Idol Feasts and the Lord’s Supper

14 Therefore, my dear friends,(W) flee from idolatry.(X) 15 I speak to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. 16 Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break(Y) a participation in the body of Christ?(Z) 17 Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body,(AA) for we all share the one loaf.

18 Consider the people of Israel: Do not those who eat the sacrifices(AB) participate in the altar? 19 Do I mean then that food sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything?(AC) 20 No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons,(AD) not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons. 21 You 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.(AE) 22 Are we trying to arouse the Lord’s jealousy?(AF) Are we stronger than he?(AG)

The Believer’s Freedom

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

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

27 If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is put before you(AL) without raising questions of conscience. 28 But 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.(AM) 29 I am referring to the other person’s conscience, not yours. For why is my freedom(AN) being judged by another’s conscience? 30 If I take part in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of something I thank God for?(AO)

31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.(AP) 32 Do not cause anyone to stumble,(AQ) whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God(AR) 33 even as I try to please everyone in every way.(AS) For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many,(AT) so that they may be saved.(AU)

Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 10:7 Exodus 32:6
  2. 1 Corinthians 10:9 Some manuscripts test the Lord
  3. 1 Corinthians 10:13 The Greek for temptation and tempted can also mean testing and tested.
  4. 1 Corinthians 10:13 The Greek for temptation and tempted can also mean testing and tested.
  5. 1 Corinthians 10:13 The Greek for temptation and tempted can also mean testing and tested.
  6. 1 Corinthians 10:26 Psalm 24:1