Flee from Idolatry

14 Therefore, my beloved, (A)flee from idolatry. 15 I speak as to (B)wise men; judge for yourselves what I say. 16 (C)The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the [a]communion of the blood of Christ? (D)The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? 17 For (E)we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread.

18 Observe (F)Israel (G)after the flesh: (H)Are not those who eat of the sacrifices [b]partakers of the altar? 19 What am I saying then? (I)That an idol is anything, or what is offered to idols is anything? 20 Rather, that the things which the Gentiles (J)sacrifice (K)they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons. 21 (L)You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and (M)the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the (N)Lord’s table and of the table of demons. 22 Or do we (O)provoke the Lord to jealousy? (P)Are we stronger than He?

All to the Glory of God(Q)

23 All things are lawful [c]for me, but not all things are (R)helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things [d]edify. 24 Let no one seek his own, but each one (S)the other’s well-being.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 10:16 fellowship or sharing
  2. 1 Corinthians 10:18 fellowshippers or sharers
  3. 1 Corinthians 10:23 NU omits for me
  4. 1 Corinthians 10:23 build up

Idol Feasts and the Lord’s Supper

14 Therefore, my dear friends,(A) flee from idolatry.(B) 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(C) a participation in the body of Christ?(D) 17 Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body,(E) for we all share the one loaf.

18 Consider the people of Israel: Do not those who eat the sacrifices(F) participate in the altar? 19 Do I mean then that food sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything?(G) 20 No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons,(H) 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.(I) 22 Are we trying to arouse the Lord’s jealousy?(J) Are we stronger than he?(K)

The Believer’s Freedom

23 “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial.(L) “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.(M)

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