1 Corinthians 10
Common English Bible
Warning from the wilderness generation
10 Brothers and sisters, I want you to be sure of the fact that our ancestors were all under the cloud and they all went through the sea. 2 All were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. 3 All ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. They drank from a spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ. 5 However, God was unhappy with most of them, and they were struck down in the wilderness. 6 These things were examples for us, so we won’t crave evil things like they did. 7 Don’t worship false gods like some of them did, as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink and they got up to play.[a] 8 Let’s not practice sexual immorality, like some of them did, and twenty-three thousand died in one day. 9 Let’s not test Christ, like some of them did, and were killed by the snakes. 10 Let’s not grumble, like some of them did, and were killed by the destroyer. 11 These things happened to them as an example and were written as a warning for us to whom the end of time has come. 12 So those who think they are standing need to watch out or else they may fall. 13 No temptation has seized you that isn’t common for people. But God is faithful. He won’t allow you to be tempted beyond your abilities. Instead, with the temptation, God will also supply a way out so that you will be able to endure it.
Avoid false gods to glorify God
14 So then, my dear friends, run away from the worship of false gods! 15 I’m talking to you like you are sensible people. Think about what I’m saying. 16 Isn’t the cup of blessing that we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? Isn’t the loaf of bread that we break a sharing in the body of Christ? 17 Since there is one loaf of bread, we who are many are one body, because we all share the one loaf of bread. 18 Look at the people of Israel. Don’t those who eat the sacrifices share from the altar? 19 What am I saying then? That food sacrificed to a false god is anything, or that a false god is anything? 20 No, but this kind of sacrifice is sacrificed to demons and not to God. I don’t want you to be sharing in demons. 21 You can’t drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you can’t participate in the table of the Lord and the table of demons. 22 Or should we make the Lord jealous? We aren’t stronger than he is, are we?
23 Everything is permitted, but everything isn’t beneficial. Everything is permitted, but everything doesn’t build others up. 24 No one should look out for their own advantage, but they should look out for each other. 25 Eat everything that is sold in the marketplace, without asking questions about it because of your conscience. 26 The earth and all that is in it belong to the Lord.[b] 27 If an unbeliever invites you to eat with them and you want to go, eat whatever is served, without asking questions because of your conscience. 28 But if someone says to you, “This meat was sacrificed in a temple,” then don’t eat it for the sake of the one who told you and for the sake of conscience. 29 Now when I say “conscience” I don’t mean yours but the other person’s. Why should my freedom be judged by someone else’s conscience? 30 If I participate with gratitude, why should I be blamed for food I thank God for? 31 So, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, you should do it all for God’s glory. 32 Don’t offend either Jews or Greeks, or God’s church. 33 This is the same thing that I do. I please everyone in everything I do. I don’t look out for my own advantage, but I look out for many people so that they can be saved.
1 Corinthians 10
New King James Version
Old Testament Examples
10 Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under (A)the cloud, all passed through (B)the sea, 2 all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3 all ate the same (C)spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same (D)spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. 5 But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies (E)were scattered in the wilderness.
6 Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as (F)they also lusted. 7 (G)And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, (H)“The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.” 8 (I)Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as (J)some of them did, and (K)in one day twenty-three thousand fell; 9 nor let us [a]tempt Christ, as (L)some of them also tempted, and (M)were destroyed by serpents; 10 nor complain, as (N)some of them also complained, and (O)were destroyed by (P)the destroyer. 11 Now [b]all these things happened to them as examples, and (Q)they were written for our [c]admonition, (R)upon whom the ends of the ages have come.
12 Therefore (S)let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but (T)God is faithful, (U)who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to [d]bear it.
Flee from Idolatry
14 Therefore, my beloved, (V)flee from idolatry. 15 I speak as to (W)wise men; judge for yourselves what I say. 16 (X)The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the [e]communion of the blood of Christ? (Y)The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? 17 For (Z)we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread.
18 Observe (AA)Israel (AB)after the flesh: (AC)Are not those who eat of the sacrifices [f]partakers of the altar? 19 What am I saying then? (AD)That an idol is anything, or what is offered to idols is anything? 20 Rather, that the things which the Gentiles (AE)sacrifice (AF)they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons. 21 (AG)You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and (AH)the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the (AI)Lord’s table and of the table of demons. 22 Or do we (AJ)provoke the Lord to jealousy? (AK)Are we stronger than He?
All to the Glory of God(AL)
23 All things are lawful [g]for me, but not all things are (AM)helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things [h]edify. 24 Let no one seek his own, but each one (AN)the other’s well-being.
25 (AO)Eat whatever is sold in the meat market, asking no questions for conscience’ sake; 26 for (AP)“the earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness.”
27 If any of those who do not believe invites you to dinner, and you desire to go, (AQ)eat whatever is set before you, asking no question for conscience’ sake. 28 But if anyone says to you, “This was offered to idols,” do not eat it (AR)for the sake of the one who told you, and for conscience’ sake; [i]for (AS)“the earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness.” 29 “Conscience,” I say, not your own, but that of the other. For (AT)why is my liberty judged by another man’s conscience? 30 But if I partake with thanks, why am I evil spoken of for the food (AU)over which I give thanks?
31 (AV)Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 (AW)Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God, 33 just (AX)as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.
Footnotes
- 1 Corinthians 10:9 test
- 1 Corinthians 10:11 NU omits all
- 1 Corinthians 10:11 instruction
- 1 Corinthians 10:13 endure
- 1 Corinthians 10:16 fellowship or sharing
- 1 Corinthians 10:18 fellowshippers or sharers
- 1 Corinthians 10:23 NU omits for me
- 1 Corinthians 10:23 build up
- 1 Corinthians 10:28 NU omits the rest of v. 28.
1 Corinthians 10
New Matthew Bible
He puts them in fear with examples from the Old Testament, and exhorts them to lead godly lives. Of the Lord’s Supper.
10 Brethren, I would not want you to be ignorant of this: that our fathers were all under a cloud, and all passed through the sea, 2 and were all baptized under Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3 and did all eat of the same spiritual food, 4 and did all drink of the same spiritual drink. And they drank of that spiritual rock that followed them, which rock was Christ. 5 But in many of them, God had no delight. For they were overthrown in the wilderness. 6 These are examples for us, so that we will not lust after evil things like they did.
7 Neither be worshippers of images like some of them were, as it is written: The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up again to play. 8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed fornication, and in one day 23,000 were destroyed. 9 Neither let us tempt Christ as some of them did, and were destroyed by serpents. 10 Neither murmur as some of them murmured, and were destroyed by the destroyer.
11 All these things happened to them for examples, and were written to make us mindful – we upon whom the ends of the world have come. 12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands, take heed lest he fall.
13 No trial has taken you but such as follows the nature of man. But God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tried above your strength, but will in the midst of the trial make a way to escape out.
14 And so, my dear beloveds, flee from the worshipping of idols. 15 I speak as to people who have discernment. Judge what I say. 16 Is not the cup of blessing that we bless, partaking of the blood of Christ? Is not the bread that we break, partaking of the body of Christ? 17 Because we, though we be many, yet are one bread and one body, inasmuch as we are all partakers of one bread. 18 Observe Israel which walks carnally; are not those who eat of the sacrifice, partakers of the altar?
19 What am I saying then? That the idol is anything? or that what is offered to idols is anything? 20 No, but I say that these things that the Gentiles offer, they offer to devils, and not to God. And I do not want you to have fellowship with the devils. 21 You cannot drink of the cup of the Lord and of the cup of the devils. You cannot be partakers of the Lord’s Table and of the table of devils. 22 Or shall we provoke the Lord? Are we stronger than he?
All things are lawful to me, but all things are not helpful. 23 All things are lawful to me, but all things do not edify. 24 Let no one seek his own profit, but let each seek the welfare of the other. 25 Whatever is sold in the market, eat it, and ask no questions for conscience’ sake. 26 For the earth is the Lord’s, and all that is in it. 27 If any unbelievers invite you to a feast and if you are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you, asking no question for conscience’ sake. 28 But if anyone says to you, This is dedicated to idols, then do not eat of it – for the sake of the one who told you and for injury of conscience.
The earth is the Lord’s, and all that is in it.
29 Conscience, I say: not yours, but the conscience of that other. For why should my liberty be judged by another man’s conscience? 30 For if I share in the meal with thanks, why am I ill spoken of for the thing I give thanks for? 31 Whether therefore you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 See that you give no occasion of evil, neither to the Jews nor yet to the Gentiles, nor to the congregation of God – 33 even as I please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit but the profit of many, so that they might be saved.
Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2016 by Ruth Magnusson (Davis). Includes emendations to February 2022. All rights reserved.