1 Corinthians 10-13

Expanded Bible

Warnings from Israel’s Past

10 Brothers and sisters, I ·want you to know [^Ldon’t want you to be ignorant of] what happened to our ancestors. They were all under the cloud [^Cthe Israelites were guided in the wilderness by a cloud, a symbol of God’s presence; Ex. 13:21; Num. 9:15–23] and all went through the sea [^Cthe miraculous passage through the Red Sea; Ex. 14:22]. ² They were all baptized ·as followers of [^Linto] Moses in the cloud and in the sea [^Cjust as believers are baptized “into Christ” (Rom. 6:3), so the Israelites were “baptized” into Moses, their leader-redeemer]. ³ They all ate the same spiritual food [^Cthe manna God provided from heaven; Ex. 16:15, 35], ⁴ and all drank the same spiritual drink [^Cthe water miraculously provided from a rock; Ex. 17:6; Num. 20:7–13]. They drank from that spiritual rock that followed them [^Cin Jewish tradition, the rock travelled with the Israelites, providing continual refreshment], and that rock was Christ [^Ca type of Christ, who provides spiritual sustenance]. ⁵ But God was not pleased with most of them, so they ·died [or were struck down; or (their bodies) were scattered] in the desert [^Cas judgment for unbelief and refusing to enter the Promised Land; Num. 13—14].

⁶ And these things happened as examples for us, to stop us from ·wanting [desiring; craving] evil things as those people did. ⁷ Do not worship idols, as some of them did. Just as it is written in the Scriptures: “The people sat down to eat and drink, and then they got up and ·sinned sexually [^Lplayed; ^Ca euphemism for immoral revelry; Ex. 32:6].” ⁸ We must not take part in sexual sins, as some of them did. In one day twenty-three thousand of them ·died because of their sins [^Lfell; Num 25:1–9]. ⁹ We must not test Christ as some of them did; they were ·killed [destroyed] by snakes. ¹⁰ Do not ·complain [grumble] as some of them did; they were killed by the ·angel that destroys [^Ldestroyer; Num. 16:41–50; Ex. 12:23].

¹¹ The things that happened to those people are examples. They were written down to ·teach [instruct; warn] us ·who live in the final days of this age [^Lfor whom the end/climax/culmination of the ages has come]. ¹² [^LSo; Therefore] If you think you are ·strong [^Lstanding (firm)], you should be careful not to fall. ¹³ The only ·temptation [or trials] that has come to you is ·that which everyone has [^L(common to) human life]. But ·you can trust God [God is faithful], who will not permit you to be tempted more than you can stand. But when you are tempted, he will also give you a way to escape so that you will be able to ·stand [endure] it.

¹⁴ So, my ·dear friends [beloved], ·run away from [flee; stay away from] the worship of idols. ¹⁵ I am speaking to you as to ·reasonable [sensible; discerning] people; ·judge [consider] for yourselves what I say. ¹⁶ We give thanks for the cup of blessing [^Cused in the Lord’s Supper], ·which is [^Lis this not…?] a ·sharing [participation; fellowship] in the blood of Christ. And the bread that we break ·is [^Lis it not…?] a ·sharing [participation; fellowship] in the body of Christ. ¹⁷ Because there is one loaf of bread, we who are many are one body, because we all share that one loaf.

¹⁸ Think about ·the Israelites [^LIsrael according to the flesh]: Do not those who eat the sacrifices ·share [participate] in the altar [^Cby eating the sacrificial food, priests in the Jerusalem temple participate in the worship of God]? ¹⁹ ·I do not mean [^LWhat, then, am I saying…?] that the food sacrificed to an idol is important or that an idol is anything at all. ²⁰ But I say that what is sacrificed to idols is offered to demons, not to God. And I do not want you to ·share anything [be participants; share fellowship] with demons. ²¹ You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons also. You cannot ·share in [partake of] the Lord’s table and the table of demons. ²² Are we trying to make the Lord jealous? We are not stronger than he is, are we?

How to Use Christian Freedom

²³ “·We are allowed to do all things [^LAll things are lawful/permissible],” but not all things are ·good for us to do [profitable; beneficial]. “·We are allowed to do all things [^LAll things are lawful/permissible],” but not all things ·help others grow stronger [^Lbuild up; ^Cthe quotations were probably slogans the Corinthians used; 6:12, 13; 7:1; 8:1, 4]. ²⁴ Do not look out only for yourselves. Look out for the good of others.

²⁵ Eat any meat that is sold in the meat market. Do not ask questions ·about it [^Lfor conscience’s sake]. ²⁶ You may eat it, “because the earth belongs to the Lord, and ·everything in it [its fullness/abundance/bounty; Ps. 24:1; 50:12; 89:11].”

²⁷ Those who are not believers may invite you to eat with them. If you want to go, eat anything that is put before you. Do not ask questions ·about it [^Lfor conscience’s sake]. ²⁸ But if anyone says to you, “That food was offered to idols,” do not eat it. Do not eat it because of that person who told you and ·because eating it might be thought to be wrong [^Lfor conscience’s sake]. ²⁹ I don’t mean ·you think it is wrong [your conscience], but the ·other person might [the concience of the other person]. ·But why, you ask, [or For why] should my freedom be judged by someone else’s conscience? ³⁰ If I eat the meal with thankfulness, why am I criticized because of something for which I thank God?

³¹ ·The answer is [or Therefore; In summary], if you eat or drink, or if you do anything, do it all for the glory of God. ³² Never do anything that might hurt others—Jews, Greeks, or God’s church— ³³ just as I, also, try to please everybody in every way. I am not trying to do what is ·good [advantageous] for me but what is ·good [advantageous] for most people so they can be saved.

11 ·Follow my example [Imitate me], as I ·follow the example of [imitate] Christ.

Being Under Authority

² I praise you because you ·remember me in everything [are always thinking of me], and you follow closely the ·teachings [traditions] just as I ·gave them [passed them on] to you. ³ But I want you to understand this: The head of every man is Christ, the head of a woman is ·the man [or her husband], and the head of Christ is God. ⁴ Every man who prays or prophesies ·with his head covered [or with long hair; ^Lhaving down the head; ^Cmost scholars think the passage concerns head coverings; others long or short hair (see v. 14)] brings shame to his head [^Cmeaning shame to Christ, who is the head of the man; v. 3]. ⁵ But every woman who prays or prophesies with ·her head uncovered [or no covering (of hair); v. 4] brings shame to her head. She is the same as a woman who has her head shaved. ⁶ If a woman does not cover her head, she should have her hair cut off. But since it is shameful for a woman to cut off her hair or to shave her head, she should cover her head. ⁷ But a man should not cover his head, because he is the likeness and glory of God. But woman is man’s glory [^CGod’s glory should be unveiled (revealed), while human glory should be veiled]. ⁸ [^LFor] Man did not come from woman, but woman came from man. ⁹ And man was not made for woman, but woman was made for man [Gen. 2:18]. ¹⁰ So that is why a woman should have a ·symbol of authority on [or authority over] her head, because of the angels [^Cthe significance of the angels is unclear; perhaps their presence at worship calls for reverence and propriety].

¹¹ But in the Lord women are not independent of men, and men are not independent of women. ¹² This is true because woman came from man, but also man is born from woman. But everything comes from God. ¹³ ·Decide [Judge] this for yourselves: Is it ·right [fitting; proper] for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? ¹⁴ ·Even [^LDoes not…?] ·nature [or custom; culture] itself teaches you that wearing long hair is shameful for a man [^CGreco-Roman men normally wore their hair short]. ¹⁵ But long hair is a woman’s glory. Long hair is given to her as a covering. ¹⁶ ·Some people [^LIf anyone] may still want to argue about this, but I would add that neither we nor the churches of God have any other ·practice [custom].

The Lord’s Supper

¹⁷ In the ·things [instructions; commands] I tell you now I do not praise you, because ·when you come together you [your meetings as a congregation] do more harm than good. ¹⁸ First, I hear that when you meet together as a church ·you are divided [there are divisions among you], and I believe some of this. ¹⁹ (It is necessary to have ·differences [factions] among you so that it may be clear which of you really have God’s approval [^Ccontroversy is necesssary because error must be opposed].) ²⁰ When you ·come together [meet as a congregation], you are not really eating the Lord’s Supper [^Cthe worship meal Jesus told his followers to celebrate to remember his death; Luke 22:14–20]. ²¹ This is because when you eat, each person eats without waiting for the others [^Cthe wealthy church members were arriving early to avoid sharing with the poorer members; such social distinctions were common throughout the Greco-Roman world]. Some people do not get enough to eat, while others ·have too much to drink [get drunk]. ²² Don’t you have homes in which to eat and drink? Or do you ·despise [have contempt for; have no regard for] God’s church and so ·embarrass [humiliate] those who ·are poor [have nothing]? What should I tell you? Should I praise you? I will not praise you for doing this [^Cthe Corinthians were turning a time meant for unity into one of discrimination].

²³ [^LFor] The teaching I ·gave [passed on to] you is the same teaching I received from the Lord: On the night when the Lord Jesus was ·handed over to be killed [betrayed], he took bread ²⁴ and gave thanks for it. Then he broke the bread and said, “This is my body; it is^[a] for you. Do this to remember me.” ²⁵ In the same way, after ·they ate [the meal; supper], Jesus took the cup. He said, “This cup is the new ·agreement [covenant; Ex. 24:8; Jer. 31:31–34] ·that is sealed with the blood of my death [^Lin my blood]. When you drink this, do it to remember me [Matt. 26:26–28; Mark 14:22–24; Luke 22:19, 20].” ²⁶ [^LFor] Every time you eat this bread and drink this cup you ·are telling others about [proclaim; announce] the Lord’s death until he comes.

²⁷ So a person who eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in ·a way that is not worthy of it [or an inappropriate manner] will be ·guilty of sinning against [or held responsible for; liable for; ^Lguilty of] the body and the blood of the Lord. ²⁸ ·Look into your own hearts [^LLet a person examine himself] before you eat the bread and drink the cup, ²⁹ because all who eat the bread and drink the cup without ·recognizing [discerning; careful regard for] the body eat and drink judgment against themselves. ³⁰ That is why many in your group are sick and weak, and ·some [a number] of you have ·died [^Lfallen asleep; ^Ca euphemism for death]. ³¹ But if we ·judged ourselves in the right way [evaluated/examined ourselves], ·God would not judge us [^Lwe would not be judged/punished]. ³² But when the Lord judges us, he disciplines us so that we will not be ·destroyed [condemned] along with the world.

³³ So my brothers and sisters, when you ·come together [gather as a congregation] to eat, wait for each other. ³⁴ Anyone who is too hungry should eat at home so that in meeting together you will not bring God’s judgment on yourselves. I will tell you what to do about ·the other things [additional matters] when I come.

Gifts from the Holy Spirit

12 Now, brothers and sisters, I don’t want you to ·misunderstand [be uninformed] ·about [concerning; or in regard to your question about; see 7:1; 8:1; 16:1] spiritual gifts. ² You know the way you lived ·before you were believers [^Lwhen you were pagans/Gentiles]. You let yourselves be influenced and led away to worship idols—things that could not speak. ³ So I want you to understand that no one who is speaking ·with the help of [by means of; in the power of] God’s Spirit says, “Jesus be cursed.” And no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” ·without the help of [^Lexcept by means of/in the power of] the Holy Spirit.

⁴ There are different kinds of gifts, but they are all from the same Spirit. ⁵ There are different ·ways to serve [ministries] but the same Lord to serve. ⁶ And there are different ·ways that God works through people [kinds of action; activities] but the same God works ·in all of us in everything we do [^Lall things in all people]. ⁷ ·Something from the Spirit can be seen in [^LThe manifestation/disclosure of the Spirit is given to] each person, for the common good. ⁸ The Spirit gives one person the ·ability to speak with wisdom [message/word of wisdom], and the same Spirit gives another the ·ability to speak with knowledge [message/word of knowledge]. ⁹ The same Spirit gives faith to one person. And, to another, that one Spirit gives gifts of healing. ¹⁰ The Spirit gives to another person ·the power to do miracles [works of power], to another ·the ability to prophesy [^Lprophecy]. And he gives to another the ·ability to know the difference between good and evil [^Ldiscernment/distinguishing of] spirits. The Spirit gives one person the ability to speak in different kinds of ·languages [or ecstatic utterance; ^Ltongues] and to another the ·ability to interpret those languages [^Linterpretation of tongues]. ¹¹ One Spirit, the same Spirit, does all these things, and the Spirit ·decides what to give [^Ldistributes just as he wishes to] each person.

The Body of Christ Works Together

¹² A person’s body is ·one thing [a unity; ^Lone], but it has many parts. Though there are many parts to a body, all those parts make only one body. Christ is like that also. ¹³ Some of us are Jews, and some are Greeks. Some of us are slaves, and some are free. But we were all baptized into one body ·through [by; in] one Spirit. And we were all made to ·share in [^Ldrink of] the one Spirit.

¹⁴ [^LFor] The ·human body [^Lbody] is not made up of one part, but of many. ¹⁵ The foot might say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not part of the body.” But saying this would not stop the foot from being a part of the body. ¹⁶ The ear might say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not part of the body.” But saying this would not stop the ear from being a part of the body. ¹⁷ If the whole body were an eye, ·it would not be able to [^Lhow would it…?] hear. If the whole body were an ear, ·it would not be able to [^Lhow would it…?] smell. If each part of the body were the same part, ·there would be no body [^Lwhere would the body be?]. But truly God put all the parts, each one of them, in the body as he wanted them. ²⁰ So then there are many parts, but only one body.

²¹ The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the foot, “I don’t need you!” ²² ·No! [^LOn the contrary,] Those parts of the body that seem to be the weaker are ·really necessary [essential; indispensable]. ²³ And the parts of the body we think are less ·deserving [honorable] are the parts to which we give ·the most [special; greater] honor. We ·give special respect to [or treat with special modesty] the parts ·we want to hide [that are shameful/unpresentable]. ²⁴ The more ·respectable [presentable] parts of our body need no special care. But God put the body together and gave ·more [special] honor to the parts that need it ²⁵ so ·our body would not be divided [or there would be no division in the body]. God wanted the different parts to care the same for each other. ²⁶ If one part of the body suffers, all the other parts suffer with it. Or if one part of our body is ·honored [glorified], all the other parts ·share its honor [^Lrejoice with it].

²⁷ ·Together you [^LYou; ^Cthe Greek is plural] are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of that body. ²⁸ In the church God has ·given a place first to [appointed/placed first] apostles, second to prophets, and third to teachers, then those who do ·miracles [acts of powers], those who have gifts of healing, those who can help others, those who are able to ·govern [lead], and those who can speak ·in different languages [or with ecstatic utterance; ^Ldifferent kinds of tongues; v. 10]. ²⁹ ·Not all are apostles [^LNot all are apostles, are they? ^Cvv. 29–30 are all rhetorical questions assuming a negative answer]. Not all are prophets. Not all are teachers. Not all do miracles. ³⁰ Not all have gifts of healing. Not all speak ·in different languages [or with ecstatic utterance; ^Lin tongues]. Not all interpret those ·languages [^Ltongues]. ³¹ But ·you should truly want to have [eagerly desire; be zealous for] the greater gifts.

And now I will show you ·the best way of all [a better/superior way].

Love Is the Greatest Gift

13 I may speak in ·different languages [^Ltongues; 12:10, 29, 30] of people or even angels. But if I do not have love, I am only a ·noisy [resounding] ·bell [gong] or a ·crashing [clanging] cymbal. ² I may have the gift of prophecy. I may understand all ·the secret things of God [^Lmysteries] and have all knowledge, and I may have faith so great I can move mountains. But even with all these things, if I do not have love, then I am nothing. ³ I may give away everything I have, and I may even give my body ·as an offering to be burned [^Lto be burned].^[b] But I gain nothing if I do not have love.

⁴ Love is patient and kind. Love is not ·jealous [envious], it does not brag, and it is not ·proud [arrogant; conceited; puffed up]. ⁵ Love is not ·rude [disrespectful], is not ·selfish [self-serving], and ·does not get upset with others [is not easily provoked/angered]. Love does not ·count up [keep a record of] wrongs that have been done. ⁶ Love ·takes no pleasure [does not rejoice] in ·evil [wrongdoing; injustice] but rejoices over the truth. ⁷ Love ·patiently accepts all things [^Tbears all things; or always protects], ·always trusts [^Tbelieves all things], ·always hopes [^Thopes all things], and ·always endures [^Tendures all things].

⁸ Love never ·ends [fails; falls short]. There are gifts of prophecy, but they will ·be ended [cease; pass away]. There are gifts of ·speaking in different languages [or ecstatic utterance; ^Ltongues], but those gifts will ·stop [cease; fall silent]. There is the gift of knowledge, but it will ·come to an end [pass away; be set aside]. ⁹ ·The reason is that [For] ·our knowledge and our ability to prophesy are not perfect [^Lwe know in part/imperfectly and we prophesy in part/incompletely]. ¹⁰ But when ·perfection [the perfect; completeness; wholeness] comes, the ·things that are not perfect [partial] will ·end [pass away; be set aside]. ¹¹ When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I ·stopped [set aside] those childish ways. ¹² ·It is the same with us [^LFor…]. Now we see ·a dim reflection [obscurely; or indirectly], ·as if we were looking into a mirror [^Tthrough a glass darkly], but then we shall see ·clearly [^Lface to face]. Now I know only a part, but then I will know fully, as ·God has known me [^LI am fully known]. ¹³ So these three things ·continue forever [endure; remain]: faith, hope, and love. And the greatest of these is love.