Add parallel Print Page Options

14 Therefore, my beloved, run [keep far, far away] from [any sort of] idolatry [and that includes loving anything more than God, or participating in anything that leads to sin and enslaves the soul]. 15 I am speaking as to wise and sensible people; judge [carefully and thoughtfully consider] for yourselves what I say. 16 Is the cup of blessing which we bless [at the Lord’s Supper] not a sharing in the blood of Christ? [Indeed it is.] Is the bread which we break not a sharing in the body of Christ? [Indeed it is.] 17 Since there is one bread, we [believers] who are many are [united into] one body; for we all partake of the one bread [which represents the body of Christ]. 18 Consider the people of Israel; are those who eat the sacrifices not partners of the altar [united in their worship of the same God]? [Indeed they are.](A) 19 What do I mean then? That a thing offered to idols is anything [special or changed simply because it is offered], or that an idol is anything? 20 On the contrary, the things which the Gentiles (pagans) sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons [in effect], and not to God; and I do not want you to become partners with demons [by eating at feasts in pagan temples].(B) 21 You cannot drink [both] the Lord’s cup and the cup of demons. You cannot share in both the Lord’s table and the table of demons [thereby becoming partners with them]. 22 Do we [really] provoke the Lord to jealousy [when we eat food sacrificed to handmade “gods” at pagan feasts]? Are we [spiritually] stronger than He? [Certainly not! He knows that the idols are nothing. But we deeply [a]offend Him.](C)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 10:22 The offense consists of becoming “partners with demons” (v 20) merely to enjoy the pagan meal as an exercise of the believer’s liberty.

14 Therefore, my (A)beloved, flee from (B)idolatry. 15 I speak as to wise people; you then, judge what I say. 16 Is the (C)cup of blessing which we bless not a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is the (D)bread which we break not a sharing in the body of Christ? 17 Since there is one loaf, we (E)who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one loaf. 18 Look at [a]the people of (F)Israel; are those who (G)eat the sacrifices not partners in the altar? 19 What do I mean then? That food sacrificed to idols is anything, or (H)that an idol is [b]anything? 20 No, but I say that things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they (I)sacrifice to demons and not to God; and I do not want you to become partners with demons. 21 (J)You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the table of the Lord and (K)the table of demons. 22 Or do we (L)provoke the Lord to jealousy? We are not (M)stronger than He, are we?

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 10:18 Lit Israel according to the flesh
  2. 1 Corinthians 10:19 I.e., anything real