New Testament in a Year

Warnings from Israel’s Past

10 Now I want you to know, brothers, that our fathers^(A) were all under the cloud,^(B) all passed through the sea,^{(C) 2} and all were baptized^(D) into Moses^(E) in the cloud and in the sea. ³ They all ate the same spiritual food,^{(F) 4} and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from a spiritual rock^(G) that followed them, and that rock was Christ.^{(H) 5} But God was not pleased with most of them, for they were struck down in the wilderness.^(I)

⁶ Now these things became examples for us, so that we will not desire^(J) evil things as they did.^{[a](K) 7} Don’t become idolaters^(L) as some of them were; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and got up to play.^{[b](M)[c] 8} Let us not commit sexual immorality^(N) as some of them did,^[d] and in a single day 23,000 people fell dead.^{(O) 9} Let us not test Christ as some of them did^[e] and were destroyed by snakes.^{(P) 10} Nor should we complain^(Q) as some of them did,^[f](R) and were killed by the destroyer.^{[g](S) 11} Now these things happened to them as examples, and they were written as a warning to us,^(T) on whom the ends of the ages^(U) have come.^{(V) 12} So, whoever thinks he stands must be careful not to fall.^{(W) 13} No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to humanity. God is faithful,^(X) and He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation He will also provide a way of escape^(Y) so that you are able to bear it.

Warning against Idolatry

¹⁴ Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry. ¹⁵ I am speaking as to wise people. Judge for yourselves what I say. ¹⁶ The cup^(Z) of blessing^(AA) that we give thanks for, is it not a sharing in the blood of Christ? The bread^(AB) that we break, is it not a sharing in the body of Christ? ¹⁷ Because there is one bread, we who are many are one^(AC) body, for all of us share that one bread. ¹⁸ Look at the people of Israel.^[h] Do not those who eat the sacrifices participate in what is offered on the altar?^(AD)