1 Corinthians 10

Avoid Israel’s Mistakes

1For 1I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that our fathers were all 2under the cloud and all 3passed through the sea; 2and all were 4baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3and all 5ate the same spiritual food; 4and all 6drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was 7Christ. 5Nevertheless, with most of them God was not well-pleased; for 8they were laid low in the wilderness.

6Now these things happened as 9examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as 10they also craved. 7Do not be 11idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written, “12The people sat down to eat and drink, and stood up to 13play.” 8Nor let us act immorally, as 14some of them 15did, and 16twenty-three thousand fell in one day. 9Nor let us try the Lord, as 17some of them 18did, and were destroyed by the serpents. 10Nor 19grumble, as some of them 20did, and 21were destroyed by the 22destroyer. 11Now these things happened to them as an 23example, and 24they were written for our instruction, upon whom 25the ends of the ages have come. 12Therefore let him who 26thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall. 13No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and 27God is faithful, who will not allow you to be 28tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.

14Therefore, my 29beloved, flee from 30idolatry. 15I speak as to wise men; you judge what I say. 16Is not the 31cup of blessing which we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is not the 3233bread which we break a sharing in the body of Christ? 17Since there is one 34bread, we 35who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one 36bread. 18Look at 37the nation 38Israel; are not those who 39eat the sacrifices sharers in the altar? 19What do I mean then? That a thing sacrificed to idols is anything, or 40that an idol is anything? 20No, but I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they 41sacrifice to demons and not to God; and I do not want you to become sharers in demons. 2142You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the table of the Lord and 43the table of demons. 22Or do we 44provoke the Lord to jealousy? We are not 45stronger than He, are we?

2346All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things 47edify. 24Let no one 48seek his own good, but that of his 49neighbor. 2550Eat anything that is sold in the meat market without asking questions for conscience’ sake; 2651for the earth is the Lord’s, and 52all it contains. 27If 53one of the unbelievers invites you and you want to go, 54eat anything that is set before you without asking questions for conscience’ sake. 28But 55if anyone says to you, “This is meat sacrificed to idols,” do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for conscience’ sake; 29I mean not your own conscience, but the other man’s; for 56why is my freedom judged by another’s conscience? 30If I partake with thankfulness, 57why am I slandered concerning that for which I 58give thanks?

31Whether, then, you eat or drink or 59whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 3260Give no offense either to Jews or to Greeks or to 61the church of God; 33just as I also 62please all men in all things, 63not seeking my own profit but the profit of the many, 64so that they may be saved.