1 Corinthians 10
1 Now I want to explain this to you, brothers and sisters. Our forefathers lived under the cloud, and they all passed through the sea.
Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;
2 Symbolically then they were baptized “into Moses” in the cloud and in the sea.
and were all baptized into Moses by the cloud and by the sea;
3 They all ate the same spiritual food
and did all eat the same spiritual food;
4 and drank the same spiritual drink, for they “drank from a spiritual rock” that accompanied them. That rock was Christ.
and did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of the spiritual rock that followed them: and that rock was an emblem of Christ.
5 However, God wasn't happy with most of them, and they perished in the desert.
But with the greater part of them God was displeased: for they were destroyed in the wilderness.
6 Now these experiences are examples to us to show us we should not desire what is evil, as they did.
Now these things were examples for us, that we might not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
7 You must not worship idols, as some of them did, as it's recorded in Scripture: “The people feasted and drank, and indulged in pagan worship.”
And be ye not idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written, "The people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play."
8 We must not commit sexual sins, as some of them did, and as a result 23,000 died in one day.
Neither let us commit whoredom, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.
9 Nor should we push God to the limit, as some of them did, and were killed by snakes.
Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted Him, and were destroyed by serpents: nor murmur,
10 Don't complain at God, as some did, and died at the hands of the destroying angel.
as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed by the destroyer.
11 All the things that happened to them are examples to us and were written down to warn us, we who are living close to the end of time. (aiōn g165)
Now all these things happened to them as examples: and are written for our admonition, on whom the last ages are come. (aiōn g165)
12 So if you think you're strong enough to stay standing—be careful you don't fall!
Wherefore let him, that thinks he standeth, take heed least he fall.
13 You won't experience any greater temptation than anyone else, and God is trustworthy. He won't allow you to be tempted more than you can bear, and when you are tempted, he will provide for you a way out so you can stay strong.
No temptation has yet taken you but what is common to man: and God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above what ye are able to sustain; but will with the temptation also make a way of escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
14 So my good friends, stay away from idol worship.
Wherefore, my beloved brethren, flee from idolatry.
15 I'm talking to sensible people, so you decide whether I'm telling the truth.
I speak to you as to men of understanding: and judge ye what I say,
16 When we give thanks for the cup we use in the Lord's Supper, don't we share in the blood of Christ? When we break the communion bread, don't we share in the body of Christ?
---The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? the bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?
17 By eating from one loaf of bread, we show that even though we are many, we are one body.
For the bread is one, and we though many are one body; for we all partake of that one bread.
18 Look at the people of Israel. Don't those who eat the sacrifices made on the altar share together?
Consider Israel according to the flesh, Are not they, that eat of the sacrifices, partakers of the altar?
19 What am I saying then? That anything sacrificed to idols means anything, or that an idol has any real existence? Of course not!
What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that what is sacrificed to an idol is in itself any thing to stumble at?
20 The pagans are sacrificing to demons, and not to God. I don't want you to have anything to do with demons!
No: but this I say, that what the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons, and not to God.
21 You can't drink the Lord's cup as well as the cup of demons; you can't eat from the Lord's table as well as the table of demons.
And I would not have you partakers with demons. Ye cannot drink of the cup of the Lord, and the cup of demons: ye cannot be partakers of the table of the Lord, and of the table of demons.
22 Are we trying to make the Lord jealous? Are we stronger than he is?
Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than He?
23 Some say, “I'm free to do anything”—but not everything is appropriate! “I'm free to do anything”—but not everything is constructive!
If all things be lawful for me, yet all things are not expedient: all things may be lawful for me, but all things do not edify.
24 You shouldn't look out for yourself, but for your neighbor.
Let no one seek his own only, but every one another's benefit.
25 Eat whatever is sold in the market without asking questions because of your conscience,
Eat then whatever is sold in the shambles, asking no questions for conscience sake:
26 for “the earth and everything in it belong to God.”
for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof:
27 If a non-Christian invites you to a meal, and you feel like going, eat whatever you are served, without asking questions because of your conscience.
and if any of the unbelievers invite you to an entertainment, and ye have a mind to go, whatever is set before you, eat, asking no questions for conscience-sake.
28 But if someone tells you, “This food has been sacrificed to idols,” don't eat it for the sake of the one who mentioned it and for conscience' sake.
But if any one say to you, This hath been sacrificed to an idol, ---eat it not; for his sake who informed thee, and for conscience-sake: for, as I said, the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof, so that thou mayst have food enough without it.
29 His conscience I mean, not yours. For why should my freedom be determined by someone else's conscience?
Conscience I say, not thy own, but the other's; for why is my liberty to be judged by another man's conscience?
30 If I choose to eat with thankfulness, why should I be criticized for eating what I'm thankful to God for?
And if I partake with thankfulness, why am I blamed for that, for which I give thanks?
31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, make sure to do everything to the glory of God.
Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
32 Don't cause offense, whether it's to Jews or Greeks or the church of God—
Behave inoffensively both to the Jews, and to the Greeks, and to the church of God.
33 just as I try to please everybody in all I do. I don't think of what benefits me, but what benefits others, so that they may be saved.
Even as I also endeavour to please all men in all things, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.
