1 Corinthians 10

1 My fellow believers, I want to remind you about our(exc) [Jewish] ancestors. They were all under the cloud [by which God miraculously led them and protected them when they left Egypt with Moses]. All those ancestors crossed the [Red] Sea [after God miraculously made the water separate so that they could walk through it].

Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;

2 God caused all of them to begin to live under the authority of [MTY] Moses [when they walked] under that cloud and [walked through the Red] Sea.

and were all baptized into Moses by the cloud and by the sea;

3 All [those ancestors of ours ate the same food that God] miraculously [provided].

and did all eat the same spiritual food;

4 They all drank water that [God] miraculously [provided]. That is, they all drank water that God miraculously made come out of the rock. That rock was [a symbol of] [MET] Christ, who went with them. [So we conclude that God helped all of those people in many ways].

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, [we also conclude that] God was angry [LIT] with most of those people [because they sinned against him. He caused almost all of them to die, and as] a result their bodies were scattered in the desert.

But with the greater part of them God was displeased: for they were destroyed in the wilderness.

6 Those things [that happened long ago] became examples to teach us [the following things]: We should not desire to [do] evil things as those people desired to do.

Now these things were examples for us, that we might not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.

7 We should not worship idols as many of those people did. [Remember that Moses] wrote, “The people sat down. They ate and drank [to honor the golden calf that they had just made]. Then they got up to dance [immorally].”

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 should not have sexual relations with someone to whom we are not married, as many of them did. As a result, God [punished them by] causing 23,000 people to die in [only] one day.

Neither let us commit whoredom, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.

9 We should not try to see how much we can sin without the Lord punishing us. Some of them did that, and as a result they died because [poisonous] snakes [bit them].

Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted Him, and were destroyed by serpents: nor murmur,

10 We should not complain [about what God does]. Some of them did that, and as a result an angel destroyed them. [So God will certainly punish us if we sin like they did].

as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed by the destroyer.

11 All those things [that happened to our ancestors long ago] are examples for us. [Moses] wrote those things to warn us [who are living at this time which is near the end]. We are the people for whom God has done [the things that he decided to do in] the previous periods 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 [I say this to] all those who confidently [think that they will always] steadfastly continue to [believe what God said and will never disobey what he commanded]: Be careful that you [(sg)] do not sin [when you are tempted].

Wherefore let him, that thinks he standeth, take heed least he fall.

13 [Remember that] your desires to sin are the same desires that other people have. But when you are tempted to sin, you can trust God [to help you]. He will not permit you to be tempted {anything to tempt you} more than you are able to resist. Instead, when you are tempted {things tempt you}, he will also provide a way [for you] to endure it [without sinning].

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, [I say to] you people whom I love, [avoid] worshipping idols [just like you would] run away from [anything that is dangerous].

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, flee from idolatry.

15 It is to people who [think that they] are wise that I write. So, you, as wise people, judge whether what I am writing [is true].

I speak to you as to men of understanding: and judge ye what I say,

16 [During the Lord’s Supper, after we ask God to] bless (the [wine]/the [juice]) [in the] cup, we give thanks for it [and drink it]. By doing that, we certainly are [RHQ] sharing in what Christ [did for us when] his blood [flowed from his body when he died. During the Lord’s Supper, when we break] the bread [and eat it], we are certainly sharing in [MTY] what Christ [did for us when] his body [suffered for us on the cross]. [RHQ]

---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 Because it is one loaf of bread that we [break and eat during the Lord’s Supper, it symbolizes that] we who are many are one group, because we all eat from the one loaf.

For the bread is one, and we though many are one body; for we all partake of that one bread.

18 Consider [what happens when] the Israeli people [eat the food that the priests] sacrifice on the altar [outside the Temple]. They participate in [what the priests do at] [MTY] the altar. [RHQ] [Similarly, if you eat food that non-believers have offered to an idol in a temple, you are participating in their worship of the idol there].

Consider Israel according to the flesh, Are not they, that eat of the sacrifices, partakers of the altar?

19 By saying that, [I] do not mean that offering food to an idol makes it anything [more than just ordinary food [RHQ].] I do not mean that an idol is anything [more than just an idol].

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 No! Instead, I mean that what people sacrifice [to idols], they are sacrificing to demons, not to God. So, [if you eat food that has been sacrificed to idols, you are participating in worshipping the demons that the idols represent]. And I do not want you to participate in worshipping demons!

No: but this I say, that what the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons, and not to God.

21 When you drink the [grape juice/wine in] [MTY] the cup [at the Lord’s Supper], you cannot participate in the [blessings that] the Lord [Jesus] brought to us and at the same time drink the [wine in the] [MTY] cup that people offer to demons! When you eat at the Lord’s table, you cannot participate in the blessings the Lord provided [MTY] when he died for us and at the same time participate in the things that represent demons [by eating food that has been sacrificed to idols]

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 [If you participate in honoring demons in that way], you will certainly make the Lord very angry [RHQ]! (Remember that you are certainly not stronger than he is./Do you think that you are stronger than he is?) [RHQ] [Certainly not, so you will not escape his punishing you if you honor demons in that way!]

Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than He?

23 [Some people say], “[God] permits [believers to do] anything.” But [I say that] not everything that people do benefits [those who do it! Yes, some people say], “God permits [believers to do] all things.” But not everything that people do helps them to become [spiritually] mature.

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 No one should try to benefit [only] himself. Instead, each person should try to benefit other people [spiritually].

Let no one seek his own only, but every one another's benefit.

25 [This is what you should do]: Eat any [food] that is sold {that people sell} in the market. Do not ask questions [to find out if that food has been offered] {[someone offered that food]} [to idols, just] because you think it would be wrong [to eat such food].

Eat then whatever is sold in the shambles, asking no questions for conscience sake:

26 [Remember that the Psalmist wrote], “Everything on the earth belongs to [the] Lord [God because he created it!]” [So, food that has been offered to idols belongs to the Lord, not to the idols, and you may eat it].

for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof:

27 If a non-believer invites you to a meal, go if you want to, and eat any food that is set {that [he] sets} before you. Do not ask [whether it was offered to idols, just] because you think that it would be wrong [to eat such food].

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 says to you, “This is food that was sacrificed [to an idol],” do not eat it, for the sake of the person who told that to you, and also because someone there may think that it is wrong [to eat such food].

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 I do not mean that you [should be concerned about whether it is all right to eat such food]. What I mean is that you should be concerned about others who may think that it is wrong to eat such food. Since I know that I (am free/have the right) [to eat such food without God punishing me], no one should [RHQ] say that what I am doing is wrong just because he himself thinks that it is wrong.

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 thank [God] for the food when I eat [food that has been offered to an idol], no one should criticize me for eating food for which I have thanked God [RHQ]!

And if I partake with thankfulness, why am I blamed for that, for which I give thanks?

31 So [I say to you in conclusion], when you eat [food], or drink [something], or do anything else, do everything in order that [people will] praise God.

Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

32 Do not do anything that would hinder Jews or Greeks [from becoming believers], and do not do things that would encourage members of God’s congregations to sin.

Behave inoffensively both to the Jews, and to the Greeks, and to the church of God.

33 [Do as I do]. I try to please everyone in every way. I do this by not seeking to benefit myself. Instead, I try to benefit many others, in order that they may be saved {that [God] may save them} [from the guilt of their sins].

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.