1 Corinthians 10
1 For I would have you remember, brethren, how our forefathers were all of them sheltered by the cloud, and all got safely through the Red Sea.
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].
2 All were baptized in the cloud and in the sea to be followers of Moses.
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.
3 All ate the same spiritual food,
All [those ancestors of ours ate the same food that God] miraculously [provided].
4 and all drank the same spiritual drink; for they long drank the water that flowed from the spiritual rock that went with them--and that rock was the Christ.
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].
5 But with most of them God was not well pleased; for they were laid low in the Desert.
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.
6 And in this they became a warning to us, to teach us not to be eager, as they were eager, in pursuit of what is evil.
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.
7 And you must not be worshippers of idols, as some of them were. For it is written, "The People sat down to eat and drink, and stood up to dance."
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].”
8 Nor may we be fornicators, like some of them who committed fornication and on a single day 23,000 of them fell dead.
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.
9 And do not let us test the Lord too far, as some of them tested Him and were destroyed by the serpents.
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].
10 And do not be discontented, as some of them were, and they were destroyed by the Destroyer.
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].
11 All this kept happening to them with a figurative meaning; but it was put on record by way of admonition to us upon whom the ends of the Ages have come. (aiōn g165)
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)
12 So then let him who thinks he is standing securely beware of falling.
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].
13 No temptation has you in its power but such as is common to human nature; and God is faithful and will not allow you to be tempted beyond your strength. But, when the temptation comes, He will also provide the way of escape; so that you may be able to bear it.
[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].
14 Therefore, my dear friends, avoid all connection with the worship of idols.
So, [I say to] you people whom I love, [avoid] worshipping idols [just like you would] run away from [anything that is dangerous].
15 I speak as to men of sense: judge for yourselves of what I say.
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].
16 The cup of blessing, which we bless, does it not mean a joint-participation in the blood of Christ? The loaf of bread which we break, does it not mean a joint-participation in the body of Christ?
[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]
17 Since there is one loaf, we who are many are one body; we, all of us, share in that one loaf.
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.
18 Look at the Israelites--the nation and their ritual. Are not those who eat the sacrifices joint-partakers in the altar?
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].
19 Do I mean that a thing sacrificed to an idol is what it claims to be, or that an idol is a real thing?
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].
20 No, but that which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons, not to God; and I would not have you have fellowship with one another through the demons.
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!
21 You cannot drink the Lord's cup and the cup of demons: you cannot be joint-partakers both in the table of the Lord and in the table of demons.
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]
22 Or are we actually arousing the Lord to jealousy. Are we stronger than He is?
[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!]
23 Everything is allowable, but not everything is profitable. Everything is allowable, but everything does not build others up.
[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.
24 Let no one be for ever seeking his own good, but let each seek that of his fellow man.
No one should try to benefit [only] himself. Instead, each person should try to benefit other people [spiritually].
25 Anything that is for sale in the meat market, eat, and ask no questions for conscience' sake;
[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].
26 for the earth is the Lord's, and all that it contains.
[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].
27 If an unbeliever gives you an invitation and you are disposed to accept it, eat whatever is put before you, and ask no questions for conscience' sake.
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].
28 But if any one tells you, "This food has been offered in sacrifice;" abstain from eating it--out of respect for him who warned you, and, as before, for conscience' sake.
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].
29 But now I mean his conscience, not your own. "Why, on what ground," you may object, "is the question of my liberty of action to be decided by a conscience not my own?
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.
30 If, so far as I am concerned, I partake with a grateful heart, why am I to be found fault with in regard to a thing for which I give thanks?"
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]!
31 Whether, then, you are eating or drinking, or whatever you are doing, let everything be done to the glory of God.
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.
32 Do not be causes of stumbling either to Jews or to Gentiles, nor to the Church of God.
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.
33 That is the way that I also seek in everything the approval of all men, not aiming at my own profit, but at that of the many, in the hope that they may be saved.
[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].
