1 Corinthians 10

English Standard Version

Warning Against Idolatry

10 For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers,^[a] that our fathers were all under ^(A)the cloud, and all ^(B)passed through the sea, ²and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, ³and ^(C)all ate the same ^(D)spiritual food, ⁴and ^(E)all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. ⁵Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for ^(F)they were overthrown^[b] in the wilderness.

⁶Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as ^(G)they did. ⁷^(H)Do not be idolaters ^(I)as some of them were; as it is written, ^(J)“The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.” ⁸^(K)We must not indulge in sexual immorality ^(L)as some of them did, and ^(M)twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. ⁹We must not put Christ^[c] to the test, ^(N)as some of them did and ^(O)were destroyed by serpents, ¹⁰nor grumble, ^(P)as some of them did and ^(Q)were destroyed by ^(R)the Destroyer. ¹¹Now these things happened to them as an example, but ^(S)they were written down for our instruction, ^(T)on whom the end of the ages has come. ¹²Therefore ^(U)let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. ¹³No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. ^(V)God is faithful, and ^(W)he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

¹⁴Therefore, my beloved, ^(X)flee from idolatry. ¹⁵I speak ^(Y)as to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. ¹⁶^(Z)The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? ^(AA)The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? ¹⁷Because there is one bread, we who are many are ^(AB)one body, for we all partake of the one bread. ¹⁸Consider ^(AC)the people of Israel:^[d] ^(AD)are not those who eat the sacrifices participants in the altar? ¹⁹What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that ^(AE)an idol is anything? ²⁰No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice ^(AF)they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons. ²¹^(AG)You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and ^(AH)the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and ^(AI)the table of demons. ²²^(AJ)Shall we provoke the Lord to jealousy? ^(AK)Are we stronger than he?

Do All to the Glory of God

²³^(AL)“All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up. ²⁴^(AM)Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor. ²⁵^(AN)Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience. ²⁶For ^(AO)“the earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof.” ²⁷If one of the unbelievers invites you to dinner and you are disposed to go, ^(AP)eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience. ²⁸But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience— ²⁹I do not mean ^(AQ)your conscience, but his. For ^(AR)why should my liberty be determined by someone else's conscience? ³⁰If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that ^(AS)for which I give thanks?

³¹So, whether you eat or drink, or ^(AT)whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. ³²^(AU)Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to ^(AV)the church of God, ³³just as ^(AW)I try to please everyone in everything I do, ^(AX)not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.