The First Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians

⭑ Berean Study Bible :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 10 -

(Numbers 16:41–50; Numbers 25:1–5)

I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud, and that they all passed through the sea.

They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.

They all ate the same spiritual food

and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.

Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them, for they were struck down in the wilderness.

These things took place as examples to keep us from craving evil things as they did.

Do not be idolaters, as some of them were. As it is written: “The people sat down to eat and to drink, and got up to indulge in revelry.”(a)

We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died.

We should not test Christ,(b) as some of them did, and were killed by snakes.

And do not complain, as some of them did, and were killed by the destroying angel.(c)

Now these things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come.

So the one who thinks he is standing firm should be careful not to fall.

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide an escape, so that you can stand up under it.

Flee from Idolatry

(Exodus 20:22–26)

Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.

I speak to reasonable people; judge for yourselves what I say.

Is not the cup of blessing that we bless a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ?

Because there is one loaf, we who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one loaf.

Consider the people of Israel: Are not those who eat the sacrifices fellow partakers in the altar?

Am I suggesting, then, that food sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything?

No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God. And I do not want you to be participants with demons.

You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot partake in the table of the Lord and the table of demons too.

Are we trying to provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He?

All to God’s Glory

(1 Peter 4:1–11)

“Everything is permissible,”(d) but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible,” but not everything is edifying.

No one should seek his own good, but the good of others.

Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience,

for, “The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.”(e)

If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat anything set before you without raising questions of conscience.

But if someone tells you, “This food was offered to idols,” then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who told you and for the sake of conscience—(f)

the other one’s conscience, I mean, not your own. For why should my freedom be determined by someone else’s conscience?

If I partake in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks?

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God.

Do not become a stumbling block, whether to Jews or Greeks or the church of God—

as I also try to please everyone in all I do. For I am not seeking my own good, but the good of many, that they may be saved.

Footnotes

(a)10:7 Or to play; Exodus 32:6

(b)10:9 WH, NE, and Tischendorf test the Lord

(d)10:23 Or “All things are lawful,” twice in this verse

(e)10:26 Psalms 24:1

(f)10:28 BYZ and TR and for the sake of conscience—for the earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof—

(Numbers 16:41–50; Numbers 25:1–5)

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

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

and all ate the same spiritual food;

and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of a spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ.

However with most of them, God was not well pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted.

Don’t be idolaters, as some of them were. As it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.”(a)

Let’s not commit sexual immorality, as some of them committed, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell.

Let’s not test Christ,(b) as some of them tested, and perished by the serpents.

Don’t grumble, as some of them also grumbled, and perished by the destroyer.

Now all these things happened to them by way of example, and they were written for our admonition, on whom the ends of the ages have come.

Therefore let him who thinks he stands be careful that he doesn’t fall.

No temptation has taken you except what is common to man. God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able, but will with the temptation also make the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

Flee from Idolatry

(Exodus 20:22–26)

Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.

I speak as to wise men. Judge what I say.

The cup of blessing which we bless, isn’t it a sharing of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, isn’t it a sharing of the body of Christ?

Because there is one loaf of bread, we, who are many, are one body; for we all partake of the one loaf of bread.

Consider Israel according to the flesh. Don’t those who eat the sacrifices participate in the altar?

What am I saying then? That a thing sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything?

But I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I don’t desire that you would have fellowship with demons.

You can’t both drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You can’t both partake of the table of the Lord and of the table of demons.

Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?

All to God’s Glory

(1 Peter 4:1–11)

“All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are profitable. “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things build up.

Let no one seek his own, but each one his neighbor’s good.

Whatever is sold in the butcher shop, eat, asking no question for the sake of conscience,

for “the earth is the Lord’s, and its fullness.”(c)

But if one of those who don’t believe invites you to a meal, and you are inclined to go, eat whatever is set before you, asking no questions for the sake of conscience.

But if anyone says to you, “This was offered to idols,” don’t eat it for the sake of the one who told you, and for the sake of conscience. For “the earth is the Lord’s, with all its fullness.”

Conscience, I say, not your own, but the other’s conscience. For why is my liberty judged by another conscience?

If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced for something I give thanks for?

Whether therefore you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Give no occasion for stumbling, whether to Jews, to Greeks, or to the assembly of God;

even as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of the many, that they may be saved.

Footnotes

(a)10:7 ℘ Exodus 32:6

(b)10:9 NU reads “the Lord” instead of “Christ”.