1 Corinthians

The first epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians, chapter 10, New English Translation and King James Version

Chapter 10 New English Translation

Learning from Israel's Failures

   1 For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea, 2 and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3 and all ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they were all drinking from the spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ. 5 But God was not pleased with most of them, for they were cut down in the wilderness. 6 These things happened as examples for us, so that we will not crave evil things as they did. 7 So do not be idolaters, as some of them were. As it is written, "The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play." 8 And let us not be immoral, as some of them were, and twenty-three thousand died in a single day. 9 And let us not put Christ to the test, as some of them did, and were destroyed by snakes. 10 And do not complain, as some of them did, and were killed by the destroying angel. 11 These things happened to them as examples and were written for our instruction, on whom the ends of the ages have come. 12 So let the one who thinks he is standing be careful that he does not fall. 13 No trial has overtaken you that is not faced by others. And God is faithful: He will not let you be tried beyond what you are able to bear, but with the trial will also provide a way out so that you may be able to endure it.

Avoid Idol Feasts

   14 So then, my dear friends, flee from idolatry. 15 I am speaking to thoughtful people. Consider what I say. 16 Is not the cup of blessing that we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is not the bread that we break a sharing in the body of Christ? 17 Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all share the one bread. 18 Look at the people of Israel. Are not those who eat the sacrifices partners in the altar? 19 Am I saying that idols or food sacrificed to them amount to anything? 20 No, I mean that what the pagans sacrifice is to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be partners with demons. 21 You cannot drink the cup of the LORD and the cup of demons. You cannot take part in the table of the LORD and the table of demons. 22 Or are we trying to provoke the LORD to jealousy? Are we really stronger than he is?

Live to Glorify God

   23 "Everything is lawful, " but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is lawful, " but not everything builds others up. 24 Do not seek your own good, but the good of the other person. 25 Eat anything that is sold in the marketplace without questions of conscience, 26 for the earth and its abundance are the LORD's. 27 If an unbeliever invites you to dinner and you want to go, eat whatever is served without asking questions of conscience. 28 But if someone says to you, "This is from a sacrifice, " do not eat, because of the one who told you and because of conscience - 29 I do not mean yours but the other person's. For why is my freedom being judged by another's conscience? 30 If I partake with thankfulness, why am I blamed for the food that I give thanks for? 31 So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God. 32 Do not give offense to Jews or Greeks or to the church of God, 33 just as I also try to please everyone in all things. I do not seek my own benefit, but the benefit of many, so that they may be saved.

King James Version

   1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;
   2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
   3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat;
   4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
   5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
   6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
   7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.
   8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.
   9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.
   10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
   11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
   12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
   13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
   14 Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.
   15 I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.
   16 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 For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.
   18 Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?
   19 What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing?
   20 But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.
   21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils.
   22 Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?
   23 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.
   24 Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth.
   25 Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake:
   26 For the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof.
   27 If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake.
   28 But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof:
   29 Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience?
   30 For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks?
   31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
   32 Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:
   33 Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.