NETtext - I Corinthians - 10

10:1  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,

10:2  and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea,

10:3  and all ate the same spiritual food,

10:4  and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they were all drinking from the spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ.

10:5  But God was not pleased with most of them, for they were cut down in the wilderness.

10:6  These things happened as examples for us, so that we will not crave evil things as they did.

10:7  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."

10:8  And let us not be immoral, as some of them were, and twenty-three thousand died in a single day.

10:9  And let us not put Christ to the test, as some of them did, and were destroyed by snakes.

10:10  And do not complain, as some of them did, and were killed by the destroying angel.

10:11  These things happened to them as examples and were written for our instruction, on whom the ends of the ages have come.

10:12  So let the one who thinks he is standing be careful that he does not fall.

10:13  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.

10:14  So then, my dear friends, flee from idolatry.

10:15  I am speaking to thoughtful people. Consider what I say.

10:16  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?

10:17  Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all share the one bread.

10:18  Look at the people of Israel. Are not those who eat the sacrifices partners in the altar?

10:19  Am I saying that idols or food sacrificed to them amount to anything?

10:20  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.

10:21  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.

10:22  Or are we trying to provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we really stronger than he is?

10:23  "Everything is lawful," but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is lawful," but not everything builds others up.

10:24  Do not seek your own good, but the good of the other person.

10:25  Eat anything that is sold in the marketplace without questions of conscience,

10:26  for the earth and its abundance are the Lord's.

10:27  If an unbeliever invites you to dinner and you want to go, eat whatever is served without asking questions of conscience.

10:28  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 -

10:29  I do not mean yours but the other person's. For why is my freedom being judged by another's conscience?

10:30  If I partake with thankfulness, why am I blamed for the food that I give thanks for?

10:31  So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.

10:32  Do not give offense to Jews or Greeks or to the church of God,

10:33  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.