1 Corinthians 10
10
Examples of Divine Discipline From Israel’s History
1 For I do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, 2 and all were baptised 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 drinking from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. 5 But God was not pleased with the greater part of them, for they were spread out in the desert.
6 Now these events* happened as examples to us, so that we would not be eager desirers of evil things, just as they indeed craved them. 7 And do not become idolaters, as some of them were,* just as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.”* 8 Neither let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them committed sexual immorality, and twenty-three thousand* fell under judgment in one day. 9 Neither let us put Christ to the test, just as some of them tested Him, and were being destroyed by the serpents. 10 Neither let us grumble, just as some of them grumbled, and were destroyed by the destroyer.*
11 Now these things happened to them as an example, and it was written for our admonition, on whom the ends of the ages have come. 12 Therefore, let the one who thinks he stands pay attention to himself lest he fall. 13 No testing* has overtaken you except what is common to man. But God is faithful, who will not allow you be tested* beyond what you are able, but with the testing* He will also provide the way of escape, so that you will be able to endure it.
Warnings Against Idolatry
14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. 15 I speak as to thoughtful persons; judge for yourselves what I say. 16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a sharing in the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not a sharing in the body of Christ? 17 Since there is one bread, we who are many, are one body, for we all partake of the one bread. 18 Think carefully about Israel according to the flesh: Are not those eating the sacrifices sharers in the altar? 19 What then do I mean? That what is sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything?* 20 Rather, that what the Gentiles* sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God; and I do not want you to be sharers with demons. 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. 22 Or do we make the Lord jealous? We are not stronger than He, are we?
The Extent of Christian Freedom
23 “All things are lawful,” but not all things are profitable. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up. 24 Let no one seek his own benefit, but let each one seek the benefit of the other.* 25 Eat whatever is sold in the meat market, asking no questions for the sake of conscience. 26 For “The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness of it.”* 27 If any of the unbelieving people invites you and you wish to go, eat anything that is placed before you, asking no questions for the sake of conscience. 28 But if anyone says to you, “This is sacrificed to an idol,” do not eat it, for the sake of the one who pointed it out and the conscience.* 29 Now, “conscience”, I say, not your own, but the conscience of the other person.* For why is my freedom judged by another’s conscience? 30 If I partake with thankfulness, why am I defamed concerning that for which I give thanks?
31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Cause no offence, both to Jews and to Greeks, and to the church of God, 33 just as I also please all people in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of the many,* so that they may be saved.
Notes
6 Greek things
7 The linking verb were is contextually supplied to the text for clarification
7 Quoted from Ex. 32:6
8 Two ancient Greek manuscripts read twenty-four thousand, possibly as an effort to harmonise the reading with a parallel in Num. 25:9
10 Or the destroying angel
13 Or temptation. Used twice in this verse
13 Or tested
19 Some ancient manuscripts omit the phrase or that an idol is anything ?
20 Some ancient manuscripts omit the Gentiles
24 Greek Let no one seek his own, but that of the other
26 Quoted from Ps. 24:1
28 The whole of v. 26: For The earth is the Lord’s, and its fullness is inserted at the end of v. 28 in some manuscripts
29 Greek but that of the other
33 Greek but that of the many
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Copyright © 2026 Michael Adeyemi Adegbola. This Scripture text is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-SA 4.0).
