1 Corinthians 10
10
A History Lesson from Israel
1 For I do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all went through the sea, 2and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3and all ate the same spiritual food, 4and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ. 5But God was not pleased with the majority of them, for they were struck down in the desert.
6Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we should not be desirers of evil things, just as those also desired them, 7and not become idolaters, as some of them did, just as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and stood up to play,”#A quotation from Exod 32:6 8nor commit sexual immorality, as some of them committed sexual immorality, and twenty-three thousand fell in one day, 9nor put Christ to the test, as some of them tested him, and were destroyed by snakes, 10nor grumble, just as some of them grumbled, and were destroyed by the destroyer. 11Now these things happened to those people as an example, but are written for our instruction, on whom the ends of the ages have come. 12Therefore, the one who thinks that he stands must watch out lest he fall. 13Temptation has not come upon you except what is common to humanity. But God is faithful, who will not permit you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but will also make a way out together with the temptation, so that you may be able to endure it.
Warning Against Idolatry
14Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry. 15I am speaking as to sensible people; you judge what I am saying. 16The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? 17Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all share from the one bread. 18Consider Israel according to the flesh: are not the ones who eat the sacrifices sharers in the altar? 19Therefore, what am I saying? That food sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? 20No, but that the things which they sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to become sharers with demons. 21You are not able to drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You are not able to share the table of the Lord and the table of demons. 22Or are we attempting to provoke the Lord to jealousy? We are not stronger than he is, are we?#*The negative construction in Greek anticipates a negative answer here
Freedom in Christ
23All things are permitted, but not all things are profitable. All things are permitted, but not all things build up. 24Let no one seek his own good#Literally “the - of himself”; “good” is implied but the good of the other. 25Eat everything that is sold in the meat market, asking no questions#Literally “questioning nothing” for the sake of the conscience, 26for “the earth is the Lord’s, and its fullness.”#A quotation from Ps 24:1, and an allusion to Ps 50:12; 89:11 27If any of the unbelievers invites you, and you want to go, eat everything that is set before you, asking no questions#Literally “questioning nothing” for the sake of the conscience. 28But if someone says to you, “This is offered to idols,” do not eat it, for the sake of that one who informed you and the conscience. 29Now I am not speaking about your own conscience, but the conscience of the other person. For why is my freedom judged by another’s conscience? 30If I partake with thankfulness, why am I slandered concerning that for which I give thanks?
31Therefore, whether you eat or you drink or whatever you do, do all things for the glory of God. 32Give no offense#Literally “be blameless” both to Jews and to Greeks and to the church of God, 33just as I also please all people in all things, not seeking my own benefit, but the benefit of the many, in order that they may be saved.
Currently Selected:
1 Corinthians 10: LEB
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
2010 Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software
1 Corinthians 10
10
1Now I want to explain this to you, brothers and sisters. Our forefathers lived under the cloud, and they all passed through the sea.#10:1. The cloud of God's presence, and the passage through the Red Sea. 2Symbolically then they were baptized “into Moses” in the cloud and in the sea. 3They all ate the same spiritual food 4and drank the same spiritual drink, for they “drank from a spiritual rock” that accompanied them. That rock was Christ. 5However, God wasn't happy with most of them, and they perished in the desert.
6Now these experiences are examples to us to show us we should not desire what is evil, as they did. 7You must not worship idols, as some of them did, as it's recorded in Scripture: “The people feasted and drank, and indulged in pagan worship.”#10:7. See Exodus 32:6. 8We must not commit sexual sins, as some of them did, and as a result 23,000 died in one day. 9Nor should we push God to the limit, as some of them did, and were killed by snakes. 10Don't complain at God, as some did, and died at the hands of the destroying angel.
11All the things that happened to them are examples to us and were written down to warn us, we who are living close to the end of time. 12So if you think you're strong enough to stay standing—be careful you don't fall! 13You won't experience any greater temptation than anyone else, and God is trustworthy. He won't allow you to be tempted more than you can bear, and when you are tempted, he will provide for you a way out so you can stay strong. 14So my good friends, stay away from idol worship.
15I'm talking to sensible people, so you decide whether I'm telling the truth. 16When we give thanks for the cup we use in the Lord's Supper, don't we share in the blood of Christ? When we break the communion bread, don't we share in the body of Christ? 17By eating from one loaf of bread, we show that even though we are many, we are one body. 18Look at the people of Israel. Don't those who eat the sacrifices made on the altar share together? 19What am I saying then? That anything sacrificed to idols means anything, or that an idol has any real existence? Of course not! 20The pagans are sacrificing to demons, and not to God. I don't want you to have anything to do with demons! 21You can't drink the Lord's cup as well as the cup of demons; you can't eat from the Lord's table as well as the table of demons. 22Are we trying to make the Lord jealous? Are we stronger than he is?
23Some say, “I'm free to do anything”—but not everything is appropriate! “I'm free to do anything”—but not everything is constructive!#10:23. See 6:12. 24You shouldn't look out for yourself, but for your neighbor. 25Eat whatever is sold in the market without asking questions because of your conscience,#10:25. This refers back to the issue of food sacrificed to idols 26for “the earth and everything in it belong to God.”#10:26. Quoting Psalms 24:1
27If a non-Christian invites you to a meal, and you feel like going, eat whatever you are served, without asking questions because of your conscience. 28But if someone tells you, “This food has been sacrificed to idols,” don't eat it for the sake of the one who mentioned it and for conscience' sake. 29His conscience I mean, not yours. For why should my freedom be determined by someone else's conscience?#10:29. This question seems to be at odds with the previous verse. Paul is arguing for tolerance—both of the one who is offended at eating meat sacrificed to idols, and the other who sees no problem with it since the “gods” of idols do not exist. 30If I choose to eat with thankfulness, why should I be criticized for eating what I'm thankful to God for? 31So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, make sure to do everything to the glory of God. 32Don't cause offense, whether it's to Jews or Greeks or the church of God— 33just as I try to please everybody in all I do. I don't think of what benefits me, but what benefits others, so that they may be saved.
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
Dr. Jonathan Gallagher. Released under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 Unported License. Version 4.3. For corrections send email to jonathangallagherfbv@gmail.com