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1 Corinthians 10 :: Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

Warnings from Israel’s Past
1Co 10:1

Now I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud, all passed through the sea,

1Co 10:2

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

1Co 10:3

They all ate the same spiritual food,

1Co 10:4

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

1Co 10:5

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

1Co 10:6

Now these things took place as examples for us, so that we will not desire evil things as they did.[fn]

1Co 10:7

Don’t become idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and got up to party.[fn]

1Co 10:8

Let us not commit sexual immorality as some of them did,[fn] and in a single day twenty-three thousand people died.

1Co 10:9

Let us not test Christ as some of them did[fn] and were destroyed by snakes.

1Co 10:10

And don’t grumble as some of them did,[fn] and were killed by the destroyer.[fn]

1Co 10:11

These things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our instruction, on whom the ends of the ages[fn] have come.

1Co 10:12

So, whoever thinks he stands must be careful not to fall.

1Co 10:13

No temptation has come upon you except what is common to humanity. But God is faithful; he will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to bear it.

Warning against Idolatry
1Co 10:14

So then, my dear friends, flee from idolatry.

1Co 10:15

I am speaking as to sensible people. Judge for yourselves what I am saying.

1Co 10:16

The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a sharing in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a sharing in the body of Christ?

1Co 10:17

Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, since all of us share the one bread.

1Co 10:18

Consider the people of Israel.[fn] Do not those who eat the sacrifices participate in the altar?

1Co 10:19

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

1Co 10:20

No, but I do say that what they[fn] sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons!

1Co 10:21

You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot share in the Lord’s table and the table of demons.

1Co 10:22

Or are we provoking the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?

Christian Liberty
(cf. Psa 24:1 )
1Co 10:23

“Everything is permissible,”[fn] but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible,”[fn] but not everything builds up.

1Co 10:24

No one is to seek his own good, but the good of the other person.

1Co 10:25

Eat everything that is sold in the meat market, without raising questions for the sake of conscience,

1Co 10:26

since the earth is the Lord’s, and all that is in it.

1Co 10:27

If any of the unbelievers invites you over and you want to go, eat everything that is set before you, without raising questions for the sake of conscience.

1Co 10:28

But if someone says to you, “This is food from a sacrifice,” do not eat it, out of consideration for the one who told you, and for the sake of conscience.[fn]

1Co 10:29

I do not mean your own conscience, but the other person’s. For why is my freedom judged by another person’s conscience?

1Co 10:30

If I partake with thanksgiving, why am I criticized because of something for which I give thanks?

1Co 10:31

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

1Co 10:32

Give no offense to Jews or Greeks or the church of God,

1Co 10:33

just as I also try to please everyone in everything, not seeking my own benefit, but the benefit of many, so that they may be saved.

CSB Footnotes
Lit they desired
Or to dance
Lit them committed sexual immorality
Lit them tested
Lit them grumbled
Or the destroying angel
Or goals of the ages, or culmination of the ages
Lit Look at Israel according to the flesh
Other mss read Gentiles
Other mss add for me
Other mss add for me
Other mss add “For the earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it.”
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