1Now I do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea
2—all were baptized into Moses by the cloud and by the sea—
3and all ate the same spiritual food
4and drank the same spiritual drink; because they kept drinking from a spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that Rock was the Christ.
5For all that, God was not pleased with most of them—their carcasses were scattered around the desert!
6Now these things became examples for us, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted.
7And do not become idolaters, just like some of them; as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink, and got up to amuse themselves.”
8And let us not fornicate, just as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand died!
9Neither let us test the Christ, just as also some of them did—and were destroyed by the snakes!
10And do not grumble, just as also some of them did—and were executed by the destroyer!
11Now all these things happened to them as examples and were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.
12So then, let him who thinks he stands be careful that he does not fall!
13No testing has overtaken you except what is common to man, and God is competent, who will not allow you to be tested beyond what you can stand, but with the testing will also provide the way out, that you may be able to endure it.
14Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry!
15I speak as to wise men; judge for yourselves what I say.
16The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a sharing of the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a sharing of the body of Christ?
17Since the loaf is one, we, the many, are one body, because we all partake of that single loaf.
18Consider the physical Israel: are not those who eat the sacrifices partakers of the altar?
19So what am I getting at? That an idol is anything, or what is offered to idols is anything?
20Rather, that the things pagans sacrifice they sacrifice to demons and not to God. I do not want you to become participants with the demons.
21You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord's table and of the table of demons.
22Are we going to provoke the Lord's jealousy? Are we stronger than He?
23All things are ‘permissible’ for me, but not all things are expedient. All things are ‘permissible’ for me, but not all things edify.
24Let no one seek his own, but each one the other's well-being.
25Eat whatever is being sold in the meat market, asking no question for the sake of conscience;
26since “the earth is the Lord's, and all its fullness.”
27If some unbeliever invites you and you decide to go, eat whatever is set before you, asking no questions for the sake of conscience.
28But if anyone says, “This was offered to idols,” do not eat it for the sake of the speaker and of the conscience; since “the earth is the Lord's, and all its fullness.”
29‘Conscience’ I say, not your own but that of the other. Now just why should my freedom be judged by another's conscience?
30If I partake with thanks, why be slandered over something I give thanks for?
31Therefore, whether you eat or you drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
32Give no offense, either to Jews or to Greeks or to the Church of God
33—even as I try to please everyone in every way, not seeking my own profit but that of the many, that they may be saved.
