Warnings From Israel’s History
1For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. 2They were all 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 the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. 5Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.
6Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. 7Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.”a 8We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. 9We should not test Christ,b as some of them did—and were killed by snakes. 10And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel.
11These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come. 12So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! 13No temptationc has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be temptedd beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted,e he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
Idol Feasts and the Lord’s Supper
14Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry. 15I speak to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. 16Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? 17Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all share the one loaf.
18Consider the people of Israel: Do not those who eat the sacrifices participate in the altar? 19Do I mean then that food sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything? 20No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons. 21You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord’s table and the table of demons. 22Are we trying to arouse the Lord’s jealousy? Are we stronger than he?
The Believer’s Freedom
23“I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive. 24No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.
25Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience, 26for, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.”f
27If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is put before you without raising questions of conscience. 28But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, both for the sake of the one who told you and for the sake of conscience. 29I am referring to the other person’s conscience, not yours. For why is my freedom being judged by another’s conscience? 30If I take part in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of something I thank God for?
31So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 32Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God— 33even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.
Footnotes:
a 7 Exodus 32:6
b 9 Some manuscripts test the Lord
c 13 The Greek for temptation and tempted can also mean testing and tested.
d 13 The Greek for temptation and tempted can also mean testing and tested.
e 13 The Greek for temptation and tempted can also mean testing and tested.
f 26 Psalm 24:1
FAQs
Main idea:
Because of God's great love for his people, we are to flee from idolatry (1 Corinthians 10:14). Paul helps the reader understand that sin and a lack of faith is rooted in idolatry.
What does 1 Corinthians 1 10 teach us? ›
First Corinthians 1:10–17 is about Christian unity. After giving thanks to God for the Corinthians and their sure place with Him in eternity, Paul addresses the way they have divided themselves into factions based on which Christian teacher they follow. Paul urges them to stop and be unified in and around Christ.
What is the meaning of everything is permissible but not everything is beneficial? ›
All things are lawful [that is, morally legitimate, permissible], but not all things are beneficial or advantageous. All things are lawful, but not all things are constructive [to character] and edify You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is good for you.
How do you eat and drink to the glory of God? ›
We should strive to do everything in our lives for the greater glory of God–and this includes eating and drinking! Eating and drinking for the glory of God involves eating and drinking temperately rather than immoderately. We also need to take reasonable care of our health by eating healthfully.
What are the key takeaways from 1 Corinthians? ›
Outline. 1 Corinthians 1–11. Paul warns against divisions within the Church and emphasizes the importance of unity among Church members. He warns members against sexual immorality, teaches that the body is a temple for the Holy Spirit, and encourages self-discipline.
What does 1 Corinthians teach us? ›
In this letter to the church at Corinth, Paul covered a number of different issues related to both life and doctrine: divisions and quarrels, sexual immorality, lawsuits among believers, marriage and singleness, freedom in Christ, order in worship, the significance of the Lord's Supper, and the right use of spiritual ...
What is the key verse in 1 Corinthians? ›
All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things edify. Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. But a man must examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup.
What is the prayer for 1 Corinthians 1 10? ›
Themes: Unity, Perfection, Christ-centeredness. Dear Lord Jesus Christ, I come before you today and humbly ask that you unite us as brothers and sisters in faith. I pray that we may all speak the same thing and that there be no divisions among us.
What is the lesson learned in 1 Corinthians 10 13? ›
No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
What does the Bible say about doing whatever you want? ›
ESV For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.
When we say that God is infinitely perfect we mean that He has all perfections without limit. (a) God has in Himself, in an eminent degree, the perfections of all things that ever existed or will or can exist. He is the cause of all perfection in creatures.
What can we learn from 1 Corinthians 10-23? ›
All things are permitted, but not all things build people up. CSB "Everything is permissible," but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible," but not everything builds up. NLT You say, 'I am allowed to do anything' — but not everything is good for you.
How to glorify God while eating? ›
If our eating is to honor God, then we must not be self-controlled for weight loss, looking good, or health, but rather for Christ in order to be more effective for Him. Being tired or sick the next day after eating too much or too little would hinder us from serving him.
How can I feed the Holy Spirit? ›
So, what are the means by which we can be spiritually fed? Prayer, fasting, nature, science, social care, communion, baptism, laying on of hands, silence, sermons, Bible reading, music, art, dreams, visions … The list is endless because there are as many ways of God feeding us as there are ways of being and doing.
What does God say about sweets? ›
Proverbs 25:27 MSG
It's not smart to stuff yourself with sweets, nor is glory piled on glory good for you.
What is the lesson learned from 1 Corinthians 10-13? ›
1 Corinthians 10:13 Teaches Us There's Always a Way Out of Temptation. That's exactly what 1 Corinthians 10 is saying, that you have a way out of temptation. God will provide you the way of escape so that you may be able to endure it. You can come out on the other side and not sin.
What is the lesson of 1 Corinthians 10 12? ›
Many lost their spiritual balance, became involved in immorality, and were put to death by God. “Consequently,” Paul wrote, “let him that thinks he is standing beware that he does not [lose his spiritual balance and] fall.”—1 Corinthians 10:12.
What is the message that Paul wants the church in Corinth to understand? ›
Paul writes to the church in Corinth to address some big problems: division, sexual misconduct, confusion about food and worship practices, and controversy surrounding Jesus' resurrection. Paul says these issues can be resolved because Jesus is alive.
What is the lesson of 1 Corinthians 10 23 33? ›
In 1 Corinthians 10:23-33, Paul continues to unpack some of the implications of this. We as Christians have been given the liberty to eat anything we want. We are no longer bound by the prohibitions on food that were given in the Old Testament law. Thus, we have the liberty to enjoy food to the glory of God.
