For ^aI do not want you to be unaware, believers, that our fathers were all ^bunder the cloud in which God’s presence went before them and they all ^cpassed miraculously and safely through the Red Sea; Ex 13:21; 14:22, 29 2 And all of them were ^abaptized into Moses into his safekeeping as their leader in the cloud and in the sea; 3 and all of them ^aate the same ¹spiritual food; Ex 16:4, 35 4 and all of them ^adrank the same ¹spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ. Ex 17:6; Num 20:11 5 Nevertheless, God was not well-pleased with ¹most of them, for ^athey were scattered along the ground in the wilderness because their lack of self-control led to disobedience which led to death. Num 14:29, 30

6 Now these things the warnings and admonitions took place as ^aexamples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as ^bthey did. Num 11:4, 34 7 Do not be ^aworshipers of handmade gods, as some of them were; just as it is written in Scripture, “^bTHE PEOPLE SAT DOWN TO EAT AND DRINK after sacrificing to the ¹golden calf at Horeb, AND STOOD UP TO ^cPLAY indulging in immoral activities.” Ex 32:6 8 We must not indulge in nor tolerate sexual immorality, as ^asome of them did, and ^btwenty-three thousand suddenly fell dead in a single day! Num 25:1-18 9 We must not tempt the Lord that is, test His patience, question His purpose or exploit His goodness, as ^asome of them did—and they were killed by serpents. Num 21:5, 6 10 And do not ^amurmur in unwarranted discontent, as some of them did—and ^bwere destroyed by the ^1cdestroyer. Num 16:41, 49 11 Now these things happened to them as an ^aexample and warning to us; ^bthey were written for our instruction to admonish and equip us, upon whom ^cthe ends of the ages have come. 12 Therefore let the one who ^athinks he stands firm immune to temptation, being overconfident and self-righteous, take care that he does not fall into sin and condemnation. 13 No temptation regardless of its source has overtaken or enticed you that is not common to human experience nor is any temptation unusual or beyond human resistance; but ^aGod is faithful to His word—He is compassionate and trustworthy, and He will not let you be ^btempted beyond your ability to resist, but along with the temptation He has in the past and is now and will always provide the way out as well, so that you will be able to endure it without yielding, and will overcome temptation with joy.

14 Therefore, my ^abeloved, run keep far, far away from any sort of ^bidolatry and that includes loving anything more than God, or participating in anything that leads to sin and enslaves the soul. 15 I am speaking as to wise and sensible people; judge carefully and thoughtfully consider for yourselves what I say. 16 Is the ^acup of blessing which we bless at the Lord’s Supper not a sharing in the blood of Christ? Indeed it is. Is the ^bbread which we break not a sharing in the body of Christ? Indeed it is. 17 Since there is one bread, we believers ^awho are many are united into one body; for we all partake of the one bread which represents the body of Christ. 18 Consider the people of ^aIsrael; are those who ^beat the sacrifices not partners of the altar united in their worship of the same God? Indeed they are. Lev 7:6 19 What do I mean then? That a thing offered to idols is anything special or changed simply because it is offered, or ^athat an idol is anything? 20 On the contrary, the things which the Gentiles (pagans) sacrifice, they ^asacrifice to demons in effect, and not to God; and I do not want you to become partners with demons by eating at feasts in pagan temples. Deut 32:17 21 ^aYou cannot drink both the Lord’s cup and the cup of demons. You cannot share in both the Lord’s table and ^bthe table of demons thereby becoming partners with them. 22 Do we really ^aprovoke the Lord to jealousy when we eat food sacrificed to handmade “gods” at pagan feasts? Are we spiritually ^bstronger than He? Certainly not! He knows that the idols are nothing. But we deeply ¹offend Him. Deut 32:21; Eccl 6:10; Is 45:9

23 ^aAll 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 ^bconstructive to character and edifying to spiritual life. 24 Let no one ^aseek only his own good, but also that of the other person. 25 ^aRegarding meat offered to idols: Eat anything that is sold in the meat market without asking any questions for the sake of your conscience, 26 ^aFOR THE whole EARTH IS THE LORD’S, AND EVERYTHING THAT IS IN IT. Ps 24:1; 50:12 27 If ^aone of the unbelievers invites you to a meal at his home and you want to go, ^beat whatever is served to you without asking questions about its source for the sake of your conscience. 28 But ^aif anyone says to you, “This meat has been offered in sacrifice to an idol,” do not eat it, out of consideration for the one who told you, and for conscience’s sake— 29 and by conscience I mean for the sake of the other man’s, not yours. For ^1awhy is my freedom of choice judged by another’s conscience another’s ethics—another’s sense of right and wrong? 30 If I take my share of food with thankfulness, ^awhy am I accused because of something for which I ^bgive thanks?

31 So then, whether you eat or drink or ^awhatever you do, do all to the glory of our great God. 32 ^aDo not offend Jews or Greeks or even ^bthe church of God but live to honor Him; 33 just as I ^aplease everyone in all things as much as possible adapting myself to the interests of others, ^bnot seeking my own benefit but that of the many, ^cso that they will be open to the message of salvation and may be saved.

For ^aI do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that our fathers were all ^bunder the cloud and they all ^cpassed through the sea; 2 and they all were ^abaptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3 and they all ^aate the same spiritual food, 4 and all ^adrank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was ¹Christ. 5 Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased; for their dead bodies were ^aspread out in the wilderness.

6 Now these things happened as ^aexamples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as ^bthey indeed craved them. 7 Do not be ^aidolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: “^bTHE PEOPLE SAT DOWN TO EAT AND TO DRINK, AND ROSE UP TO ^cPLAY.” 8 Nor are we to commit sexual immorality, as ^asome of them ¹did, and ^btwenty-three thousand fell in one day. 9 Nor are we to put the Lord to the test, as ^asome of them ¹did, and were killed by the snakes. 10 Nor ^agrumble, as some of them ¹did, and ^bwere killed by the ^cdestroyer. 11 Now these things happened to them as an ^aexample, and ^bthey were written for our instruction, upon whom ^cthe ends of the ages have come. 12 Therefore let the one who ^athinks he stands watch out that he does not fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you except something common to mankind; and ^aGod is faithful, ¹so He will not allow you to be ^btempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.

14 Therefore, my ^abeloved, flee from ^bidolatry. 15 I speak as to wise people; you then, judge what I say. 16 Is the ^acup of blessing which we bless not a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is the ^bbread which we break not a sharing in the body of Christ? 17 Since there is one loaf, we ^awho are many are one body; for we all partake of the one loaf. 18 Look at ¹the people of ^aIsrael; are those who ^beat the sacrifices not partners in the altar? 19 What do I mean then? That food sacrificed to idols is anything, or ^athat an idol is ¹anything? 20 No, but I say that things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they ^asacrifice to demons and not to God; and I do not want you to become partners with demons. 21 ^aYou cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the table of the Lord and ^bthe table of demons. 22 Or do we ^aprovoke the Lord to jealousy? We are not ^bstronger than He, are we?

23 ^aAll things are permitted, but not all things are of benefit. All things are permitted, but not all things ^1bbuild people up. 24 No one is to ^aseek his own advantage, but rather that of his ¹neighbor. 25 ^aEat anything that is sold in the meat market without asking questions, for the sake of conscience; 26 ^aFOR THE EARTH IS THE LORD’S, AND ¹ALL IT CONTAINS. 27 If ^aone of the unbelievers invites you and you want to go, ^beat anything that is set before you without asking questions, for the sake of conscience. 28 But ^aif anyone says to you, “This is meat sacrificed to idols,” do not eat it, for the sake of that one who informed you and for the sake of conscience. 29 Now by “conscience” I do not mean your own, but the other person’s; for ^awhy is my freedom judged by another’s conscience? 30 If I partake with thankfulness, ^awhy am I slandered about that for which I ^bgive thanks?

31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or ^awhatever you do, do all things for the glory of God. 32 ^aDo not offend Jews or Greeks, or ^bthe church of God; 33 just as I also ^aplease everyone in all things, ^bnot seeking my own benefit but the benefit of the many, ^cso that they may be saved.

For ^aI do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that our fathers were all ^bunder the cloud and all ^cpassed through the sea; 2 and all were ^abaptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3 and all ^aate the same spiritual food; 4 and all ^adrank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was ¹Christ. 5 Nevertheless, with most of them God was not well-pleased; for ^athey were laid low in the wilderness.

6 Now these things happened as ^aexamples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as ^bthey also craved. 7 Do not be ^aidolaters, as some of them were; as it is written, “^bTHE PEOPLE SAT DOWN TO EAT AND DRINK, AND STOOD UP TO ^cPLAY.” 8 Nor let us act immorally, as ^asome of them ¹did, and ^btwenty-three thousand fell in one day. 9 Nor let us try the Lord, as ^asome of them ¹did, and were destroyed by the serpents. 10 Nor ^agrumble, as some of them ¹did, and ^bwere destroyed by the ^cdestroyer. 11 Now these things happened to them as an ^aexample, and ^bthey were written for our instruction, upon whom ^cthe ends of the ages have come. 12 Therefore let him who ^athinks he stands take heed that he does not fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and ^aGod is faithful, who will not allow you to be ^btempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.

14 Therefore, my ^abeloved, flee from ^bidolatry. 15 I speak as to wise men; you judge what I say. 16 Is not the ^acup of blessing which we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is not the ^1bbread which we break a sharing in the body of Christ? 17 Since there is one ¹bread, we ^awho are many are one body; for we all partake of the one ²bread. 18 Look at ¹the nation ^aIsrael; are not those who ^beat the sacrifices sharers in the altar? 19 What do I mean then? That a thing sacrificed to idols is anything, or ^athat an idol is anything? 20 No, but I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they ^asacrifice to demons and not to God; and I do not want you to become sharers in demons. 21 ^aYou cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the table of the Lord and ^bthe table of demons. 22 Or do we ^aprovoke the Lord to jealousy? We are not ^bstronger than He, are we?

23 ^aAll things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things ^bedify. 24 Let no one ^aseek his own good, but that of his ¹neighbor. 25 ^aEat anything that is sold in the meat market without asking questions for conscience’ sake; 26 ^aFOR THE EARTH IS THE LORD’S, AND ¹ALL IT CONTAINS. 27 If ^aone of the unbelievers invites you and you want to go, ^beat anything that is set before you without asking questions for conscience’ sake. 28 But ^aif anyone says to you, “This is meat sacrificed to idols,” do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for conscience’ sake; 29 I mean not your own conscience, but the other man’s; for ^awhy is my freedom judged by another’s conscience? 30 If I partake with thankfulness, ^awhy am I slandered concerning that for which I ^bgive thanks?

31 Whether, then, you eat or drink or ^awhatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 ^aGive no offense either to Jews or to Greeks or to ^bthe church of God; 33 just as I also ^aplease all men in all things, ^bnot seeking my own profit but the profit of the many, ^cso that they may be saved.