Warning Against Idolatry
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For I want you to know, brothers,a that our fathers were all under 1the cloud, and all 2passed through the sea,
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and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea,
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and 5all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ.
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Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for 6they were overthrown in the wilderness.
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Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as 7they did.
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8Do not be idolaters 9as some of them were; as it is written, 10"The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play."
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11We must not indulge in sexual immorality 12as some of them did, and 13twenty-three thousand fell in a single day.
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Now these things happened to them as an example, but 19they were written down for our instruction, 20on whom the end of the ages has come.
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Therefore 21let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.
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No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. 22God is faithful, and 23he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
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Therefore, my beloved, 24flee from idolatry.
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I speak 25as to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say.
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26The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? 27The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ?
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Because there is one bread, we who are many are 28one body, for we all partake of the one bread.
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Consider 29the people of Israel:c30are not those who eat the sacrifices participants in the altar?
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What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that 31an idol is anything?
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No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice 32they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons.
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33You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and 34the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and 35the table of demons.
Do All to the Glory of God
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38"All things are lawful," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful," but not all things build up.
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39Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.
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40Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience.
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For 41"the earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof."
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If one of the unbelievers invites you to dinner and you are disposed to go, 42eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience.
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But if someone says to you, "This has been offered in sacrifice," then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience--
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I do not mean 43your conscience, but his. For 44why should my liberty be determined by someone else's conscience?
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If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that 45for which I give thanks?
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So, whether you eat or drink, or 46whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.
(English Standard Version - The Holy Bible Online)