1 Corinthians 10:14-26

Warning Against Idolatry

14 Therefore, my beloved, y flee from idolatry. 15 I speak z as to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. 16 a The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? b The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? 17 Because there is one bread, we who are many are c one body, for we all partake of the one bread. 18 Consider d the people of Israel: 1 e are not those who eat the sacrifices participants in the altar? 19 What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that f an idol is anything? 20 No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice g they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons. 21 h You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and i the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and j the table of demons. 22 k Shall we provoke the Lord to jealousy? l Are we stronger than he?

Do All to the Glory of God

23 m "All things are lawful," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful," but not all things build up. 24 n Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor. 25 o Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience. 26 For p "the earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof."

  1. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 10:7
    Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, "The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.
  2. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 8:1
    Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that "all of us possess knowledge." This "knowledge" puffs up, but love builds up.
  3. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 11:25
    In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.
    Matthew 26:27 - 28
    And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, "Drink of it, all of you.
  4. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 11:23 - 24
    For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread.
    Matthew 26:26
    Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, "Take, eat; this is my body.
    Acts 2:42
    And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
    Acts 20:7
    On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight.
  5. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 12:12 - 13
    For just as the body is one and has many member...
    1 Corinthians 12:20
    As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.
    Romans 12:5
    So we, though many, are one body in Christ, and...
    Ephesians 4:4
    There is one body and one Spirit - just as you ...
    Ephesians 4:16
    From whom the whole body, joined and held toget...
    Colossians 3:15
    And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts...
  6. Cross References
    Romans 1:3
    Concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh
    Romans 4:1
    What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh?
    Romans 9:5
    To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.
    2 Corinthians 11:18
    Since many boast according to the flesh, I too will boast.
  7. Cross References
    Leviticus 3:3
    And from the sacrifice of the peace offering, as a food offering to the Lord, he shall offer the fat covering the entrails and all the fat that is on the entrails.
    Leviticus 7:15
    And the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offerings for thanksgiving shall be eaten on the day of his offering. He shall not leave any of it until the morning.
    Hebrews 13:10
    We have an altar from which those who serve the tent have no right to eat.
  8. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 8:4
    Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that "an idol has no real existence," and that "there is no God but one.
  9. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 32:17
    They sacrificed to demons that were no gods, to gods they had never known, to new gods that had come recently, whom your fathers had never dreaded.
  10. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 6:15 - 16
    What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever?
  11. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 32:38
    Who ate the fat of their sacrifices and drank the wine of their drink offering? Let them rise up and help you; let them be your protection!
  12. Cross References
    Isaiah 65:11
    But you who forsake the Lord, who forget my holy mountain, who set a table for Fortune and fill cups of mixed wine for Destiny.
  13. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 32:21
    They have made me jealous with what is no god; they have provoked me to anger with their idols. So I will make them jealous with those who are no people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation.
  14. Cross References
    Ecclesiastes 6:10
    Whatever has come to be has already been named, and it is known what man is, and that he is not able to dispute with one stronger than he.
    Ezekiel 22:14
    Can your courage endure, or can your hands be strong, in the days that I shall deal with you? I the Lord have spoken, and I will do it.
  15. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 6:12
    All things are lawful for me," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful for me," but I will not be enslaved by anything.
    1 Corinthians 8:9
    But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.
  16. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 10:33
    Just as I try to please everyone in everything ...
    1 Corinthians 13:5
    Or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it ...
    Philippians 2:21
    For they all seek their own interests, not thos...
    1 Corinthians 9:23
    I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I ...
    2 Corinthians 12:14
    Here for the third time I am ready to come to y...
    Romans 15:1
    We who are strong have an obligation to bear wi...
  17. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 8:7
    However, not all possess this knowledge. But some, through former association with idols, eat food as really offered to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled.
  18. Cross References
    Psalms 24:1
    The earth is the Lord 's and the fullness there...
    Exodus 9:29
    Moses said to him, "As soon as I have gone out ...
    Exodus 19:5
    Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice...
    Deuteronomy 10:14
    Behold, to the Lord your God belong heaven and ...
    Job 41:11
    Who has first given to me, that I should repay ...
    Psalms 50:12
    If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the...
  19. Cross References
    Psalms 24:1
    The earth is the Lord 's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.