1 C hristian brothers, I want you to know what happened to our early fathers. They all walked from the country of Egypt under the cloud that showed them the way, and they all passed through the waters of the Red Sea.

For I would not, brethren, have you ignorant, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;

2 T hey were all baptized as they followed Moses in the cloud and in the sea.

and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;

3 A ll of them ate the same holy food.

and did all eat the same spiritual food;

4 T hey all drank the same holy drink. They drank from a holy Rock that went along with them. That holy Rock was Christ.

and did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of a spiritual rock that followed them: and the rock was Christ.

5 E ven then most of them did not please God. He destroyed them in the desert.

Howbeit with most of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

6 T hese things show us something. They teach us not to want things that are bad for us like those people did.

Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.

7 W e must not worship false gods as some of them did. The Holy Writings tell us, “The people sat down to eat and drink. Then they got up to play.”

Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.

8 W e must not do sex sins as some of them did. In one day 23, 000 died.

Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.

9 W e must not test the Lord as some of them did. They were destroyed by snakes.

Neither let us make trial of the Lord, as some of them made trial, and perished by the serpents.

10 W e must not complain against God as some of them did. That is why they were destroyed.

Neither murmur ye, as some of them murmured, and perished by the destroyer.

11 A ll these things happened to show us something. They were written to teach us that the end of the world is near.

Now these things happened unto them by way of example; and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages are come.

12 S o watch yourself! The person who thinks he can stand against sin had better watch that he does not fall into sin.

Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

13 Y ou have never been tempted to sin in any different way than other people. God is faithful. He will not allow you to be tempted more than you can take. But when you are tempted, He will make a way for you to keep from falling into sin. Teaching About the Lord’s Supper

There hath no temptation taken you but such as man can bear: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation make also the way of escape, that ye may be able to endure it.

14 M y dear friends, keep away from the worship of false gods.

Wherefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.

15 I am speaking to you who are able to understand. See if what I am saying is true.

I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.

16 W hen we give thanks for the fruit of the vine at the Lord’s supper, are we not sharing in the blood of Christ? The bread we eat at the Lord’s supper, are we not sharing in the body of Christ?

The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not a communion of the body of Christ?

17 T here is one bread, and many of us Christians make up the body of Christ. All of us eat from that bread.

seeing that we, who are many, are one bread, one body: for we are all partake of the one bread.

18 L ook at the Jews. They ate the animals that were brought to God as gifts in worship and put on the altar. Did this not show they were sharing with God?

Behold Israel after the flesh: have not they that eat the sacrifices communion with the altar?

19 W hat do I mean? Am I saying that a false god or the food brought to it in worship is worth anything?

What say I then? that a thing sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything?

20 N o, not at all! I am saying that the people who do not know God bring gifts of animals in worship. But they have given them to demons, not to God. You do not want to have any share with demons.

But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have communion with demons.

21 Y ou cannot drink from the cup of the Lord and from the cup of demons. You cannot eat at the Lord’s table and at the demon’s table.

Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of demons: ye cannot partake of the table of the Lord, and of the table of demons.

22 A re we trying to make the Lord jealous? Do we think we are stronger than the Lord?

Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?

23 W e are allowed to do anything, but not everything is good for us to do. We are allowed to do anything, but not all things help us grow strong as Christians.

All things are lawful; but not all things are expedient. All things are lawful; but not all things edify.

24 D o not work only for your own good. Think of what you can do for others.

Let no man seek his own, but each his neighbor's good.

25 E at any meat that is sold in the stores. Ask no questions about it. Then your heart will not say it is wrong.

Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, eat, asking no question for conscience' sake,

26 T he Holy Writings say, “The earth and everything in it belongs to the Lord.”

for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof.

27 I f a person who is not a Christian wants you to eat with him, and you want to go, eat anything that is on the table. Ask no questions about the food. Then your heart will not say it is wrong.

If one of them that believe not biddeth you to a feast, and ye are disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience' sake.

28 B ut if someone says, “This meat has been given as a gift to false gods in worship,” do not eat it. In that way, it will not hurt the faith of the one who told you and his heart will have peace.

But if any man say unto you, This hath been offered in sacrifice, eat not, for his sake that showed it, and for conscience sake:

29 H ow the other person feels is important. We are not free to do things that will hurt another person.

conscience, I say, not thine own, but the other's; for why is my liberty judged by another conscience?

30 I f I can give thanks to God for my food, why should anyone say that I am wrong about eating food I can give thanks for?

If I partake with thankfulness, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks?

31 S o if you eat or drink or whatever you do, do everything to honor God.

Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

32 D o nothing that would make trouble for a Greek or for a Jew or for the church of God.

Give no occasions of stumbling, either to Jews, or to Greeks, or to the church of God:

33 I want to please everyone in all that I do. I am not thinking of myself. I want to do what is best for them so they may be saved from the punishment of sin.

even as I also please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of the many, that they may be saved.