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.

Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea,

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

all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea,

3 A ll of them ate the same holy food.

all ate 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 all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.

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

But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered 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 became our examples, to the intent that 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.”

And do not become 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.

Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell;

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

nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents;

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

nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed 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 all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have 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.

Therefore let him who thinks he stands 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

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. Flee from Idolatry

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

Therefore, 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 for yourselves 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 the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the 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.

For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that 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?

Observe Israel after the flesh: Are not those who eat of the sacrifices partakers of 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 am I saying then? That an idol is anything, or what is offered to idols 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.

Rather, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to have fellowship 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.

You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord’s table 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? All to the Glory of God

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 for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, 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 one seek his own, but each one the other’s well-being.

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.

Eat whatever is sold in the meat market, asking no questions for conscience’ sake;

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

for “the earth is the L ord ’s, and all its fullness.”

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 any of those who do not believe invites you to dinner, and you desire to go, eat whatever is set before you, 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 anyone says to you, “This was offered to idols,” do not eat it for the sake of the one who told you, and for conscience’ sake; for “the earth is the L ord ’s, and all its fullness.”

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 your own, but that of the other. For why is my liberty judged by another man’s 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?

But if I partake with thanks, why am I evil spoken of for the food over which I give thanks?

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

Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you 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 offense, either to the Jews or to the 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.

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