| Holy Bible: Easy-to-Read Version | |
| Book of 1 Corinthians |
| Chapter 10 - Read Chapter |
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- 10:1 - [In Context]
- Brothers and sisters, I want you to know what happened to our ancestors F62 {that followed Moses F63 }. They were all under the cloud, and they all walked through the sea.
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- 10:2 - [In Context]
- Those people were all baptized F64 into Moses in the cloud F65 and in the sea.
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- 10:3 - [In Context]
- They all ate the same spiritual food.
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- 10:4 - [In Context]
- And they all drank the same spiritual drink. They drank from that spiritual rock that was with them. That rock was Christ.
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- 10:5 - [In Context]
- But God was not pleased with most of those people. They were killed in the desert.
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- 10:6 - [In Context]
- And these things that happened are examples for us. These examples should stop us from wanting evil things like those people did.
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- 10:7 - [In Context]
- Don't worship idols F66 like some of those people did. Like the Scriptures F67 say, "The people sat down to eat and drink. The people stood up to dance." F68
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- 10:8 - [In Context]
- We should not do sexual sins like some of those people did. In one day 23,000 of them died {because of their sin}.
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- 10:9 - [In Context]
- We should not test the Lord like some of those people did. They were killed by snakes {because they tested the Lord}.
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- 10:10 - [In Context]
- And don't complain like some of those people did. Those people were killed by the angel that destroys.
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- 10:11 - [In Context]
- The things that happened to those people are examples. And those things were written to be warnings for us. We live in the time that all those past histories were pointing to.
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- 10:12 - [In Context]
- So the person that thinks he is standing strong should be careful that he doesn't fall.
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- 10:13 - [In Context]
- The only temptations that you have are the same temptations that all people have. But you can trust God. He will not let you be tempted more than you can bear. But when you are tempted, God will also give you a way to escape that temptation. Then you will be able to endure it.
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- 10:14 - [In Context]
- So, my dear friends, stay away from worshiping idols. F69
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- 10:15 - [In Context]
- I am speaking to you like you are intelligent people; judge for yourselves what I say.
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- 10:16 - [In Context]
- The cup of blessing F70 that we give thanks for is a sharing in the blood (death) of Christ, isn't it? And the bread that we break is a sharing in the body of Christ, isn't it?
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- 10:17 - [In Context]
- (There is one loaf of bread. And we are many people. But we all share from that one loaf. So we are really one body.)
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- 10:18 - [In Context]
- And think about what happens when the people of Israel (the Jews) offer sacrifices. F71 When they eat the meat that is sacrificed, they are sharing their meal with {God at} the altar, F72 aren't they?
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- 10:19 - [In Context]
- {So, what about food that is sacrificed to idols F73 ?} Am I saying that sacrifices to idols are the same as those Jewish sacrifices? No, because an idol is nothing, and the things offered to idols are worth nothing.
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- 10:20 - [In Context]
- But I am saying that when food is sacrificed to idols, it is an offering to demons, F74 not to God. And I don't want you to share anything with demons.
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- 10:21 - [In Context]
- You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and then go drink a cup with demons. You cannot share {a meal at} the Lord's table and then go share a meal with demons.
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- 10:22 - [In Context]
- Doing that would make the Lord jealous F75 ! And we don't want to do that, do we? No, because he is much stronger than we are.
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- 10:23 - [In Context]
- "All things are allowed." Yes. But not all things are good. "All things are allowed." Yes. But some things don't help {others} grow stronger.
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- 10:24 - [In Context]
- No person should try to do the things that will help {only} himself. He should try to do what is good for other people.
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- 10:25 - [In Context]
- Eat any meat that is sold in the meat market. Don't ask questions {about the meat} to see if it is something you think is wrong to eat.
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- 10:26 - [In Context]
- {You can eat it}, "because the earth and everything in it belong to the Lord." F76
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- 10:27 - [In Context]
- A person that is not a believer might invite you to eat with him. If you want to go, then eat anything that is put before you. Don't ask questions to see if it is something you think is wrong to eat.
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- 10:28 - [In Context]
- But if a person tells you, "That food was offered to idols, F77 " then don't eat it. Why? Because some people think it is wrong, and it might cause a problem for the person who told you that.
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- 10:29 - [In Context]
- I don't mean that you think it is wrong. But the other person might think it is wrong. {That is the only reason I would not eat the meat.} My own freedom should not be judged by what another person thinks.
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- 10:30 - [In Context]
- I eat the meal with thankfulness. So I don't want to be criticized because of something I thank God for.
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- 10:31 - [In Context]
- So if you eat or if you drink or if you do anything, do it for the glory of God.
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- 10:32 - [In Context]
- Never do anything that might make other people do wrong--Jews, Greeks (non-Jews), or God's church.
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- 10:33 - [In Context]
- I do the same thing. I try to please everybody in every way. I am not trying to do what is good for me. I try to do what is good for the most people, so that they can be saved.
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FOOTNOTES: F62: ancestors Literally, "fathers," meaning a person's parents, grandparents, and all the people they are descended from.
F63: Moses One of the most important leaders of the Jewish people during the time of the Old Testament.
F64: baptized A Greek word meaning to be immersed, dipped, or buried briefly under water.
F65: cloud The cloud that led the people of Israel out of Egypt and across the Red Sea. See Ex. 13:20-22l 14:19,20.
F66: idol(s) False gods made from wood or stone and worshiped by the non-Jewish people.
F67: Scriptures Holy Writings--the Old Testament.
F68: "The people … dance" Quote from Ex. 32:6.
F69: idol(s) False gods made from wood or stone and worshiped by the non-Jewish people.
F70: cup of blessing The cup of wine that Christians thank God for and drink at the Lord's Supper.
F71: sacrifice(s) Animals killed and offered as gifts to God.
F72: altar A stone table at the temple used for offering sacrifices.
F73: idol(s) False gods made from wood or stone and worshiped by the non-Jewish people.
F74: demon(s) Demons are evil spirits from the devil.
F75: make the Lord jealous Read Deut. 32:16,17.
F76: "because … Lord" Quote from Ps. 24:1; 50:12; 89:11.
F77: idol(s) False gods made from wood or stone and worshiped by the non-Jewish people.
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