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Pauline Letters · WORLD ENGLISH BIBLE

1 Corinthians 10

Paul addresses division, holiness, worship, gifts, love, and resurrection in a troubled church.

New Testament

1 Corinthians 10

1Now I would not have you ignorant, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;

2and were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea;

3and all ate the same spiritual food;

4and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of a spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ.

5However with most of them, God was not well pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

6Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted.

7Don’t be idolaters, as some of them were. As it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.”

8Let’s not commit sexual immorality, as some of them committed, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell.

9Let’s not test Christ, as some of them tested, and perished by the serpents.

10Don’t grumble, as some of them also grumbled, and perished by the destroyer.

11Now all these things happened to them by way of example, and they were written for our admonition, on whom the ends of the ages have come.

12Therefore let him who thinks he stands be careful that he doesn’t fall.

13No temptation has taken you except what is common to man. God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able, but will with the temptation also make the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

14Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.

15I speak as to wise men. Judge what I say.

16The cup of blessing which we bless, isn’t it a sharing of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, isn’t it a sharing of the body of Christ?

17Because there is one loaf of bread, we, who are many, are one body; for we all partake of the one loaf of bread.

18Consider Israel according to the flesh. Don’t those who eat the sacrifices participate in the altar?

19What am I saying then? That a thing sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything?

20But I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I don’t desire that you would have fellowship with demons.

21You can’t both drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You can’t both partake of the table of the Lord and of the table of demons.

22Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?

23“All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are profitable. “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things build up.

24Let no one seek his own, but each one his neighbor’s good.

25Whatever is sold in the butcher shop, eat, asking no question for the sake of conscience,

26for “the earth is the Lord’s, and its fullness.”

27But if one of those who don’t believe invites you to a meal, and you are inclined to go, eat whatever is set before you, asking no questions for the sake of conscience.

28But if anyone says to you, “This was offered to idols,” don’t eat it for the sake of the one who told you, and for the sake of conscience. For “the earth is the Lord’s, with all its fullness.”

29Conscience, I say, not your own, but the other’s conscience. For why is my liberty judged by another conscience?

30If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced for something I give thanks for?

31Whether therefore you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

32Give no occasion for stumbling, whether to Jews, to Greeks, or to the assembly of God;

33even as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of the many, that they may be saved.

READ IN CONTEXT

Before applying this chapter

Paul addresses division, holiness, worship, gifts, love, and resurrection in a troubled church. Read 1 Corinthians 10 within the complete 1 Corinthians overview, and use the contextual Bible reading guide before forming a personal application. Chapter divisions aid navigation, but the literary unit may begin earlier or continue into the next chapter.

Observe first

Mark repeated words, changes of speaker, commands, promises, contrasts, questions, and the relationship between paragraphs.

Apply responsibly

Distinguish description from command and immediate audience from later readers before forming a personal application.

TEXT-DERIVED READING NOTES

What to notice in 1 Corinthians 10

1 Corinthians 10 contains 33 verses and about 643 words in this translation. These observations come from the chapter itself; they are prompts for close reading, not claims about its only possible meaning.

The opening movement

Verse 1 begins: “Now I would not have you ignorant, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;” Ask what situation, voice, image, or argument this opening establishes for everything that follows.

The closing movement

Verse 33 closes: “even as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of the many, that they may be saved.” Compare the ending with the opening and note what changed, resolved, intensified, or remained open.

Vocabulary worth tracing

Recurring or prominent content words include things, don’t, conscience, drink, christ, demons. Follow where each word appears and whether its meaning shifts with the speaker or setting.

COMMON QUESTIONS

About 1 Corinthians 10

Which Bible translation is shown here?+

This page reproduces the World English Bible Protestant edition (WEBP), a modern-English translation dedicated to the public domain.

How should I cite a specific verse?+

Use the book, chapter, and verse—for example, 1 Corinthians 10:1—and name the World English Bible if the wording matters. Each verse number above is a direct anchor link.

Does the chapter number define the complete literary unit?+

Not always. Chapter and verse numbers were added for navigation. Check the paragraphs, scenes, poetic stanzas, or argument before and after this chapter.

A SMALL NEXT STEP

You do not have to have everything figured out.

Begin with one honest question, one passage read carefully, and one faithful next step.

Start with prayer