1 Corinthians 10
What Happens in This Chapter
Paul reminds the church in Corinth about the people of Israel who followed Moses through the desert. God cared for them, but many of them did wrong things and died there. Paul says those old stories were written down as warnings, and he tells the Corinthians to stay away from idols. Then he explains what to do about meat that had been offered to idols.
Plain reading written for kids. Short sentences, everyday words, one idea at a time.
Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;
1Friends, I want you to remember something. Long ago our people walked under God's cloud. They all walked through the sea.
2And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
2The cloud and the sea were like a washing for them. It showed they all belonged with Moses, their leader.
3And did all eat the same spiritual meat;
3They all ate the same food that God gave them.
4And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
4They all drank the same drink that God gave them. It came from a rock that went along with them. That rock was Christ.
5But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
5But God was not pleased with most of them. They died out in the desert.
6Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
6These things happened as lessons for us. We should not want bad things, like they did.
7Neither 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.
7Do not worship statues, like some of them did. The Bible says, "The people sat down to eat and drink. Then they got up to play."
"Rose up to play" does not mean children playing games. It means the people got up to dance and party wildly around a statue they had made.
8Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.
8We should not do wrong things with our bodies, like some of them did. In one day 23,000 of them died.
9Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.
9We should not test Christ, like some of them did. Snakes bit them, and they died.
10Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
10Do not grumble and complain, like some of them did. The angel who destroys took their lives.
11Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
11These things happened to them as lessons. They were written down to warn us. We live at the end of God's long plan.
12Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
12So if you think you are standing strong, be careful. You could still fall.
13There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
13The hard things that pull at you also pull at other people. God keeps his promises. He will not let anything be too hard for you. When you are tested, he will make a way out. Then you can hold on.
14Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.
14So, dear friends, run away from worshiping statues.
15I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.
15I am talking to people who can think. Decide for yourselves if I am right.
16The 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?
16We thank God for the cup and drink it. That cup shares in the blood of Christ. We break the bread and eat it. That bread shares in the body of Christ.
17For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.
17There is one loaf of bread. We are many people, but we are one body. We all share that one loaf.
18Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?
18Think about the people of Israel. Some of them eat food from the altar, the special table where gifts are given to God. By eating it, they share in that altar.
19What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing?
19So what am I saying? Is a statue really something? Is food given to a statue really something?
20But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.
20No. But when people give gifts to statues, they really give them to demons, not to God. Demons are evil spirits. I do not want you sharing with them.
21Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils.
21You cannot drink the Lord's cup and the demons' cup too. You cannot eat at the Lord's table and the demons' table too.
22Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?
22Do we want to make the Lord jealous? Are we stronger than he is?
23All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.
23Some say, "I am allowed to do anything." But not everything is good for you. Not everything helps people grow strong.
24Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth.
24Do not only look for what is good for you. Look for what is good for other people.
The old word "wealth" here does not mean money. It means what is good for a person.
25Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake:
25You may eat anything sold at the meat market. Do not ask where it came from.
The old word "shambles" means the market where meat was sold.
26For the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof.
26The earth belongs to the Lord. Everything in it is his.
27If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake.
27Someone who does not believe may invite you to dinner. If you want to go, eat what is put in front of you. Do not ask where it came from.
28But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof:
28But someone may say, "This food was given to a statue." Then do not eat it. Stop for the sake of the person who told you.
29Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man’s conscience?
29I mean his sense of right and wrong, not yours. Why should someone else's feelings decide what I am free to do?
30For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks?
30I thank God for the food I share. So why should anyone say I did wrong?
31Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
31So when you eat or drink or do anything at all, do it to honor God.
32Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:
32Do not trip anyone up. Not Jewish people, not people from other nations, and not God's church.
33Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.
33I try to please everyone in everything I do. I do not look for what helps me. I look for what helps many people, so they can be saved.
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