Warnings from Israel’s Past
(Numbers 16:41–50; Numbers 25:1–5)

1I do not want you⁺ to be unaware, brothers (and sisters), that our forefathers {pateres} were all under the cloud, and that they all passed through the sea. 2They were all baptized (submerged) into Moses (drawn out) in the cloud and in the sea. 3They all ate the same spiritual food 4and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ (the Anointed One). 5Nevertheless, God {Theos} was not pleased with most of them, for they were struck down in the wilderness (solitary place).

6These things took place as examples to keep us from craving evil things as they did. 7Do not be idolaters, as some of them were. As it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry (to play).”a 8We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. 9We should not test Christ [test the Lord],b as some of them did, and were killed by snakes. 10And do not complain, as some of them did, and were killed by the destroying angel \the destroyer/.c

11Now these things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come. 12So the one who thinks he is standing firm should be careful not to fall. 13No temptation has seized you⁺ except what is common to man. And God {Theos} is faithful; He will not let you⁺ be tempted beyond what you⁺ can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide an escape, so that you can stand up under it.

Flee from Idolatry
(Exodus 20:22–26)

14Therefore, my beloved {agapētoi}, flee from idolatry. 15I speak to reasonable people; judge for yourselves what I say. 16Is not the cup of blessing that we bless a participation {koinōnia} in the blood of Christ (the Anointed One)? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? 17Because there is one loaf, we who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one loaf.

18Consider the people of Israel (He wrestles with God): Are not those who eat the sacrifices fellow partakers in the altar? 19Am I suggesting, then, that food sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything? 20No, but the sacrifices of pagans {ethnē} are offered to demons, not to God {Theō}. And I do not want you⁺ to be participants with demons. 21You⁺ cannot drink the cup of the Lord {Kyriou} and the cup of demons too; you⁺ cannot partake in the table of the Lord and the table of demons too. 22Are we trying to provoke the Lord to jealousy {Kyrion}? Are we stronger than He?

All to God’s Glory
(1 Peter 4:1–11)

23“Everything is permissible (“All things are lawful,”),”d but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible,” but not everything is edifying (building up). 24No one should seek his own good, but the good of others.

25Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience, 26for, “The earth is the Lord’s {Kyriou}, and the fullness thereof <Psa 24:1>.”e

27If an unbeliever invites you⁺ to a meal and you⁺ want to go, eat anything set before you⁺ without raising questions of conscience. 28But if someone tells you⁺, “This food was offered to idols,” then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who told you and for the sake of conscience [and for the sake of conscience—for the earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof]—f 29the other one’s conscience, I mean, not your own. For why should my freedom (liberty) be determined by someone else’s conscience? 30If I partake in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced (blasphemed) because of that for which I give thanks?

31So whether you⁺ eat or drink or whatever you⁺ do, do it all to the glory {doxan} of God {Theou}. 32Do not become a stumbling block, whether to Jews (people of praise) or Greeks or the church {ekklēsia} of God {Theou}— 33as I also try to please everyone in all I do. For I am not seeking my own good, but the good of many, that they may be saved.