14Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. [10:15] As to sensible people, I speak — judge for yourselves what I say. [10:16] The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The loaf that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? [10:17] Because there is one loaf, we — the many — are one body, for we all share in the one loaf. [10:18] Look at Israel according to the flesh: are not those who eat the sacrifices participants in the altar? [10:19] What then do I say? That food sacrificed to an idol is anything? Or that an idol is anything? [10:20] No — but that what the nations sacrifice, they sacrifice to divine beings and not to God. And I do not want you to become participants with divine beings. [10:21] You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of divine beings. You cannot share at the table of the Lord and the table of divine beings. [10:22] Or do we provoke the Lord to jealous rivalry? Are we stronger than he is?
1CO 10:14-22
Flee from Idolatry
In the world it was spoken into
In 1st-century Corinth, idolatry was deeply embedded in civic and social life. Temples to various deities dominated the cityscape, and participation in public festivals, sacrifices, and communal meals was a marker of civic loyalty and social belonging. For Gentile converts to Christianity, these practices were not merely religious but also economic and relational, as guilds and trade associations often held feasts in temple precincts. The term (participation) carried weight in this context, signifying a shared identity and mutual obligation. Paul’s warning against idolatry hinges on this idea: participation in the Lord’s Supper creates a with Christ, while participation in idol feasts creates a with (lesser deities or spirits). The singular (loaf) underscores the unity of the Christian community, contrasting sharply with the fragmented loyalties of idol worship. For Paul, idolatry was not a neutral act but a dangerous entanglement with powers opposed to Christ.
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How other translations render this
1CO 10:14
- KJV
- Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.
- BSB
- Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.
- Koinōnos
- Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.
1CO 10:15
- KJV
- I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.
- BSB
- I speak to reasonable people; judge for yourselves what I say.
- Koinōnos
- As to sensible people, I speak — judge for yourselves what I say.
1CO 10:16
- KJV
- 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?
- BSB
- Is not the cup of blessing that we bless a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ?
- Koinōnos
- The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The loaf that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ?
1CO 10:17
- KJV
- For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.
- BSB
- Because there is one loaf, we who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one loaf.
- Koinōnos
- Because there is one loaf, we — the many — are one body, for we all share in the one loaf.
1CO 10:18
- KJV
- Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?
- BSB
- Consider the people of Israel: Are not those who eat the sacrifices fellow partakers in the altar?
- Koinōnos
- Look at Israel according to the flesh: are not those who eat the sacrifices participants in the altar?
1CO 10:19
- KJV
- What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing?
- BSB
- Am I suggesting, then, that food sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything?
- Koinōnos
- What then do I say? That food sacrificed to an idol is anything? Or that an idol is anything?
1CO 10:20
- KJV
- But 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.
- BSB
- No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God. And I do not want you to be participants with demons.
- Koinōnos
- No — but that what the nations sacrifice, they sacrifice to divine beings and not to God. And I do not want you to become participants with divine beings.
1CO 10:21
- KJV
- Ye 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.
- BSB
- You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot partake in the table of the Lord and the table of demons too.
- Koinōnos
- You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of divine beings. You cannot share at the table of the Lord and the table of divine beings.
1CO 10:22
- KJV
- Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?
- BSB
- Are we trying to provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He?
- Koinōnos
- Or do we provoke the Lord to jealous rivalry? Are we stronger than he is?
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
1CO 10:16
- a participation:The word translated 'a participation' here implies a deep, shared involvement or fellowship, suggesting a common bond and mutual interest in the activity.
- bread:The word translated 'bread' refers to a loaf or cake of wheat bread, often used collectively to mean food in general, not just a single slice or type of bread.
1CO 10:20
- the:The word translated 'the' here refers to a 'demon' or 'divine being,' which in ancient thought could be either benevolent or malevolent, not exclusively evil as the modern English 'demon' often implies.
1CO 10:22
- do we provoke to jealousy:The phrase 'do we provoke to jealousy' uses a word that means to incite intense rivalry or envy, often with the intent to challenge or anger, rather than just causing a mild feeling of jealousy.