Warnings from Israel’s Past (Numbers 16:41–50; Numbers 25:1–5)
1 CPDV For I do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and they all went across the sea. BSB BSB: I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud, and that they all passed through the sea.
2 CPDV And in Moses, they all were baptized, in the cloud and in the sea. BSB BSB: They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.
3 CPDV And they all ate of the same spiritual food. BSB BSB: They all ate the same spiritual food
4 CPDV And they all drank of the same spiritual drink. And so, they all were drinking of the spiritual rock seeking to obtain them; and that rock was Christ. BSB BSB: and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.
5 CPDV But with most of them, God was not well-pleased. For they were struck down in the desert. BSB BSB: Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them, for they were struck down in the wilderness.
6 CPDV Now these things were done as an example for us, so that we might not desire evil things, just as they desired. BSB BSB: These things took place as examples to keep us from craving evil things as they did.
7 CPDV And so, do not take part in idolatry, as some of them did, just as it was written: “The people sat down to eat and to drink, and then they rose up to amuse themselves.” BSB BSB: Do 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.”
8 CPDV And let us not commit fornication, as some of them fornicated, and so twenty-three thousand fell on one day. BSB BSB: We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died.
9 CPDV And let us not tempt Christ, as some of them tempted, and so they perished by serpents. BSB BSB: We should not test Christ, as some of them did, and were killed by snakes.
10 CPDV And you should not murmur, as some of them murmured, and so they perished by the destroyer. BSB BSB: And do not complain, as some of them did, and were killed by the destroying angel.
11 CPDV Now all of these things happened to them as an example, and so they have been written for our correction, because the final age has fallen upon us. BSB BSB: Now these things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come.
12 CPDV And so, whosoever considers himself to be standing, let him be careful not to fall. BSB BSB: So the one who thinks he is standing firm should be careful not to fall.
13 CPDV Temptation should not take hold of you, except what is human. For God is faithful, and he will not permit you to be tempted beyond your ability. Instead, he will effect his Providence, even during temptation, so that you may be able to bear it. BSB BSB: No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God 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)
14 CPDV Because of this, most beloved of mine, flee from the worship of idols. BSB BSB: Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.
15 CPDV Since I am speaking to those who are prudent, judge what I say for yourselves. BSB BSB: I speak to reasonable people; judge for yourselves what I say.
16 CPDV The cup of benediction that we bless, is it not a communion in the Blood of Christ? And the bread that we break, is it not a participation in the Body of the Lord? BSB 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?
17 CPDV Through the one bread, we, though many, are one body: all of us who are partakers of the one bread. BSB BSB: Because there is one loaf, we who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one loaf.
18 CPDV Consider Israel, according to the flesh. Are not those who eat from the sacrifices partakers of the altar? BSB BSB: Consider the people of Israel: Are not those who eat the sacrifices fellow partakers in the altar?
19 CPDV What is next? Should I say that what is immolated to idols is anything? Or that the idol is anything? BSB BSB: Am I suggesting, then, that food sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything?
20 CPDV But the things that the Gentiles immolate, they immolate to demons, and not to God. And I do not want you to become partakers with demons. BSB 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.
21 CPDV You cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of demons. You cannot be partakers of the table of the Lord, and partakers of the table of demons. BSB 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.
22 CPDV Or should we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he is? All is lawful to me, but not all is expedient. BSB BSB: Are we trying to provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He?
All to God’s Glory (1 Peter 4:1–11)
23 CPDV All is lawful to me, but not all is edifying. BSB BSB: “Everything is permissible,” but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible,” but not everything is edifying.
24 CPDV Let no one seek for himself, but for others. BSB BSB: No one should seek his own good, but the good of others.
25 CPDV Whatever is sold in the market, you may eat, without asking questions for the sake of conscience. BSB BSB: Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience,
26 CPDV “The earth and all its fullness belong to the Lord.” BSB BSB: for, “The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.”
27 CPDV If you are invited by any unbelievers, and you are willing to go, you may eat whatever is set before you, without asking questions for the sake of conscience. BSB BSB: If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat anything set before you without raising questions of conscience.
28 CPDV But if anyone says, “This has been sacrificed to idols,” do not eat it, for the sake of the one who told you, and for the sake of conscience. BSB BSB: But 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—
29 CPDV But I am referring to the conscience of the other person, not to yours. For why should my liberty be judged by the conscience of another? BSB BSB: the other one’s conscience, I mean, not your own. For why should my freedom be determined by someone else’s conscience?
30 CPDV If I partake with thanksgiving, why should I be slandered over that for which I give thanks? BSB BSB: If I partake in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks?
31 CPDV Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever else you may do, do everything for the glory of God. BSB BSB: So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God.
32 CPDV Be without offense toward the Jews, and toward the Gentiles, and toward the Church of God, BSB BSB: Do not become a stumbling block, whether to Jews or Greeks or the church of God—
33 CPDV just as I also, in all things, please everyone, not seeking what is best for myself, but what is best for many others, so that they may be saved. BSB BSB: as 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.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.