Study Desk

For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth—as there are many "gods" and many "lords"—

yet for us there is one God, the Father. All things are from Him, and we exist for Him. And there is one Lord, Jesus Christ. All things are through Him, and we exist through Him.

For if someone sees you, the one who has this knowledge, dining in an idol's temple, won't his weak conscience be encouraged to eat food offered to idols?

Then the weak person, the brother for whom Christ died, is ruined by your knowledge.

If I am not an apostle to others, at least I am to you, for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.

For it is written in the law of Moses, Do not muzzle an ox while it treads out grain. Is God really concerned with oxen?

Or isn't He really saying it for us? Yes, this is written for us, because he who plows ought to plow in hope, and he who threshes should do so in hope of sharing the crop.

If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it too much if we reap material benefits from you?

But I have used none of these rights, and I have not written this to make it happen that way for me. For it would be better for me to die than for anyone to deprive me of my boast!

For if I preach the gospel, I have no reason to boast, because an obligation is placed on me. And woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!

For if I do this willingly, I have a reward, but if unwillingly, I am entrusted with a stewardship.

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

But God was not pleased with most of them, for they were struck down in the wilderness.

Now these things became examples for us, so that we will not desire evil things as they did.

I am speaking as to wise people. Judge for yourselves what I say.

The cup of blessing that we give thanks for, is it not a sharing in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a sharing in the body of Christ?

Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for all of us share that one bread.

Eat everything that is sold in the meat market, asking no questions for conscience' sake,

for the earth is the Lord's, and all that is in it.

But if someone says to you, "This is food offered to an idol," do not eat it, out of consideration for the one who told you, and for conscience' sake.