1 Corinthians 10:14-22 - Warning Against Idolatry

¹⁴ Therefore, my dearly loved ones, run away from idol worship. ¹⁵ I am speaking to you as [I would] to sensible people, [so] judge for yourselves what I am saying. ¹⁶ Does not the "cup of blessing," which we bless, signify a fellowship with Christ's [physical] blood? [Note: This was the cup used at the close of the Passover meal and was called this because of the prayer of thanksgiving offered for it. Paul refers to such a prayer in connection with its use in the Lord's Supper]. Does not the bread that we break signify a fellowship with Christ's [physical] body? ¹⁷ Inasmuch as there is one loaf of bread that we all share, we who are many make up one body [of believers]. ¹⁸ Look at the physical nation of Israel; do not their people [i.e., the priests] who eat the [animal] sacrifices have fellowship [with God] in the Altar [service]? ¹⁹ So, what am I saying? That an animal sacrificed to idols is [really] anything, or that an idol [itself] is anything? ²⁰ [Certainly not!] But I am saying that the Gentile sacrifices are [really] offered to evil spirits and not to God. And I do not want you to have fellowship with evil spirits. ²¹ You cannot drink [both] the cup of the Lord and the cup of evil spirits [i.e., and still be acceptable to God]. You cannot share in [both] the Lord's table and the table of evil spirits [and still be acceptable to God]. ²² Or, are we [trying to] make the Lord jealous [by doing this]? [Do we think] we are stronger that He is?