Letters to the Churches

Wherefore, my beloved, flee from the idolatry;

as to wise men I speak--judge ye what I say:

The cup of the blessing that we bless--is it not the fellowship of the blood of the Christ? the bread that we break--is it not the fellowship of the body of the Christ?

because one bread, one body, are we the many--for we all of the one bread do partake.

See Israel according to the flesh! are not those eating the sacrifices in the fellowship of the altar?

what then do I say? that an idol is anything? or that a sacrifice offered to an idol is anything? --

no, but that the things that the nations sacrifice--they sacrifice to demons and not to God; and I do not wish you to come into the fellowship of the demons.

Ye are not able the cup of the Lord to drink, and the cup of demons; ye are not able of the table of the Lord to partake, and of the table of demons;

do we arouse the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than He?

All things to me are lawful, but all things are not profitable; all things to me are lawful, but all things do not build up;

let no one seek his own--but each another's.

Whatever in the meat-market is sold eat ye, not inquiring, because of the conscience,

for the Lord's is the earth, and its fulness;

and if any one of the unbelieving do call you, and ye wish to go, all that is set before you eat, nothing inquiring, because of the conscience;

and if any one may say to you, `This is a thing sacrificed to an idol,' --do not eat, because of that one who shewed it , and of the conscience, for the Lord's is the earth and its fulness:

and conscience, I say, not of thyself, but of the other, for why is it that my liberty is judged by another's conscience?

and if I thankfully do partake, why am I evil spoken of, for that for which I give thanks?

Whether, then, ye eat, or drink, or do anything, do all to the glory of God;

become offenceless, both to Jews and Greeks, and to the assembly of God;

as I also in all things do please all, not seeking my own profit, but that of many--that they may be saved.

Followers of me become ye, as I also am of Christ.

And I praise you, brethren, that in all things ye remember me, and according as I did deliver to you, the deliverances ye keep,

and I wish you to know that of every man the head is the Christ, and the head of a woman is the husband, and the head of Christ is God.

Every man praying or prophesying, having the head covered, doth dishonour his head,

and every woman praying or prophesying with the head uncovered, doth dishonour her own head, for it is one and the same thing with her being shaven,