1 Corinthians 10:27

Contextual Overview

²³ "All things are lawful," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful," but not all things build up. ²³ All things are lawfull for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawfull for me, but all things edifie not. ²³“Everything is permissible,” but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible,” but not everything builds up. ²³ "All things are lawful for me," but not all things are profitable. "All things are lawful for me," but not all things build up. ²³ All things are lawful, but all are not profitable; all things are lawful, but all do not edify. ²³ "All things are allowed," you say. But not all things are good. "All things are allowed." But some things don't help anyone. ²³All things are lawful [that is, morally legitimate, permissible], but not all things are beneficial or advantageous. All things are lawful, but not all things are constructive [to character] and edifying [to spiritual life]. ²³ All things are lawful; but not all things are expedient. All things are lawful; but not all things edify. ²³"Everything is permissible," but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible," but not everything is edifying. ²³ Some of you say, "We can do whatever we want to!" But I tell you that not everything may be good or helpful.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

bid: 1 Corinthians 5:9-11, Luke 5:29, Luke 5:30, Luke 15:23, Luke 19:7

whatsoever: Luke 10:7

for: 1 Corinthians 10:25, 2 Corinthians 1:13, 2 Corinthians 4:2, 2 Corinthians 5:11

Reciprocal: Exodus 34:15 - call thee Numbers 25:2 - they called Psalms 141:4 - and let me Luke 10:8 - eat 1 Corinthians 5:10 - altogether

Cross-References

Genesis 10:20
These are the sonnes of Ham according to their families, according to their tongues in their countries and in their nations.

Genesis 10:20
These are the sons of Ham, after their families and their languages, in their lands and in their nations.

Genesis 10:20
These are the sons of Ham, after their families, after their languages, in their lands, in their nations.

Genesis 10:20
All these people were descendants of Ham. They are arranged by families, languages, countries, and nations.

Genesis 10:20
These are the sons of Ham, by their clans, their languages, their lands, and their nations.

Genesis 10:20
These are the sons of Ham, after their families, after their tongues, in their lands, in their nations.

Genesis 10:20
All these, with their different families, languages, lands, and nations, are the offspring of Ham.

Genesis 10:20
These were the descendants of Ham, according to their families and languages, in their lands and in their nations.

Genesis 10:20
These are the sons of Ham, after their families, after their tongues, in their lands, in their nations.

Genesis 10:20
These are the sons of Ham, after their families, after their tongues, in their lands, in their nations.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

If any of them that believe not,.... In Christ, and make no profession of faith in him; but are infidels to his person, office, grace, righteousness, Gospel, and ordinances, as there were many such at Corinth: "bid you" to a feast; invite you to dine or sup with them in their own houses:

and ye be disposed to go; the apostle does not lay any commands upon them to go, or not go, but leaves them to their own will, inclination, and discretion; for as circumstances might be, it might be either proper or improper to listen to an invitation from such a quarter; but if they were inclined, and did think fit to go, which they might without sin; for as it is lawful to trade, so to eat and drink with unbelievers; then his advice is,

whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no questions for conscience sake; that is, as before, as whether it is offered to idols or not; lest either their own, or another's conscience should be hurt thereby.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

If any of them that believe not - That are not Christians; that are still pagans.

Bid you to a feast - Evidently not a feast in the temple of an idol, but at his own house. If he asks you to partake of his hospitality.

And ye be disposed to go - Greek, “And you will to go.” It is evidently implied here that it would be not improper to go. The Saviour accepted such invitations to dine with the Pharisees (see the note at Luke 11:37); and Christianity is not designed to abolish the courtesies of social life; or to break the bonds of contact; or to make people misanthropes or hermits. It allows and cultivates, under proper Christian restraints, the contact in society which will promote the comfort of people, and especially that which may extend the usefulness of Christians. It does not require, therefore, that we should withdraw from social life, or regard as improper the courtesies of society; see the note at 1 Corinthians 5:10.

Whatsoever is set before you ... - Whether it has been offered in sacrifice or not; for so the connection requires us to understand it.

Eat - This should be interpreted strictly. The apostle says “eat,” not “drink;” and the principle will not authorize us to “drink” whatever is set before us, asking no questions for conscience sake; for while it was matter of indifference in regard to eating, whether the meat had been sacrificed to idols or not, it is not a matter of indifference whether a man may drink intoxicating liquor. That is a point on which the “conscience” should have much to do; and on which its honest decisions, and the will of the Lord, should be faithfully and honestly regarded.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 27. If any - bid you to a feast] The apostle means any common meal, not an idol festival; for to such no Christian could lawfully go.

Whatsoever is set before you, eat — Do not act as the Jews generally do, torturing both themselves and others with questions, such as those mentioned in 1 Corinthians 10:26.