1 Corinthians 10:23
ESV
"All things are lawful," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful," but not all things build up.
NIV
"I have the right to do anything," you say—but not everything is beneficial. "I have the right to do anything"—but not everything is constructive.
NASB
All things are permitted, but not all things are of benefit. All things are permitted, but not all things build people up.
CSB
"Everything is permissible," but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible," but not everything builds up.
NLT
You say, 'I am allowed to do anything' — but not everything is good for you. You say, 'I am allowed to do anything' — but not everything is beneficial.
KJV
All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.
NKJV
All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify.
What does 1 Corinthians 10:23 mean?
Paul returns to address a philosophy popular in his era, even among some Christians. He first mentioned it in chapter 6 when confronting sexual immorality among the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 6:12). It represented a misunderstanding of what it means to be free in Christ. This is sometimes termed as "hyper-grace." This is an attitude which presumes that if all my sin is forgiven, and I am not under the law of Moses, I must be free to do anything I please.Paul again says "no." While it's true that many things—most things—are not sinful in and of themselves (1 Timothy 4:4), that is not the end of the thought process for believers. Christians should apply a different standard for the best use of their freedom. "Is this lawful?" is the wrong place to stop. Instead, we should continue by asking "Is this helpful? Does this build myself and others up?"
Paul is again addressing the issue of whether it is okay to knowingly eat meat that has been offered to idols. He has agreed that such meat has no power in and of itself (1 Corinthians 8:4–7). He will not agree that it is okay to eat such meat in most instances, however, because of how doing this otherwise "lawful" thing might harm others instead of building them up (1 Corinthians 8:8–13).
First Corinthians 10:23—11:1 shows that merely asking, ''Is this lawful?'' is the wrong question for Christians. Instead, we must continue by asking, ''Will this glorify God?'' and ''Will this build up our neighbors?'' Paul instructs them to act on this by refusing to eat meat they know has been offered to an idol. The reason is to avoid causing anyone to think Christians approve of idol worship in any way. They are free, though, to eat any meat they don't know to have been offered to an idol, with a clear conscience, and with thanks to God. The key message of this passage is that our intent, and the effects of our actions on others, are more important than the physical things involved.
Idol worship is an extremely serious sin. Paul reminds the Christians in idol-saturated Corinth of that by referring to the history of the Israelites who wandered in the wilderness. Though blessed by God, they worshiped false idols. God killed many of them for it. Paul commands his readers to flee from idol worship. To participate with idol worship in any way is to participate with demons. God always provides some way to avoid sin. So, they must avoid giving anyone the idea that they approve of idol worship, even by knowingly eating food offered to idols. Their first question must always be, ''Will this glorify God?''
