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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Corinthians 10:23-33

In this passage the apostle shows in what instances, notwithstanding, Christians might lawfully eat what had been sacrificed to idols. They must not eat it out of religious respect to the idol, nor go into his temple, and hold a feast there, upon what they knew was an idol-sacrifice; nor perhaps out of the temple, if they knew it was a feast held upon a sacrifice, but there were cases wherein they might without sin eat what had been offered. Some such the apostle here enumerates.?But, I. He... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 Corinthians 10:23-33

10:23-33 All things are allowed to me, but all things are not good for me. All things are allowed, but all things do not build up. Let no one think only of his own good, but let him think of the good of the other man too. Eat everything that is sold in the market place, and don't ask fussy questions for conscience sake; for the earth and its fulness belong to god. If one of the pagans invites you to a meal, and you are willing to go, eat anything that is put before you, and don't ask... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 10:23

All things are lawful for me ,.... All sorts of food are lawful to be eaten, every creature of God is good, there is nothing common or unclean in itself, polluted or polluting; and so things offered to idols may be lawfully eaten, but not as such, or in an idol's temple, or before a weak brother; to do which is contrary to the honour of God, and the edification of the saints: and therefore all things are not expedient ; to be done always, and in all places, and before all persons. The... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 10:23

All things are lawful for me - I may lawfully eat all kinds of food, but all are not expedient; ου παντα συμφερει· It would not be becoming in me to eat of all, because I should by this offend and grieve many weak minds. See the notes on 1 Corinthians 6:12 , etc. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 10:23

Verse 23 23.All things are lawful for me Again he returns to the right of Christian liberty, by which the Corinthians defended themselves, and sets aside their objection by giving the same explanation as before. “To eat of meats that were sacrificed, and be present at the banquet, was an outward thing, and therefore was in itself lawful.” Paul declares that he does not by any means call this in question, but he replies, that we must have a regard to edification. All things are lawful for me,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 10:14-33

Argument further enforced; fellowship with Christ by means of the communion; idolatrous feasts a communion with demons; law, expediency, conscience. "Wherefore," says St. Paul, as a deduction from the foregoing argument, "my dearly beloved," his heart kindled anew towards his brethren, "flee from idolatry." This dread of idolatry is the key to what follows. Idolatry, in those days, was a sin that included all sins, and Corinth was behind no city in the charm and splendour it threw around... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 10:23

All things are lawful for me (see 1 Corinthians 6:12 ). The "for me" is not found in א , A, B, C, D. St. Paul repeats the assertion and its limitations, because he has now proved their force. He has shown that Christian liberty must be modified by considerations of expediency and edification in accordance with the feelings of sympathy and charity. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 10:23

Expedience and edification. Like a true rhetorician, as (in the best sense) Paul was, he took up the positions of his opponents, and turned them to good account for his own cause. Those of the Corinthians who adopted the laxer view and practice with reference to association with idolatry, put forward the natural and unquestionable plea—All things indifferent in themselves are lawful for a Christian. "True," answered Paul, "it is so none has more than myself insisted upon this principle:... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 10:23-33

Gospel casuistry. "All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient," etc. These verses teach us the following lessons:— I. A GOOD MAN MAY HAVE A RIGHT TO DO THAT WHICH MAY NOT ALWAYS BE EXPEDIENT FOR THE SAKE OF OTHERS . "All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not." What has not a good man a right to? He has a right to go wherever he pleases, to eat whatever... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Corinthians 10:23

All things are lawful for me - See the note at 1 Corinthians 6:12. This is a repetition of what he had said before; and it is here applied to the subject of eating the meat that had been offered to idols. The sense is,” Though it may be admitted that it was strictly “lawful” to partake of that meat, yet there were strong reasons why it was inexpedient; and those reasons ought to have the binding force of law.”All things edify not - All things do not tend to build up the church, and to advance... read more

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