1 Corinthians 10 · Verse 23

1 Corinthians 10:23

All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.
1 Corinthians 10:23, King James Version

1 Corinthians 10:23 in other translations

BSB“Everything is permissible,” but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible,” but not everything is edifying.
WEB“All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are profitable. “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things build up.
ASVAll things are lawful; but not all things are expedient. All things are lawful; but not all things edify.
YLTAll things to me are lawful, but all things are not profitable; all things to me are lawful, but all things do not build up;
DARBYAll things are lawful, but all are not profitable; all things are lawful, but all do not edify.
BBEWe are free to do all things, but there are things which it is not wise to do. We are free to do all things, but not all things are for the common good.
WebsterAll things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.

What does 1 Corinthians 10:23 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
23. All things are lawful for me, &c.--Recurring to the Corinthian plea (1Co 6:12), he repeats his qualification of it. The oldest manuscripts omit both times "for me." edify not--tend not to build up the spiritual temple, the Church, in faith and love. Paul does not appeal to the apostolic decision (Ac 15:1-29), which seems to have been not so much regarded outside of Palestine, but rather to the broad principle of true Christian freedom, which does not allow us to be governed by external things, as though, because we can use them, we must use them (1Co 6:12). Their use or non-use is to be regulated by regard to edification.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 23. All things are lawful for me. 1Cor 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 the interests of religion; and when they do not have this effect, they are not expedient, and are improper. Paul acted for the welfare of the church. His object was to save souls. Anything that would promote that object was proper; any thing which would hinder it, though in itself it might not be strictly unlawful, was in his view improper. This is a simple rule, and might be easily applied by all. If a man has his heart on the conversion of men and the salvation of the world, it will go far to regulate his conduct in reference to many things concerning which there may be no exact and positive law. It will do much to regulate his dress; his style of living; his expenses; his entertainments; his mode of intercourse with the world. He may not be able to fix his finger on any positive law, and to say that this or that article of dress is improper; that this or that piece of furniture is absolutely forbidden; or that this or that manner of life is contrary to any explicit law of JEHOVAH; but he may see that it will interfere with his great and main purpose, to do good on the widest scale possible; and THEREFORE to him it will be inexpedient and improper. Such a grand leading purpose is a much better guide to direct a man's life than would be exact positive statutes to regulate everything, even if such minute statutes were possible.

(d) "things" 1Cor 6:12

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 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 1Cor 6:12, etc.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Corinthians 10:23-33
There were cases wherein Christians might eat what had been offered to idols, without sin. Such as when the flesh was sold in the market as common food, for the priest to whom it had been given. But a Christian must not merely consider what is lawful, but what is expedient, and to edify others. Christianity by no means forbids the common offices of kindness, or allows uncourteous behaviour to any, however they may differ from us in religious sentiments or practices. But this is not to be understood of religious festivals, partaking in idolatrous worship. According to this advice of the apostle, Christians should take care not to use their liberty to the hurt of others, or to their own reproach. In eating and drinking, and in all we do, we should aim at the glory of God, at pleasing and honouring him. This is the great end of all religion, and directs us where express rules are wanting. A holy, peaceable, and benevolent spirit, will disarm the greatest enemies.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

1 Corinthians 10:23 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ΠάνταPantaAll thingsG3956
μοιmoito meG3165
ἔξεστινexestinare lawfulG1832
ἀλλ᾽all᾽butG235
οὐounotG3756
πάνταpantaall thingsG3956
συμφέρει·sumphereiare profitable;G4851
πάνταpantaAll thingsG3956
μοιmoito meG3165
ἔξεστινexestinare lawfulG1832
ἀλλ᾽all᾽butG235
οὐounotG3756
πάνταpantaallG3956
οἰκοδομεῖ.oikodomeiedify.G3618

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 1 Corinthians 10:23

  • 1 Corinthians 6:12

    All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.

  • 1 Corinthians 8:9

    But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.

  • Ephesians 4:29

    Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

  • Romans 14:19-20

    Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.

  • 1 Thessalonians 5:11

    Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

  • Romans 15:1-2

    We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.

  • Romans 14:15

    But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.

  • 1 Corinthians 14:17

    For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.

  • 1 Corinthians 14:26

    How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.

  • 1 Corinthians 14:12

    Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.

  • 1 Timothy 1:4

    Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.

  • 1 Corinthians 14:3-5

    But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church. I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
things are lawful.
6:12; 8:9; Ro 14:15,20
edify.
8:1; 14:3-5,12,17,26; Ro 14:19; 15:1,2; 2Co 12:19; Eph 4:29
1Th 5:11; 1Ti 1:4

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 1 Corinthians 10:22

    Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?

  • 1 Corinthians 10:23

    All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.

  • 1 Corinthians 10:24

    Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth.

Read all of 1 Corinthians 10

1 Corinthians 10:23 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Todo me es lícito, mas no todo conviene: todo me es lícito, mas no todo edifica.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Toutes choses sont permises, mais toutes choses ne sont pas avantageuses; toutes choses sont permises, mais toutes choses n’édifient pas.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Alles ist erlaubt, aber nicht alles ist nützlich; alles ist erlaubt, aber nicht alles erbaut.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Omnia mihi licent, sed non omnia ædificat.