1 Corinthians 10:23 Meaning of I Have the Right to Do Anything

1 Corinthians 10:23
“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.”

Explanation and Commentary on 1 Corinthians 10:23

Even though something is legal, you should consider the effect on others before doing it.

In this passage, Paul is answering a question from the Corinthians about eating food that had been sacrificed to idols. At the time of Paul’s writing, people regularly ate the sacrificial meals of various deities as a way to honor and sanction the divinity of the deity. Eating together was important to network within the community and build friendships. There was enormous social pressure to conform to these social norms. Those that avoided the meals from the public sacrifices were viewed as outcasts by society.

While Paul began his answer on the topic of idol offerings in 1 Corinthians 8:1-13, he returned to the topic in 1 Corinthians 10:1-33. In 1 Corinthians 8, Paul tells us that not all Christians were fully convinced that idols were false and that there is only one true God. For those weak Christians, though it was legal to eat the food offered to the idols, those Christians could have abstained to show they rejected the authenticity of the idols. Or, they could have eaten it and made it clear that they rejected the idols. If instead, these weak Christians eat the food out of respect for the idol, they commit the sin of idolatry. These weak Christians lack the ability to make the correct moral judgments in their lives, which will lead to other sins. Paul concludes this passage stating that he would personally avoid eating sacrificial offerings altogether if it would avert a fellow Christian from slipping into sin.

Some commentators think that the idol offerings in 1 Corinthians 10:23 are the same as those discussed in 8:1. Others think that the idol offerings in 8:1 refer to ones from public sacrifice, while the ones in 10:23 refer to food of uncertain origin. Paul tells the Corinthians that they can buy food in the marketplace and also eat with others, all without asking whether the food was sacrificial (1 Corinthians 10:25-27).

Paul’s focus is not on the food itself as much as how we exercise our Christian liberties. Paul tells us to consider whether our lawful actions are beneficial and constructive so as to help others. Though it may be legal to perform a certain act, the circumstances surrounding it may make it a sin. Even if not a sin, we still must consider whether we are promoting the welfare of others before we act.

Bible Study on 1 Corinthians 10:23

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Biblical Translations of 1 Corinthians 10:23

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.

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.

ESV
“All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up.

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.

1 Corinthians 10:23 Meaning

Author Bio
Natalie Regoli is a child of God, devoted wife, and mother of two boys. She has a Master's Degree in Law from The University of Texas. Natalie has been published in several national journals and has been practicing law for 18 years.