1 Corinthians 10:23

The Believer’s Freedom

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.

1 Corinthians 10:23 in Other Translations

KJV
23 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.
ESV
23 "All things are lawful," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful," but not all things build up.
NLT
23 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.
MSG
23 Looking at it one way, you could say, "Anything goes. Because of God's immense generosity and grace, we don't have to dissect and scrutinize every action to see if it will pass muster." But the point is not to just get by.
CSB
23 "Everything is permissible," but not everything is helpful. "Everything is permissible," but not everything builds up.

1 Corinthians 10:23 In-Context

21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord’s table and the table of demons.
22 Are we trying to arouse the Lord’s jealousy? Are we stronger than he?
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.
24 No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.
25 Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience,

Cross References 1

  • 1. 1 Corinthians 6:12
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