Earlier Paul had addressed the issue of Christian liberty and had said that all things were lawful for him, but all things were not beneficial ( 1 Corinthians 6:12). Now he went further and clarified that beneficial means beneficial for others, not just self. Thus he sought to bring the rights-conscious Corinthians to their knees.
As with the issue of marriage, however, Paul granted that there are some matters connected with idolatry that are not wrong. He next gave his readers some help in making the tough choices needed in view of the amoral nature of some practices connected with pagan worship and the immoral nature of others. He suggested applying the test of what is edifying to these decisions. He proceeded to explain that food formerly offered to idols but sold in the marketplace was all right for Christians to eat at home. He himself had eaten such food ( 1 Corinthians 9:19-23), and the Corinthians had challenged him for doing so ( 1 Corinthians 10:29). [source][source][source]
"But the real issues seem to lie deeper than the mere question of eating food. Both the nature of their argument for eating at the temples ( 1 Corinthians 8:1; 1 Corinthians 8:4; 1 Corinthians 8:8) and their criticism of Paul ( 1 Corinthians 9:1-3; 1 Corinthians 9:19-23) have revealed a basic confusion between absolutes and adiaphora (nonessentials). They had tried to make temple attendance an adiaphoron; for Paul it was an absolute because it was idolatry. At the same time they had confused the true basis for Christian behavior. For them it was a question of knowledge and rights (gnosis and exousia). For Paul it is a question of love and freedom (agape and eleutheria). [1][source]
This section"s chiastic structure reflects Paul"s alternating concern for personal freedom and love for others. [source][source][source]
AThe criterion stated: the good of others ( 1 Corinthians 10:23-24)BPersonal freedom explained ( 1 Corinthians 10:25-27)CThe criterion illustrated: love governing liberty ( 1 Corinthians 10:28-29 a)B"Personal freedom defended ( 1 Corinthians 10:29 b-30)A"The criterion generalized: that all may be saved ( 1 Corinthians 10:33 to 1 Corinthians 11:1)[source]
Context Summary
1 Corinthians 10:23-33 - "do All To The Glory Of God"
There seems to be a, clear distinction in the Apostle's directions between feasting in an idol temple on the one hand, and the acceptance of an invitation to a private house, as in 1 Corinthians 10:25; 1 Corinthians 10:27, on the other. The believer in Christ knew that an idol was nothing in itself, and the fact of food having been offered before a shrine did not make it better or worse. It was a common practice, and meant nothing so far as Christian disciples were concerned. But if an unbeliever were to make the meal a test of faith, by reminding believers that in partaking of such food they were implicitly partners in heathen rites, then there was no course but to refuse and abstain.
In every meal and act we must so conduct ourselves that praise and honor may redound to God. The thankful enjoyment of God's gifts of food, which constitutes the essence of a Christian meal, must always be subordinated to our consideration of the religious scruples of others; and we must avoid doing anything which would blunt and injure their faith. Though our intelligence may give us a wide liberty in regard to personal conduct, we must allow a check to be placed on it by the thoughtfulness of Christian love. [source]
Chapter Summary: 1 Corinthians 10
1The sacraments of the Jews are types of ours; 7and their punishments, 11examples for us 13We must flee from idolatry 21We must not make the Lord's table the table of demons; 24and in all things we must have regard for our brothers
Greek Commentary for 1 Corinthians 10:23
Edify not [ουκ οικοδομει] Build up. Explanation of expedient (συμπερει sumpherei). [source]
1 Corinthians 6:12Lawful [εχεστιν] Apparently this proverb may have been used by Paul in Corinth (repeated in 1 Corinthians 10:23), but not in the sense now used by Paul‘s opponents. The “all things” do not include such matters as those condemned in chapter 1 Corinthians 5:1-13; 1 Corinthians 6:1-11. Paul limits the proverb to things not immoral, things not wrong per se. But even here liberty is not license. [source]
Galatians 2:18I build again the things which I destroyed [ἃ κατέλυσα ταῦτα πάλιν οἰκοδομῶ] Peter, by his Christian profession, had asserted that justification was by faith alone; and by his eating with Gentiles had declared that the Mosaic law was no longer binding upon him. He had thus, figuratively, destroyed or pulled down the Jewish law as a standard of Christian faith and conduct. By his subsequent refusal to eat with Gentiles he had retracted this declaration, had asserted that the Jewish law was still binding upon Christians, and had thus built again what he had pulled down. Building and pulling down are favorite figures with Paul. See Romans 14:20; Romans 15:20; 1 Corinthians 8:1,1 Corinthians 8:10; 1 Corinthians 10:23; 1 Corinthians 14:17; Ephesians 2:20f. For καταλύειν destroysee on Romans 14:20; see on 2 Corinthians 5:1. [source]
Greek Commentary for 1 Corinthians 10:23
Build up. Explanation of expedient (συμπερει sumpherei). [source]
(συμπερει sumpherei). [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 1 Corinthians 10:23
Old word from συμπερω sumpherō to bear together, and explains use of verb in 1 Corinthians 10:23. [source]
See 1 Corinthians 6:12; 1 Corinthians 10:23, 1 Corinthians 10:33 for Paul‘s guiding principle in such matters. [source]
Apparently this proverb may have been used by Paul in Corinth (repeated in 1 Corinthians 10:23), but not in the sense now used by Paul‘s opponents. The “all things” do not include such matters as those condemned in chapter 1 Corinthians 5:1-13; 1 Corinthians 6:1-11. Paul limits the proverb to things not immoral, things not wrong per se. But even here liberty is not license. [source]
Peter, by his Christian profession, had asserted that justification was by faith alone; and by his eating with Gentiles had declared that the Mosaic law was no longer binding upon him. He had thus, figuratively, destroyed or pulled down the Jewish law as a standard of Christian faith and conduct. By his subsequent refusal to eat with Gentiles he had retracted this declaration, had asserted that the Jewish law was still binding upon Christians, and had thus built again what he had pulled down. Building and pulling down are favorite figures with Paul. See Romans 14:20; Romans 15:20; 1 Corinthians 8:1, 1 Corinthians 8:10; 1 Corinthians 10:23; 1 Corinthians 14:17; Ephesians 2:20f. For καταλύειν destroysee on Romans 14:20; see on 2 Corinthians 5:1. [source]
Lit. build up. See on Acts 20:32. The metaphorical sense habitually in Paul. See 1 Corinthians 8:1, 1 Corinthians 8:10; 1 Corinthians 10:23; 1 Corinthians 14:4; Ephesians 2:20. In O.T. mostly in the literal sense. See however lxx, Rth 4:11 ; 88:2; Jeremiah href="/desk/?q=jer+31:4&sr=1">Jeremiah 31:4. [source]
As in 1 Corinthians 7:12.; 1 Timothy 5:8. The principle or proverb just quoted appears also in 1 Corinthians 6:12; 1 Corinthians 10:23; Romans 14:20. For the defilement of mind (νους nous) and conscience (συνειδησις suneidēsis) in both Gentile and Jew by sin, see Romans 1:18-2:29. [source]