The Meaning of 1 Corinthians 10:31 Explained

1 Corinthians 10:31

KJV: Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

YLT: Whether, then, ye eat, or drink, or do anything, do all to the glory of God;

Darby: Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatever ye do, do all things to God's glory.

ASV: Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Whether  therefore  ye eat,  or  drink,  or  whatsoever  ye do,  do  all  to  the glory  of God. 

What does 1 Corinthians 10:31 Mean?

Verse Meaning

What glorifies God? Consideration for the consciences of other people and promotion of their wellbeing does. This contrasts with the observance of distinctions between foods, the satisfaction of one"s personal preferences, and insistence on one"s own rights. What glorifies God is what puts His preferences, plans, and program first (cf. Colossians 3:17).
". . . God"s own glory is the ultimate foundation of Pauline ethics ( 1 Corinthians 10:31)." [1]

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

1  The sacraments of the Jews are types of ours;
7  and their punishments,
11  examples for us
13  We must flee from idolatry
21  We must not make the Lord's table the table of demons;
24  and in all things we must have regard for our brothers

Greek Commentary for 1 Corinthians 10:31

To the glory of God [εις δοχαν τεου]
This is the ruling motive in the Christian‘s life, not just having his own way about whims and preferences.sa120 [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 1 Corinthians 10:31

1 Timothy 4:4 Refused [ἀπὸβλητον]
Lit. thrown away. N.T.oIn ecclesiastical writings, excommunicated. On the whole verse, comp. Acts href="/desk/?q=ac+10:15&sr=1">Acts 10:15; Romans 11:15; 1 Corinthians 10:25, 1 Corinthians 10:26, 1 Corinthians 10:30, 1 Corinthians 10:31. [source]

What do the individual words in 1 Corinthians 10:31 mean?

Whether therefore you eat or drink whatever you do all things to the glory of God do
Εἴτε οὖν ἐσθίετε εἴτε πίνετε τι ποιεῖτε πάντα εἰς δόξαν Θεοῦ ποιεῖτε

Εἴτε  Whether 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: εἴτε  
Sense: if … if.
ἐσθίετε  you  eat 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: ἐσθίω 
Sense: to eat.
πίνετε  drink 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: πίνω  
Sense: to drink.
τι  whatever 
Parse: Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: τὶς  
Sense: a certain, a certain one.
ποιεῖτε  you  do 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: ποιέω  
Sense: to make.
πάντα  all  things 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: πᾶς  
Sense: individually.
εἰς  to  the 
Parse: Preposition
Root: εἰς  
Sense: into, unto, to, towards, for, among.
δόξαν  glory 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: δόξα  
Sense: opinion, judgment, view.
Θεοῦ  of  God 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: θεός  
Sense: a god or goddess, a general name of deities or divinities.