1 Corinthians 10:28

But if anyone says to you, “This was offered to idols,” don’t eat it for the sake of the one who told you, and for the sake of conscience. For “the earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness.”

World English Bible
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Other translations

WEBBE

But if anyone says to you, “This was offered to idols,” don’t eat it for the sake of the one who told you, and for the sake of conscience. For “the earth is the Lord’s, with all its fullness.”

BSB

But if someone tells you, “This food was offered to idols,” then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who told you and for the sake of conscience —

KJV

But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof:

ASV

But if any man say unto you, This hath been offered in sacrifice, eat not, for his sake that showed it, and for conscience’ sake:

BBE

But if anyone says to you, This food has been used as an offering, do not take it, on account of him who said it, and on account of his sense of right and wrong:

Original Greek

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ἐὰν ean If G1437 δέ de however G1161 τις tis anyone G5100 ὑμῖν humin to you G4771 εἴπῃ eipē shall say G2036 τοῦτο touto This G3778 ἱερόθυτόν hi'erothuton temple-sacrifice G9995 ἐστιν estin is G1510 μὴ mē not G3361 ἐσθίετε esthiete do eat G2068 δι di᾽ on account of G1223 ἐκεῖνον ekeinon him G1565 τὸν ton which G3588 μηνύσαντα mēnusanta having shown [it] G3377 καὶ kai and G2532 τὴν tēn (the) G3588 συνείδησιν suneidēsin conscience G4893 τοῦ tou of the G3588 γὰρ gar for G1063 κυρίου kuriou Lord G2962 ἡ hē [is] the G3588 γῆ gē earth G1093 καὶ kai and G2532 τὸ to the G3588 πλήρωμα plērōma fullness G4138 αὐτῆς autēs of her G846

The early church

"But if any man say unto you, This hath been offered in sacrifice unto idols; eat not, for his sake that showed it." Thus it is not at all for any power that they have but as accursed, that he bids abstain from them. Neither then, as though they could injure you, fly from them, (for they have no strength;) nor yet, because they have no strength, indifferently partake: for it is the table of beings hostile and degraded. Wherefore he said, "eat not for his sake that showed it, and for conscience sake. For the earth is the Lord's and the fulness thereof." Seest thou how both when he bids them eat and when they must abstain, he brings forward the same testimony? "For I do not forbid," saith he, "for this cause as though they belonged to others: ("for the earth is the Lord's:") but for the reason I mentioned, for conscience sake; i.e., that it may not be injured." Ought one therefore to inquire scrupulously? "Nay" saith he "for I said not thy conscience, but his. For I have already said, 'for his sake that showed it.'" And again, v. 29, "Conscience, I say, not thine own, but the other's."
John Chrysostom · d. 407Homilies on 1 Corinthians

Commentary

Matthew Henry · Verses 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.

Read Matthew Henry on 1 Corinthians 10 →

Cross-references

10

Topics

Minister, ChristianCommandmentsTemptationCharitablenessTolerationEvil

Cross-references: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. Hebrew and Greek data from STEPBible.org (Tyndale House, Cambridge), CC BY 4.0. Library: sources.