Christian Liberty

23 “Everything is permissible,”[a] but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible,”[b] but not everything builds up. 24 No one is to seek his own good, but the good of the other person.(A)

25 Eat everything that is sold in the meat market, without raising questions for the sake of conscience, 26 since the earth is the Lord’s,(B) and all that is in it.[c](C) 27 If any of the unbelievers invites you over and you want to go, eat everything that is set before you, without raising questions for the sake of conscience. 28 But if someone says to you, “This is food from a sacrifice,” do not eat it,(D) out of consideration for the one who told you, and for the sake of conscience.[d] 29 I do not mean your own conscience, but the other person’s. For why is my freedom judged(E) by another person’s conscience? 30 If I partake with thanksgiving,(F) why am I criticized because of something for which I give thanks?

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Footnotes

  1. 10:23 Other mss add for me
  2. 10:23 Other mss add for me
  3. 10:26 Ps 24:1
  4. 10:28 Other mss add “For the earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it.”

23 You say, “I am allowed to do anything”[a]—but not everything is good for you. You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is beneficial. 24 Don’t be concerned for your own good but for the good of others.

25 So you may eat any meat that is sold in the marketplace without raising questions of conscience. 26 For “the earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.”[b]

27 If someone who isn’t a believer asks you home for dinner, accept the invitation if you want to. Eat whatever is offered to you without raising questions of conscience. 28 (But suppose someone tells you, “This meat was offered to an idol.” Don’t eat it, out of consideration for the conscience of the one who told you. 29 It might not be a matter of conscience for you, but it is for the other person.) For why should my freedom be limited by what someone else thinks? 30 If I can thank God for the food and enjoy it, why should I be condemned for eating it?

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Footnotes

  1. 10:23 Greek All things are lawful; also in 10:23b.
  2. 10:26 Ps 24:1.