1 Corinthians 10:25 kjv
Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake:
1 Corinthians 10:25 nkjv
Eat whatever is sold in the meat market, asking no questions for conscience' sake;
1 Corinthians 10:25 niv
Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience,
1 Corinthians 10:25 esv
Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience.
1 Corinthians 10:25 nlt
So you may eat any meat that is sold in the marketplace without raising questions of conscience.
1 Corinthians 10 25 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Cor 8:7 | Not all possess this knowledge. But some, through being too accustomed to idolatry until now, eat food as really offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. | Continues the discussion on food offered to idols, highlighting the issue of weak consciences. |
| 1 Cor 8:10 | For if anyone sees you, with your knowledge, dining in the temple of an idol, will not his conscience, if he is weak, be emboldened to eat food sacrificed to idols? | Addresses the impact of outward behavior on weaker believers. |
| 1 Cor 10:26 | For "The earth is the LORD's, and all its fullness." | Reinforces the sovereignty of God over all creation, including food. |
| 1 Cor 10:27 | If one of the unbelievers invites you to an ordinary meal, and you want to go, eat whatever is set before you, asking no question for conscience' sake. | Extends the principle to secular invitations. |
| 1 Cor 10:28 | But if someone says to you, "This has been offered to an idol," eat it, for the sake of him who told you, and for conscience' sake. | Sets a specific boundary for conscientiousness. |
| 1 Cor 10:29 | I mean his conscience, not yours. For why should my liberty be judged by another's conscience? | Clarifies whose conscience is primarily being considered in such situations. |
| 1 Cor 10:31 | So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. | Sets a general principle for all Christian actions. |
| Rom 14:1-3 | As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. One person believes he may eat anything, but the weak person eats only vegetables. Let not the one who eats despise the one who despises, and let not the one who despises pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. | Parallel passage discussing differences in practice, particularly regarding food, among believers. |
| Rom 14:6 | Whoever regards one day as special, regards it to the Lord. Whoever eats meat, eats it to the Lord, since he gives thanks to God; and whoever abstains, abstains to the Lord, and gives thanks to God. | Further emphasizes that practices should be done with an attitude of thanksgiving and unto the Lord. |
| Rom 14:14 | I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it is unclean. | Affirms that there are no inherently unclean foods from God's perspective. |
| Rom 14:22 | The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to judge himself regarding what he approves. | Stresses the importance of personal conviction and a clear conscience before God. |
| Acts 10:15 | and a voice came to him, "What God has made clean, do not call common." | New Testament revelation that all foods are clean, undoing Old Testament dietary laws. |
| Matt 15:11 | It is not what enters into the mouth that defiles a man, but what comes out of the mouth that defiles a man." | Jesus' teaching on what truly defiles a person, emphasizing internal rather than external matters. |
| 1 Tim 4:4-5 | For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer. | Affirmation that God's creation is good and made holy by faith and prayer. |
| Lev 22:3 | you shall say to them, 'Any man of all your offspring throughout your generations who goes near to the holy things that the people of Israel dedicate to the LORD, having his uncleanness upon him, that person shall be cut off from from before me. I am the LORD. | Old Testament concept of uncleanness requiring avoidance of holy things. |
| Deut 32:39 | "See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god besides me. I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; no hand can deliver from my hand. | God's ultimate power and control over life and death. |
| Ps 24:1 | The earth is the LORD's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein. | Psalm emphasizing God's ownership of all creation. |
| 1 Cor 6:12 | "All things are lawful for me," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful for me," but I will not be dominated by anything. | Paul's statement on Christian liberty and the importance of not being enslaved by anything. |
| Phil 4:13 | I can do all things through him who strengthens me. | Declaration of God's enabling power. |
| Col 1:16 | For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. | Christ's role in creation, highlighting God's sovereignty. |
1 Corinthians 10 verses
1 Corinthians 10 25 Meaning
Whatever is sold in the meat market, eat, asking no question for conscience' sake. This verse provides guidance on how Christians should approach eating food offered to idols, a common practice in the Corinthian culture. It encourages believers to participate in everyday life without being overly scrupulous about food choices, provided they act with a clear conscience.
1 Corinthians 10 25 Context
This verse is part of Paul's extensive discussion in 1 Corinthians chapters 8-10 addressing issues within the Corinthian church, specifically concerning food offered to idols. The Corinthians were struggling with how to navigate social customs that involved food sacrificed to pagan deities, a practice deeply embedded in their culture. Chapter 8 began with Paul clarifying that while an idol is nothing, the food offered to it could be problematic for those with weak consciences who still had lingering beliefs about the reality of idols. Chapter 9 highlights Paul's own self-discipline and his willingness to forgo his rights for the sake of the gospel. Chapter 10 moves to a more definitive stance, cautioning against participation in idolatry while providing practical guidelines for believers in their social interactions. This particular verse, 1 Corinthians 10:25, offers a principle of liberty concerning food purchased in the common marketplace, which may have been previously sacrificed in temples.
1 Corinthians 10 25 Word Analysis
- Whatever (ὃ ἐὰν): This phrase signifies a broad, inclusive scope. Paul is speaking generally about any food item available.
- is sold (πιπράσκεται): Present passive indicative of pinpraskō, meaning "to sell." It indicates food that is on the market for general purchase.
- in the meat market (ἐν τῇ ἀγορᾷ τῇ κρεωπωλίῳ):
- ἀγορᾷ (agorā): "Marketplace" or "public square." This was the common place for buying and selling goods in ancient cities.
- κρεωπωλίῳ (kreaspolio): Dative of kreaspolion, meaning "butcher's stall" or "meat market." Specifically refers to the place where meat was sold, which could have come from animals sacrificed in temples.
- eat (ἐσθίετε): Present active imperative of esthió, meaning "to eat." It is a command to partake in eating the food.
- asking no question (μηδὲν ἀνακρίνοντες):
- μηδὲν (mēden): "Nothing" or "not anything."
- ἀνακρίνοντες (anakrinontes): Present active participle of anakrinō, meaning "to examine," "to question," or "to scrutinize." This implies refraining from investigating the origin or history of the food.
- for conscience' sake (διὰ τὴν συνείδησιν):
- διὰ (dia): "Through," "because of," or "for the sake of."
- συνείδησιν (suneidēsin): Accusative of suneidēsis, meaning "conscience." Paul instructs believers to avoid unnecessary inquiries to maintain peace and avoid troubling their own conscience, and by extension, respecting others' consciences.
Words Group Analysis
- "Whatever is sold in the meat market": This phrase refers to provisions purchased for consumption, particularly meat, available for sale to the general public. It highlights that common foodstuffs, not explicitly identified as having an idolatrous association at the point of purchase, are permissible.
- "eat, asking no question for conscience' sake": This is a directive to engage in consumption without seeking information that might disturb one's inner conviction. The emphasis is on freedom in Christ and not unnecessarily burdening oneself or others with issues that God has rendered clean or that do not defile internally.
1 Corinthians 10 25 Bonus Section
This verse touches upon the Old Testament dietary laws. While the Mosaic Law had strict regulations regarding clean and unclean meats (Lev 11), the New Covenant in Christ, sealed by his resurrection and the outpouring of the Spirit, abrogates these distinctions. Peter's vision in Acts 10 explicitly illustrates this, revealing "what God has made clean, do not call common." This understanding is foundational to Paul's argument. Furthermore, the emphasis on "conscience" highlights the internal spiritual state. Paul contrasts external ritualistic cleanness with internal moral purity that comes from Christ. His advice is not to test the limits of the sacred versus the secular, but to live in liberty without pride, recognizing that true defilement comes from the heart, not from food.
1 Corinthians 10 25 Commentary
Paul provides practical wisdom for believers living in a pagan society. The core principle here is Christian liberty. God has declared all foods clean (Acts 10:15), and Christ stated that what enters the mouth does not defile a person (Matt 15:11). Therefore, food sold in the general market, even if it originated from temple sacrifices, is permissible for consumption for a believer whose conscience is clear regarding the Lord's sovereignty over all creation (1 Cor 10:26).
The instruction "asking no question for conscience' sake" means one should not probe into the provenance of the food to the point of causing internal conflict or scruple. This freedom is rooted in the knowledge that idols are nothing and that all things belong to God. However, this liberty is not absolute and must be exercised with sensitivity to "weaker" believers (as discussed in ch. 8 and 10:28-29). The goal is to live in freedom without causing offense or weakening the faith of others.
This teaching encourages a focus on spiritual purity and love for others rather than on external regulations concerning food, which were largely done away with in Christ.