1 Corinthians 10 27

1 Corinthians 10:27 kjv

If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake.

1 Corinthians 10:27 nkjv

If any of those who do not believe invites you to dinner, and you desire to go, eat whatever is set before you, asking no question for conscience' sake.

1 Corinthians 10:27 niv

If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is put before you without raising questions of conscience.

1 Corinthians 10:27 esv

If one of the unbelievers invites you to dinner and you are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience.

1 Corinthians 10:27 nlt

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.

1 Corinthians 10 verses

1 Corinthians 10 27 Meaning

This verse grants permission to eat food sold in the marketplace. However, it mandates that one should eat this food without questioning its origin for the sake of conscience. The focus is on peace and avoiding offense.

1 Corinthians 10 27 Context

This verse is part of Paul's broader discussion in 1 Corinthians chapters 8-10 concerning food offered to idols. The Corinthian church faced divisions and disputes regarding participation in pagan festivals and the consumption of meat that had been sacrificed to idols, then sold in the marketplace or served at social gatherings. Paul's aim is to guide them toward unity, maturity, and love, prioritizing the spiritual well-being of others over personal freedom or knowledge. This specific verse addresses the common practice of food being sold in the public markets that might have had some connection to idol worship, providing clear instruction for believers.

1 Corinthians 10 27 Word Analysis

• "If": (Gk: ἐάν - ean) - Conditional particle, introducing a hypothetical situation.
• "anyone": (Gk: τις - tis) - Indefinite pronoun, referring to any person.
• "asks": (Gk: ἐρωτᾷ - erōta) - To ask, inquire, question.
• "you": (Gk: ὑμᾶς - hymas) - Second person plural pronoun, referring to the Corinthian believers.
• "for the sake of conscience": (Gk: διὰ τὴν συνείδησιν - dia tēn syneidēsin)
  • "διὰ" (dia) - Through, because of, on account of.
  • "τὴν" (tēn) - The definite article.
  • "συνείδησιν" (syneidēsin) - Conscience; literally, "knowing with." It refers to the inner awareness of right and wrong.
• "let him eat": (Gk: ἐσθιέτω - esthietō) - Imperative mood, third person singular, of ἐσθίω (esthiō - to eat). This signifies permission or a directive.
• "whatever is sold": (Gk: πωλοῦνται - pōlountai) - Present passive indicative, third person plural, of πωλέω (pōleō - to sell). The passive voice highlights that the food is being sold by someone else.
• "in the marketplace": (Gk: ἐν τῇ ἀγορᾷ - en tē agōra)
  • "ἐν" (en) - In, within.
  • "τῇ" (tē) - The definite article.
  • "ἀγορᾷ" (agōra) - Marketplace, public square; a place of commerce and gathering.
• "with questioning": (Gk: ἀνακρίσεις - anakriseis) - Noun, accusative plural, from ἀνάκρισις (anakrisis - inquiry, examination, questioning). It implies scrutiny or investigation.
• "by reason of conscience": (Gk: διὰ τὴν συνείδησιν - dia tēn syneidēsin) - Same phrase as "for the sake of conscience." This repetition emphasizes the principle.

Word Group Analysis

The core of the verse is the instruction: "If anyone asks you for the sake of conscience, let him eat whatever is sold in the marketplace, with questioning, by reason of conscience." Paul contrasts "asking for the sake of conscience" with "let him eat without questioning." This distinction is crucial. It means if someone inquire about the food's purity for their own weak conscience or to satisfy a scrupulous inquiry, then they should be given the food and told to eat it without further question from their side regarding its provenance, to preserve their peace. The food itself is permissible.

1 Corinthians 10 27 Bonus Section

The instruction here aligns with Jesus' words in Mark 7:19, where it is stated that nothing going into a person from the outside can defile them; rather, it is what comes out of them. This demonstrates a shift from Old Testament ceremonial laws concerning clean and unclean foods to a New Covenant understanding where purity is primarily internal and spiritual. The power of idols is nullified for the believer, and therefore the food is no longer considered tainted. The emphasis remains on love and building up, not on establishing a new set of ritualistic prohibitions for Christians. This passage empowers believers to partake freely in societal practices, as long as their heart and understanding are aligned with Christ.

1 Corinthians 10 27 Commentary

This verse is a specific directive within the larger context of addressing disputes over eating food sacrificed to idols. Paul is clarifying how believers should interact with food available in public markets, which might have origins tied to pagan idol worship. The instruction is to eat without scrupulous questioning, meaning that from God's perspective and in Christ, such food is cleansed and lawful. The qualifier "for the sake of conscience" refers to the questioner's potential issue. If they have a conscientious objection and ask, Paul directs them to consume it peacefully without further scrutiny. This prevents creating a problem where one doesn't exist according to God's new covenant. The believer offering the food is not to probe the asker's conscience but to extend charity, allowing the food to be eaten, presupposing its lawful use. This upholds the principle of freedom in Christ and the absence of ritualistic impurity in foods in the New Covenant, while still respecting the weaker brother's conscience and avoiding causing offense unnecessarily.