1 Corinthians 10 28

1 Corinthians 10:28 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:

1 Corinthians 10:28 nkjv

But if anyone says to you, "This was offered to idols," do not eat it for the sake of the one who told you, and for conscience' sake; for "the earth is the LORD's, and all its fullness."

1 Corinthians 10:28 niv

But if someone says to you, "This has been offered in sacrifice," then do not eat it, both for the sake of the one who told you and for the sake of conscience.

1 Corinthians 10:28 esv

But if someone says to you, "This has been offered in sacrifice," then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience ?

1 Corinthians 10:28 nlt

(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.

1 Corinthians 10 verses

1 Corinthians 10 28 meaning

This verse provides a crucial qualification to the liberty discussed regarding food. If a person (whether a fellow believer with a weaker conscience or an unbeliever sensitive to religious distinctions) explicitly states that particular food has been offered to idols, a Christian should refrain from eating it. This abstinence is not because the food itself is intrinsically defiled or because the idol possesses any real power, but for the sake of the individual who made the declaration and to protect one's own or another's conscience. The phrase "for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof" (a point of textual variant, but common in many manuscripts) grounds this ethical choice in God's ultimate ownership and sovereignty over creation, implying that one's freedom in Christ should not be used to cause offense or promote misinterpretation of the Gospel regarding idolatry.

1 Corinthians 10 28 Context

1 Corinthians 10:28 is situated within Paul's extended discussion (Chapters 8-10) regarding the consumption of meat offered to idols in Corinth. The Corinthian church was comprised of both Jewish and Gentile converts, with varying backgrounds concerning pagan worship. Corinth was a major cosmopolitan city, full of pagan temples, and meat often sold in public markets or served at social gatherings originated from temple sacrifices.

Paul addresses the tension between Christian liberty ("all things are lawful") and the spiritual well-being of fellow believers. In 1 Cor 8, Paul introduces the concept that while idols are nothing and eating idol-sacrificed food doesn't intrinsically defile a believer with knowledge, consuming such food in front of a "weak brother" (who lacks this knowledge or whose conscience is not fully robust) could cause them to stumble back into idolatry or violate their own conscience.

Chapter 10 serves as a warning against the dangers of idolatry by recounting Israel's failures, emphasizing that participation in pagan feasts constitutes communion with demons, not God. Paul then returns to practical instructions for everyday life (10:23-33). He affirms that believers can buy and eat any meat from the market without inquiry (v.25-26), and may accept an unbeliever's dinner invitation and eat whatever is set before them (v.27). Verse 28 provides the critical exception to this general freedom: if someone explicitly points out that the food has been sacrificed to idols. This shifts the scenario from private knowledge to a public declaration, requiring a different ethical response out of love and conscience.

1 Corinthians 10 28 Word analysis

• But if: Gr. ean de (ἐὰν δέ). Introduces a conditional clause, marking a specific scenario or exception to the preceding permissions in verses 25-27. It signifies a shift in instruction based on external factors.
• any man say unto you: Gr. tis mēnyse (τις μηνύσῃ). "Any man" (tis) could refer to a fellow Christian with a weaker conscience, or even a non-believer making an observation. The act of "saying" or "informing" (mēnyse) makes the issue explicit, moving it from a matter of private conscience to a public declaration that carries implications for others.
• This is offered in sacrifice unto idols: Gr. eidōlothuton estin (εἰδωλόθυτόν ἐστιν). Eidōlothuton literally means "idol-sacrificed" or "sacrificed to idols." This is the key identifier that triggers the prohibition. It brings the food under a specific religious-pagan context, regardless of the Christian's understanding of an idol's powerlessness. This labeling evokes the imagery and concerns of idolatry for those whose consciences are sensitive or easily swayed.
• eat not: Gr. mē esthiete (μὴ ἐσθίετε). A direct, emphatic prohibition in the imperative mood. This is a clear command for abstinence under this specific condition.
• for his sake that shewed it: Gr. di' ekeinon ton mēnysanta (δι’ ἐκεῖνον τὸν μηνύσαντα). "For the sake of that one who reported it." This identifies a primary motivation: concern for the informant. If the informant is a weak brother, eating could wound their conscience or encourage them to violate their own scruples. If the informant is an unbeliever, it could lead to misinterpretations about Christian complicity in idolatry or their perceived dismissal of a serious issue.
• and for conscience sake: Gr. kai dia syneidēsin (καὶ διὰ συνείδησιν). "Conscience" (syneidēsin) here likely refers to the conscience of the informant (protecting it), or the collective Christian conscience (avoiding a general scandal), or even the believer's own conscience (avoiding a defilement in the act of intentionally violating another's conviction, or giving appearance of evil). It expands the concern beyond just the individual to the broader ethical impact.
• for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof: Gr. tou gar Kyriou hē gē kai to plērōma autēs (τοῦ γὰρ Κυρίου ἡ γῆ καὶ τὸ πλήρωμα αὐτῆς). This phrase, quoted from Ps 24:1 (and also appearing in 1 Cor 10:26), is a critical theological underpinning. Its presence in verse 28 (where it has some textual variation, being absent in certain early manuscripts but present in many others and considered integral to the argument by many scholars) offers a paradoxical justification. In v.26, it justifies eating everything because God owns it. Here, if present, it signifies that even though God owns all food and idols are nothing, this ultimate truth does not override the command to consider others. It confirms that the food itself is not evil, thus distinguishing the reason for abstinence from any pagan notion of ritual defilement, anchoring the decision in divine sovereignty and love for others rather than fear of idols.

• "But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols...": This clause sets the condition. It moves the discussion from a general context of liberty (v.25, 27) to a very specific, identified problem. The explicit declaration changes the ethical landscape; it's no longer an ambiguous item but something specifically tied to pagan worship by another person's knowledge.
• "...eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake...": These two phrases provide the dual motivations for abstinence. It’s a call to practical, sacrificial love. It is about protecting the spiritual sensitivity and conviction of others, avoiding scandal, and maintaining a clear witness, rather than personal defilement from the food itself. It embodies the principle that liberty should be subservient to love.

1 Corinthians 10 28 Bonus section

The textual variation regarding the inclusion of "for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof" in 1 Corinthians 10:28 is noteworthy. While some early manuscripts (like Codex Vaticanus and a few others) omit it, many other significant manuscripts (like Codex Sinaiticus, Alexandrinus, and the Byzantine text type) include it. Most modern translations (e.g., ESV, NASB, NIV, KJV) retain it, following the stronger external and internal evidence. Its presence deepens the theological richness, creating a profound parallel and tension with its appearance in verse 26. In verse 26, it champions the freedom to eat anything because God owns all things. In verse 28, if included, it reinforces that even with this ultimate freedom and God's absolute ownership, a higher ethical consideration (love, conscience) must sometimes take precedence. It's a subtle yet powerful affirmation that freedom in Christ is not a license for uncharitable behavior but rather an opportunity for godly discernment and self-limitation out of love for the brethren and for the glory of God. This also indirectly combats any lingering pagan fear that an idol might truly "claim" the food, reiterating that ultimate ownership and authority reside with God alone.

1 Corinthians 10 28 Commentary

This verse offers practical guidance at the intersection of Christian liberty and neighborly love. While a knowledgeable believer understood that idols have no true existence and food sacrificed to them is not intrinsically defiled (1 Cor 8:4-6; 10:25-27), this liberty finds its boundary when it risks causing a fellow believer to stumble or misrepresenting Christian convictions to an unbeliever. The core principle shifts from "what is lawful" to "what is edifying" (10:23-24). The moment food is explicitly identified as idol meat, the situation transforms from a matter of personal dietary choice to one that impacts witness and conscience. Abstaining in this specific scenario isn't an acknowledgment of the idol's power, but a demonstration of sacrificial love and a clear separation from anything that could be construed as participating in or condoning idolatry. The reassertion of God's ownership (from Ps 24:1) paradoxically undergirds this ethical choice: it reminds the believer that their freedom derives from God's ultimate sovereignty over all things, but this freedom is best exercised in ways that honor Him and build up His people, rather than becoming a stumbling block.

Examples:

• A Christian attending a family dinner where a relative, aware of Christian scruples, intentionally highlights a dish was "blessed by the household god." Though the Christian knows the god is false, they should decline for the relative's conscience.
• A new believer with a history of paganism, whose conscience is still developing, notices an older believer consuming food that a non-believing host proudly announces was dedicated to an idol. The older believer should abstain to avoid reinforcing old patterns or confusing the younger believer.