1 Corinthians 10:31 kjv
Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
1 Corinthians 10:31 nkjv
Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
1 Corinthians 10:31 niv
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
1 Corinthians 10:31 esv
So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
1 Corinthians 10:31 nlt
So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
1 Corinthians 10 31 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Cor 6:20 | ...for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. | Honor God with our bodies |
| Rom 12:1 | Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God... | Living sacrifice |
| Phil 1:20 | ...whether by life or by death, Christ will be exalted in my body... | Christ exalted in believers |
| Col 3:17 | And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus... | Everything in Jesus' name |
| Matt 6:33 | But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness... | Seek God’s kingdom first |
| John 15:8 | By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. | Bearing fruit for God's glory |
| 1 Pet 4:11 | ...so that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. | God glorified through all |
| Ps 115:1 | Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory... | Give glory to God’s name |
| Ps 72:19 | Blessed be his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory! | God’s glory fills the earth |
| Isa 43:7 | ...everyone called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made. | Created for God's glory |
| Prov 3:9-10 | Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce... | Honor God with possessions |
| 1 Cor 10:23 | "All things are lawful for me," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful for me," but not all things build up. | Wisdom in freedom |
| 1 Cor 10:24 | Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor. | Seek neighbor's good |
| Rom 15:1-2 | We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. 2 Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. | Bear weakness, please neighbor |
| Heb 13:15 | Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. | Sacrifice of praise |
| Matt 5:16 | In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. | Let light shine for God |
| John 17:1 | ...that the Son may glorify you, since you gave him authority over all flesh, so that he might give eternal life to all whom you give him. | Christ glorifies the Father |
| Eph 1:5-6 | ...he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace... | Predestined for praise |
| Titus 2:13 | ...waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. | Blessed hope in Christ's glory |
| 1 Tim 6:16 | ...whom alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen. | God alone has immortality |
1 Corinthians 10 verses
1 Corinthians 10 31 Meaning
This verse provides a foundational principle for Christian living: every action should be performed to the glory of God. It means conducting all of life, including eating, drinking, and other activities, with the ultimate purpose of honoring and magnifying God. This directive transcends religious observance and encompasses the entirety of one's existence, motivating believers to live a life that reflects God’s character and purposes.
1 Corinthians 10 31 Context
1 Corinthians chapter 10 addresses issues of food offered to idols and the freedom Christians have in Christ. Paul is dealing with a divided Corinthian church, where some believed their knowledge gave them freedom to participate in practices that were problematic for others. He reminds them of Israel's experiences in the wilderness, warning against idolatry and immorality, despite Israel's privileges. He emphasizes that true Christian freedom is exercised in love and consideration for weaker believers, not as a license for self-indulgence. This verse, 10:31, serves as a summation of Paul's teaching in this section, urging them to direct all their actions, whether seemingly "lawful" or not, towards the ultimate purpose of glorifying God, thereby maintaining unity and reflecting Christ.
1 Corinthians 10 31 Word Analysis
- Panta: (Greek: πάντα) Means "all" or "every." It signifies totality and inclusivity, applying to all actions and aspects of life.
- Heauta: (Greek: ἑαυτῶν) This is a reflexive pronoun, meaning "yourselves." In the context of "do all things for your own glory," it implies glorifying God through your actions, not for your own self-glory, but for God's glory manifested in you. Some interpretations may understand this as doing things for their own ultimate good in God, but the clear grammatical structure and surrounding context point to glorifying God by means of yourselves and your actions.
- Poieite: (Greek: ποιεῖτε) The present active imperative of the verb poieo, meaning "to do," "to make," or "to perform." It commands continuous action, indicating that glorifying God should be an ongoing, consistent practice.
- Eis: (Greek: εἰς) A preposition signifying "into" or "for the purpose of." Here, it denotes the intended result or goal of the action: God's glory.
- Došan: (Greek: δόξαν) Means "glory," "splendor," or "honor." It refers to the inherent worth and magnificence of God, which believers are called to manifest and acknowledge.
- Tou Theou: (Greek: τοῦ Θεοῦ) Means "of God." This possessive phrase specifies whose glory is to be sought – the glory of the triune God.
Word Group Analysis
- "Panta heauta poieite": This phrase can be translated as "all things do ye." However, in relation to the full verse, the most consistent and theological interpretation is to do all things through yourselves or in yourselves (as the means or channel). This isn't about self-glorification but about reflecting God's glory in your lives and through your deeds. The core idea is the consecration of the entire life, all actions and decisions, to God.
- "Eis doxan tou Theou": This is the ultimate purpose clause. Every action, whether eating, drinking, or any other permissible activity, should be directed toward the end of magnifying and honoring God. This encapsulates the essence of Christian stewardship, where life itself is lived for God's purposes.
1 Corinthians 10 31 Bonus Section
The principle articulated here echoes Jesus' own statement in John 8:29, "I always do what pleases him." Believers are called to emulate Christ's example. Furthermore, this verse challenges the dualistic thinking that separates the sacred from the secular. For the Christian, all of life can and should be sacred when lived with God's glory as the ultimate aim. It integrates faith and life, ensuring that actions are not just about obedience but are driven by a heart desire to honor the Creator. This is the essence of offering "our bodies as a living sacrifice" (Rom 12:1).
1 Corinthians 10 31 Commentary
This verse serves as a pivotal principle, distilling the complex issues Paul has been addressing into a simple, yet profound directive. It provides the believer with a guiding ethos for navigating ethical dilemmas and everyday life. By offering every action—even those that seem mundane or self-serving like eating and drinking—to God for His glory, Christians transform the ordinary into worship. This means consciously making choices that honor God’s character, uphold His truth, and bring Him praise. It's about living a life saturated with God's presence and purpose, demonstrating His grace and truth to the world, rather than pursuing personal desires or the approval of others. The imperative is clear: "Do all things for the glory of God."
- Practical Usage Examples:
- Choosing what to watch or listen to based on whether it glorifies God or contributes to spiritual growth.
- Making financial decisions with the priority of honoring God through stewardship and generosity.
- Engaging in one's profession with integrity, diligence, and excellence as a way to bring glory to God.
- Speaking words of encouragement and truth, rather than gossip or negativity, to reflect God’s love.