1 Corinthians 10:23-24

Live to Glorify God

10:23 “Everything is lawful,” but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is lawful,” ¹  but not everything builds others up. ²  10:24 Do not seek your own good, but the good of the other person.

1 Corinthians 10:32-33

10:32 Do not give offense to Jews or Greeks or to the church of God, 10:33 just as I also try to please everyone in all things. I do not seek my own benefit, but the benefit ³  of many, so that they may be saved.

[10:23]  ¹ sn “Everything is lawful.” Here again Paul cites certain slogans the Corinthians used to justify their behavior (cf. 6:12-13; 7:1; 8:1, 4). Paul agrees with the slogans in part, but corrects them to show how the Corinthians have misused these ideas.

[10:23]  ² tn Grk “builds up.” The object “others” is not expressed but is implied, as v. 24 shows. Paul picks up a theme he introduced at the start of this section of the letter (8:1).

[10:33]  ³ tn Although the Greek word translated “benefit” occurs only once in this verse, the Greek article occurs twice. This indicates an implied repetition of the term, which has been included twice in the translation for the sake of clarity and English style.