1 Corinthians 10:23

“Everything is lawful,” but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is lawful,” ¹  but not everything builds others up. ² 

"Everything is permissible"—but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible"—but not everything is constructive.

All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things edify.

You say, "I am allowed to do anything"––but not everything is helpful. You say, "I am allowed to do anything"––but not everything is beneficial.

Looking at it one way, you could say, "Anything goes. Because of God's immense generosity and grace, we don't have to dissect and scrutinize every action to see if it will pass muster." But the point is not to just get by.

We are free to do all things, but there are things which it is not wise to do. We are free to do all things, but not all things are for the common good.

"All things are lawful," but not all things are beneficial. "All things are lawful," but not all things build up.

All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify.

“Everything is lawful,” but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is lawful,” ¹  but not everything builds others up. ² 

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.

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).