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1 Corinthians 10:27

in 1 Corinthians 10

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

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

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

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.

This verse in 1 Corinthians 10

Commentary

10 notes on this verse

A commentator

Clement of Alexandria

The Instructor Book 2 · Written before 215.

Wherefore daintiness is to be shunned, and we are to partake of few and necessary things. "And if one of the unbelievers call us to a feast, and we determine to go" (for it is a good thing not to mix with the dissolute), the apostle bids us "eat what is set before us, asking no questions for conscience sake." Similarly he has enjoined to purchase "what is sold in the shambles," without curious questioning. We are not, then, to abstain wholly from various kinds of food, but only are not to be taken up about them.

This site's exposition

Eat anything sold in the

on 1 Corinthians 10:25-27

Paul writes, Eat anything sold in the meat market, and grounds it in Psalm 24:1, The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof. Market meat is free of suspicion whatever its temple history, since creation belongs to God.

This site's exposition

eat anything set before you

Paul moves from the market to a private meal. Barnes, Clarke and Matthew Henry read the invitation as a meal at home, distinct from a feast in an idol's temple, which 10:21 forbids.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers1 voice

A commentator

John Chrysostom

Homily on 1 Corinthians 25 · Written before 407.

proposed

"If one of them that believe not biddeth you," saith he, "to a feast, and you are disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake." See again his moderation. For he did not command and make a law that they should withdraw themselves, yet neither did he forbid it. And again, should they depart, he frees them from all suspicion. Now what may be the account of this? That so great curiousness might not seem to arise from any fear and cowardice. For he who makes scrupulous enquiry doth so as being in dread: but he who, on hearing the fact, abstains, abstains as out of contempt and hatred and aversion. Wherefore Paul, purposing to establish both points, saith, "Whatsoever is set before you, eat."

The Medieval Church1 voice

A commentator

Theophylact of Ohrid

Commentary on 1 Corinthians · Written before 1107.

proposed

He said well: "you wish"; for he himself did not want either to advise or to disadvise. Do not investigate at all, so that in excessive scrupulousness you do not show fear before idols, and so that you keep your conscience clean and undisturbed.

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

And why then should they scrupulously enquire whether what was set before them had been sacrificed? It is to be understood of civil feasting, not religious; for the latter among the heathens was feasting upon their sacrifices, which he had condemned before as a participation in their idolatrous worship.
If any of them that believe not,....

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

If any of them that believe not - That are not Christians; that are still pagans. Bid you to a feast - Evidently not a feast in the temple of an idol, but at his own house. If he asks you to partake of his hospitality. And ye be disposed to go - Greek, “And you will to go.” It is evidently implied here that it would be not improper to go.
2 more voices on this verse

The Nineteenth Century2 voices

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

proposed

ye be disposed to go--tacitly implying, they would be as well not to go, but yet not forbidding them to go (1Co 10:9) [GROTIUS]. The feast is not an idol feast, but a general entertainment, at which, however, there might be meat that had been offered to an idol. for conscience' sake--(See on 1Co 10:25).

quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

proposed

If any - bid you to a feast - The apostle means any common meal, not an idol festival; for to such no Christian could lawfully go. Whatsoever is set before you, eat - Do not act as the Jews generally do, torturing both themselves and others with questions, such as those mentioned in 1Co 10:26.

The words behind it

19 Greek words

Every Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    2 Corinthians 4:2

    Instead, we have renounced secret and shameful ways. We do not practice deceit, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by open proclamation of the truth, we commend ourselves to…

    it leads to

    • 2 Corinthians 5:11

      Therefore, since we know what it means to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is clear to God, and I hope it is clear to your conscience as well.

      Reached by 2 separate paths from here.

    • 2 Corinthians 2:17

      For we are not like so many others, who peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as men sent from God.

    • 1 Thessalonians 2:3–5

      For our appeal does not arise from deceit or ulterior motives or trickery.

    • 2 Corinthians 11:13–15

      For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ.

    • 2 Corinthians 6:4–7

      Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships, and calamities;

  • Through

    1 Corinthians 10:25

    Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience,

    it leads to

    • 1 Timothy 4:4

      For every creation of God is good, and nothing that is received with thanksgiving should be rejected,

    • 1 Corinthians 8:7

      But not everyone has this knowledge. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that they eat such food as if it were sacrificed to an idol. And since their conscience is weak, it…

    • Titus 1:15

      To the pure, all things are pure; but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure. Indeed, both their minds and their consciences are defiled.

Where this verse is studied

About 1 Corinthians

The Last Supper, Leonardo da Vinci, 1495 to 1498. Public domain.
The Last Supper, Leonardo da Vinci, 1495 to 1498. Public domain.
This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Charles Hodge, An Exposition of the First Epistle to the Corinthians; Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor Book 2; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on 1 Corinthians 25; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 1 Corinthians.