1 Corinthians 10:32
in 1 Corinthians 10Do not become a stumbling block, whether to Jews or Greeks or the church of God—
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Give no occasion of stumbling, either to Jews, or to Greeks, or to the church of God:
KJV
Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:
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This verse in 1 Corinthians 10
Commentary
14 notes on this verseGive none offense, etc. - Scrupulously avoid giving any cause of offense either to the unconverted Jews or the unconverted Gentiles, so as to prejudice them against Christianity: nor to the Church of God, made up of converts from the above parties.
This site's exposition
do all to the glory of God
on 1 Corinthians 10:31-33
Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God: the whole section, running from meat markets to private meals, is gathered under a single rule broad enough to govern every ordinary act of life, not idol meat alone. Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: the three groups cover every hearer Paul might meet, and the principle of chapter 9's missionary flexibility returns here as the reason for the restraint just urged. Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved: Paul offers his own conduct as the pattern, closing the idol-meat discussion begun at chapter 8 on the same note it opened, love outranking knowledge and rights alike.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers5 voices
But the same apostle elsewhere bids us take care to please all: "As I," he says, "please all by all means." No doubt he used to please them by celebrating the Saturnalia and New-year's day! [Was it so] or was it by moderation and patience? by gravity, by kindness, by integrity? In like manner, when he is saying, "I have become all things to all, that I may gain all," does he mean "to idolaters an idolater? ""to heathens a heathen? ""to the worldly worldly? "But albeit he does not prohibit us from having our conversation with idolaters and adulterers, and the other criminals, saying, "Otherwise ye would go out from the world," of course he does not so slacken those reins of conversation that, since it is necessary for us both to live and to mingle with sinners, we may be able to sin with them too.
Do all things decently and according to order for the purpose of edification. The person, the time, the need and the place all should be properly chosen and determined upon. By consideration of all these details every shadow of evil suspicion will be avoided.
For the hearts of men are firmly set on evil. And, that we may not give a pretext to those who desire to get a pretext against us and to speak evil of us, and that we may not be a stumbling-block to any one, …
"Give no occasion of stumbling, either to Jews, or to Greeks, or to the Church of God:" i.e., give no handle to anyone: since in the case supposed, both thy brother is offended, and the Jew will the more hate and condemn thee, and the Gentile in like manner deride thee even as a gluttonous man and a hypocrite. Not only, however, should the brethren receive no hurt from us, but to the utmost of our power not even those that are without. For if we are "light," and "leaven," and "luminaries," and "salt," we ought to enlighten, not to darken; to bind, not to loosen; to draw to ourselves the unbelievers, not to drive them away. Why then puttest thou to flight those whom thou oughtest to draw to thee? Since even Gentiles are hurt, when they see us reverting to such things: for they know not our mind nor that our Soul hath come to be above all pollution of sense. And the Jews too, and the weaker brethren, will suffer the same. Seest thou how many reasons he hath assigned for which we ought to abstain from the idol-sacrifices? Because of their unprofitableness, because of their needlessness, because of the injury to our brother, because of the evil-speaking of the Jew, because of the reviling of the Gentile, because we ought not to be partakers with demons, because the thing is a kind of idolatry.
Do not be a stumbling block in any way to those you meet. Be cheerful, a lover of the brethren, gentle, humble. Do not demean the aim of hospitality by seeking extravagant foods. Be content with what is at hand.
7 more voices on this verse
The Church Fathers1 voice
Offense is given to the Jews when they see that a Christian, who claims the inheritance of the law and the prophets, is not afraid of idols, which they detest. Offense is given to the Greeks, that is, to the Gentiles, if their sin of …
The Medieval Church1 voice
That is, do not give anyone any occasion for reproach. And this will be the case when we do not cause offense to either Jew or Greek, and still less to the brethren, for they are the "church of God." Take note. He stated the …
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
Our own humour and appetite must not determine our practice, but the honour of God and the good and edification of the church. We should not so much consult our own pleasure and interest as the advancement of the kingdom of God among men. Note, A Christian should be a man devoted to God, and of a public spirit.
), namely, that in eating and drinking, and in all we do, we should aim at the glory of God, at pleasing and honouring him. This is the fundamental principle of practical godliness. The great end of all practical religion must direct us where particular and express rules are wanting.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-punctuation+unbalanced-parens
Give none offence,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Give none offence--in things indifferent (1Co 8:13; 2Co 6:3); for in all essential things affecting Christian doctrine and practice, even in the smallest detail, we must not swerve from principle, whatever offense may be the result (1Co 1:23). Giving offense is unnecessary, if our own spirit cause it; necessary, if it be caused by the truth.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Give none offence - Be inoffensive; that is, do not act so as to lead others into sin; see the note at Rom 14:13. Neither to the Jews ... - To no one, though they are the foes of God or strangers to him. To the Jews be inoffensive, because they think that the least approach to idol worship is to be abhorred. Do not so act as to lead them to think that you connive at or approve idol worship, and so as to prejudice them the more against the Christian religion, and lead them more and more to oppose it. In other words, do not attend the feasts in honor of idols. Nor to the Gentiles - Greek “Greeks.” To the pagans who are unconverted. They are attached to idol worship. They seek every way to justify themselves in it. Do not countenance them in it, and thus lead them into the sin of idolatry. Nor to the church of God - To Christians. Many of them are weak. They may not be as fully instructed as you are. Your example would lead them into sin. Abstain, therefore, from things which, though they are in themselves strictly “lawful,” may yet be the occasion of leading others into sin, and endangering their salvation.
The words behind it
11 Greek wordsEvery 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.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ἀπρόσκοποι | aproskopoi | Without offense | G677 → | |
| καὶ | kai | both | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| Ἰουδαίοις | ioudaiois | to Jews | G2453 → | 192 times |
| γίνεσθε | ginesthe | do you be | G1096 → | 667 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| Ἕλλησιν | hellesin | to Greeks | G1672 → | 25 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| τῇ | tea | to the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἐκκλησίᾳ | ekklesia | church | G1577 → | 113 times |
| τοῦ | tou | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| θεοῦ, | theou | of God — | G2316 → | 1312 times |
ἀπρόσκοποιWithout offense
aproskopoiG677 →
καὶboth
kaiG2532 →9120 times
Ἰουδαίοιςto Jews
ioudaioisG2453 →192 times
γίνεσθεdo you be
ginestheG1096 →667 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
Ἕλλησινto Greeks
hellesinG1672 →25 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
τῇto the
teaG3588 →19766 times
ἐκκλησίᾳchurch
ekklesiaG1577 →113 times
τοῦ<the>
touG3588 →19766 times
θεοῦ,of God —
theouG2316 →1312 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach 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
Acts 20:28Keep watch over yourselves and the entire flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which He purchased with His own blood.
it leads to
- 1 Peter 5:2–3
Be shepherds of God’s flock that is among you, watching over them not out of compulsion, but because it is God’s will; not out of greed, but out of eagerness;
- 1 Timothy 4:16
Pay close attention to your life and to your teaching. Persevere in these things, for by so doing you will save both yourself and those who hear you.
- 1 Peter 1:18–19
For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life you inherited from your forefathers,
- Isaiah 40:11
He tends His flock like a shepherd; He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart. He gently leads the nursing ewes.
- 1 Timothy 3:2
An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,
- 1 Peter 5:2–3
Through
Romans 14:13Therefore let us stop judging one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s way.
it leads to
- 2 Corinthians 6:3
We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no one can discredit our ministry.
- 1 Corinthians 8:9–13
Be careful, however, that your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak.
- 2 Corinthians 6:3
Through
1 Corinthians 8:13Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to stumble.
it leads to
- Romans 14:21
It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything to cause your brother to stumble.
- Romans 14:21
Where this verse is studied
About 1 Corinthians
This page draws on 13 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the First Epistle to the Corinthians; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ambrosiaster, COMMENTARY ON PAUL'S EPISTLES; Basil of Caesarea, THE LONG RULES 33; Basil of Caesarea, Letter 42; 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; Pseudo-Clement, Two Epistles on Virginity, Epistle 2; Tertullian, On Idolatry and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 1 Corinthians.