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1 Corinthians 10:27

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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.

{G1161} If any {G1536} of them that believe not {G571} bid {G2564} you {G5209} to a feast, and {G2532} ye be disposed {G2309} to go {G4198}; whatsoever {G3956} is set before {G3908} you {G5213}, eat {G2068}, asking {G350} no {G3367} question {G350} for {G1223} conscience {G4893} sake {G1223}.

If some unbeliever invites you to a meal, and you want to go, eat whatever is put in front of you without raising questions of conscience.

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

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.

Commentary

1 Corinthians 10:27 provides practical guidance on Christian conduct in social settings, specifically concerning meals with unbelievers, building upon Paul's wider discussion about food sacrificed to idols and the principle of not causing others to stumble.

Context

This verse is situated within a significant section of Paul's first letter to the Corinthian church (chapters 8-10) where he addresses the complex issue of eating meat that may have been offered to idols. In the Greco-Roman world, much of the meat sold in markets or served at social gatherings would have first passed through pagan temples. Paul previously established that idols have no real existence (1 Corinthians 8:4) and that a believer with strong faith could eat such meat without spiritual harm. However, he also introduced the crucial caveat of considering the "weak" conscience of others (1 Corinthians 8:9-13). Here, Paul shifts to a specific scenario: being invited to a meal by an unbeliever, where the origin of the food is unknown or not an issue for one's own conscience.

Key Themes

  • Christian Liberty and Responsibility: The verse highlights the freedom believers have in Christ, where "all things are lawful" (1 Corinthians 10:23). However, this liberty is not absolute; it must be exercised responsibly, considering its impact on others.
  • Conscience: Paul emphasizes not asking questions "for conscience sake." This refers primarily to one's own conscience. If a believer's conscience is clear and they have no internal qualms about the food's origin, they are free to eat. The underlying principle is trust in God and the understanding that food itself does not defile (Romans 14:14).
  • Avoiding Scrupulosity: The instruction to "ask no question" encourages believers not to create unnecessary legalistic burdens for themselves or others by obsessing over the potential spiritual background of every meal, especially when fellowship with unbelievers is involved.
  • Witness and Fellowship: By accepting invitations and eating without fuss, believers maintain opportunities for social interaction and potential evangelism with non-believers, embodying Paul's strategy of becoming "all things to all men" (1 Corinthians 9:22).

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "for conscience sake" comes from the Greek word syneidesis (συνείδησις), which refers to the inner moral sense or faculty of distinguishing right from wrong. In this context, it speaks to an individual's personal conviction or lack thereof regarding the permissibility of eating certain food. Paul's point is that if your own conscience doesn't prompt a question, don't invent one that might lead to self-condemnation or unnecessary doubt.

Practical Application

For believers today, 1 Corinthians 10:27 offers timeless wisdom for navigating social engagements with those who do not share our faith. It teaches us to:

  • Embrace Hospitality: Be open to invitations and fellowship with non-believers, seeing them as opportunities for connection and witness.
  • Exercise Freedom Wisely: Understand that many issues are morally neutral. If your conscience is clear, enjoy the food and fellowship without unnecessary scrutiny.
  • Focus on Core Principles: Rather than getting bogged down in minor details, prioritize love for God and neighbor. This passage implies that in a private setting with unbelievers, the focus is on personal liberty and maintaining good relations, distinct from situations where a weaker brother's conscience might be affected (as discussed in 1 Corinthians 10:28).
  • Avoid Legalism: Don't create self-imposed rules or anxieties where God has granted freedom. The spirit of the law, which is love, should guide our actions.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 1 Corinthians 10:25 (8 votes)

    Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, [that] eat, asking no question for conscience sake:

  • Luke 10:7 (6 votes)

    And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house.

  • Luke 10:8 (6 votes)

    And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you:

  • 1 Corinthians 5:9 (4 votes)

    ¶ I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:

  • 1 Corinthians 5:11 (4 votes)

    But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.

  • 2 Corinthians 1:13 (3 votes)

    For we write none other things unto you, than what ye read or acknowledge; and I trust ye shall acknowledge even to the end;

  • 2 Corinthians 4:2 (3 votes)

    But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.