1 Corinthians 10:23 Meaning and Explanation
“All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The Context of 1 Corinthians 10:23
Addressing questions about food offered to idols, Paul grants a measure of freedom while insisting that love for others, not personal rights, must govern the believer's choices.
What Does 1 Corinthians 10:23 Mean?
Paul takes a slogan apparently used in Corinth, "all things are lawful," and qualifies it twice. Even granting that many things are permissible, that does not make them all beneficial or constructive. Freedom is real, but freedom alone is not the highest question. The believer must also ask whether a given action is helpful and whether it builds others up.
Paul introduces two filters beyond mere permission. "Expedient" means profitable or beneficial: does this action actually do good? "Edify" means to build up: does this strengthen others rather than harm them? The Corinthians were quick to assert their rights; Paul redirects them toward love and the good of the community. A choice may be technically allowed yet wound a weaker believer or serve no good purpose. Maturity weighs not only "may I?" but "should I?" and "will this help?" The verse dismantles a self-centered view of liberty. Christian freedom is freedom employed in love, never a license to do whatever one can get away with. The mature believer voluntarily limits personal rights for the sake of others' growth, recognizing that what edifies the body matters more than what merely satisfies the self.
1 Corinthians 10:23 in the Original Language
The Greek "exestin" (lawful) means permitted. "Sympherei" (expedient) means profitable or beneficial. "Oikodomei" (edify) literally means to build a house, hence to build up.
Bible Verses Related to 1 Corinthians 10:23
“All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient.”
- 1 Corinthians 6:12
“Use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.”
- Galatians 5:13
“Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.”
- Romans 14:19
How to Apply 1 Corinthians 10:23 Today
Before exercising a freedom, ask not only whether it is permitted but whether it is helpful and whether it builds others up, letting love guide your choices.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Corinthians 10:23
Does this verse mean Christians can do anything they want?
No. Paul cites the slogan only to qualify it. Even what is permitted must pass two further tests: is it beneficial, and does it build others up? Love limits the use of freedom.
What does edify mean here?
To build up: the word literally means constructing a house. Paul asks whether a choice strengthens and benefits other believers, not just whether it pleases oneself.