1 Corinthians 10:25 Meaning and Explanation
“Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake:”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Paul gives practical freedom: eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience.
What Does 1 Corinthians 10:25 Mean?
Paul turns to daily life. The 'shambles' was the public meat market, where some meat had been offered to idols before sale. He tells believers to buy and eat freely, 'asking no question for conscience sake.' There is no need to investigate a meat's history before eating it.
This shows the balance of Paul's teaching. Idol feasts in temples are forbidden, but ordinary food in the market is simply food. The believer need not live in anxious suspicion, for the world and all it holds belong to God. Freedom rightly enjoyed is a gift, received with thanks and without needless scruple. Paul frees his readers from a burdensome legalism even as he guards them from idolatry, teaching them where conscience must be tender and where it may rest at ease.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Corinthians 10:25
What does 1 Corinthians 10:25 mean?
Paul gives practical freedom: eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience.