For the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof.
Parallel translations
- WEB for “the earth is the Lord’s, and its fullness.”
- BSB for, “The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.”
- NKJV for “the earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness.”
- NASB for the earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains.
- NLT For “the earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
All creation belongs to the Lord, so its good gifts may be received with thanks. God's ownership of the earth grounds Christian freedom to eat.
Overview
Quoting Psalm 24:1, Paul roots his teaching on food in the doctrine of creation: everything is the Lord's and therefore good. Nothing God made is inherently unclean for those who receive it with thanksgiving. This affirms that the material world is God's gift, to be enjoyed gratefully under his lordship rather than feared.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- Ps 24:1The earth is the LORD’s, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.
- Ps 50:12If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof.
- Exod 19:5Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:
- Deut 10:14Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens is the LORD’s thy God, the earth also, with all that therein is.
- Job 41:11Who hath prevented me, that I should repay him? whatsoever is under the whole heaven is mine.
- 1 Tim 6:17Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;
- 1 Cor 10:28But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof:
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Christ at the center
Christ crucified is the wisdom and power of God; he is our Passover sacrificed for us, the firstfruits of resurrection, the foundation on which everything is built.
How 1 Corinthians 10:26 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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