If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat anything set before you without raising questions of conscience.
Parallel translations
- WEB But if one of those who don’t believe invites you to a meal, and you are inclined to go, eat whatever is set before you, asking no questions for the sake of conscience.
- KJV 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.
- NKJV If any of those who do not believe invites you to dinner, and you desire to go, eat whatever is set before you, asking no question for conscience’ sake.
- NASB If one of the unbelievers invites you and you want to go, eat anything that is set before you without asking questions, for the sake of conscience.
- NLT If someone who isn’t a believer asks you home for dinner, accept the invitation if you want to. Eat whatever is offered to you without raising questions of conscience.
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
Believers invited to an unbeliever's meal may eat what is served without interrogating its source. Liberty allows ordinary fellowship with outsiders.
Overview
Paul applies his principle socially: a Christian may accept a non-believer's invitation and eat freely without probing questions of conscience. This shows that the gospel does not demand withdrawal from ordinary society. Christian liberty enables loving engagement with unbelievers, provided it does not become participation in actual idol worship.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- 1 Cor 10:25Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience,
- Luke 10:7–8Stay at the same house, eating and drinking whatever you are offered. For the worker is worthy of his wages. Do not move around from house to house.
- 1 Cor 5:9–11I wrote you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people.
- 2 Cor 4:2Instead, we have renounced secret and shameful ways. We do not practice deceit, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by open proclamation of the truth, we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
- Luke 19:7And all who saw this began to grumble, saying, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinful man!”
- Luke 15:23Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let us feast and celebrate.
- 2 Cor 5:11Therefore, since we know what it means to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is clear to God, and I hope it is clear to your conscience as well.
- Luke 5:29–30Then Levi hosted a great banquet for Jesus at his house. A large crowd of tax collectors was there, along with others who were eating with them.
- 2 Cor 1:13For we do not write you anything that is beyond your ability to read and understand. And I hope that you will understand us completely,
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 10:27 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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