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.
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.
- BSB If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat anything set before you without raising questions of conscience.
- 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 10:25Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake:
- Luke 10:7–8And 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.
- 1 Cor 5:9–11I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:
- 2 Cor 4:2But 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.
- Luke 19:7And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.
- Luke 15:23And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:
- 2 Cor 5:11Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.
- Luke 5:29–30And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great company of publicans and of others that sat down with them.
- 2 Cor 1:13For we write none other things unto you, than what ye read or acknowledge; and I trust ye shall acknowledge even to the end;
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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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