1 COR 10:23 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) Everything might seem to be allowable, but not everything is beneficial. Everything might seem to be allowable, but not everything builds up character.[ref]

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, red:negative.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT “All things are lawful,” but not all things are beneficial. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up.

UST Some of you say, “I can do anything and not become guilty.” However, I say that some things are not helpful to anybody. Again, some of you say, “I can do anything and not become guilty.” However, I say that some things do not help you grow.

BSB “Everything is permissible,”[fn] but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible,” but not everything is edifying.

10:23 Or “All things are lawful,” twice in this verse

10:23 Or “All things are lawful for me”; CT does not include for me; twice in this verse.

BLB "All things are lawful," but not all things are profitable; "All things are lawful," but not all edify.

AICNT All things are lawful [[for me]],[fn] but not all things are helpful. All things are lawful [[for me]],[fn] but not all things build up.

10:23, for me: Later manuscripts add.” BYZ TR ‖ Absent from 𝔓46 ℵ(01) A(02) B(03) C(04) D(05) NA28 SBLGNT THGNT

10:23, for me: Later manuscripts add. BYZ TR ‖ Absent from 𝔓46 ℵ(01) A(02) B(03) C(04) D(05) NA28 SBLGNT THGNT

OEB Everything is allowable! Yes, but everything is not profitable. Everything is allowable! Yes, but everything does not build up character.

WEBBE “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are profitable. “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things build up.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET “Everything is lawful,” but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is lawful,” but not everything builds others up.

LSV All things are lawful to me, but not all things are profitable; all things are lawful to me, but not all things build up;

FBV Some say, “I'm free to do anything”—but not everything is appropriate! “I'm free to do anything”—but not everything is constructive![fn]

10:23 See 6:12.

TCNT “All things are lawful [fn]for me,” but not all things are beneficial. “All things are lawful [fn]for me,” but not all things edify.

10:23 for me ¦ — CT

T4T Some people say, “God permits believers to do anything.” But I say that not everything that people do benefits those who do it! Yes, some people say, “God permits believers to do all things.” But not everything that people do helps them to become spiritually mature.

LEB ¶ All things are permitted, but not all things are profitable. All things are permitted, but not all things build up.

BBE We are free to do all things, but there are things which it is not wise to do. We are free to do all things, but not all things are for the common good.

Moff "All things are lawful"?
⇔ Yes, but not all are good for us.
⇔ "All things are lawful"?
⇔ Yes, but not all are edifying.

Wymth Everything is allowable, but not everything is profitable. Everything is allowable, but everything does not build others up.

ASV All things are lawful; but not all things are expedient. All things are lawful; but not all things edify.

DRA All things are lawful for me, but all things do not edify.

YLT All things to me are lawful, but all things are not profitable; all things to me are lawful, but all things do not build up;

Drby All things are lawful, but all are not profitable; all things are lawful, but all do not edify.

RV All things are lawful; but all things are not expedient. All things are lawful; but all things edify not.

SLT All things are lawful to me, but all are not profitable: all things are lawful to me, but all build not the house.

Wbstr All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.

KJB-1769 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.

KJB-1611 All things are lawfull for me, but all things are not expedient: All things are lawfull for mee, but all things edifie not.
(All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: All things are lawful for me, but all things edifie not.)

Bshps All thynges are lawfull for me, but all thynges are not expedient: All thynges are lawfull for me, but all thynges edifie not.
(All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: All things are lawful for me, but all things edifie not.)

Gnva All things are lawfull for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawfull for me, but all things edifie not.
(All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edifie not. )

Cvdl I maye do all thinges, but all thinges edifye not.
(I may do all things, but all things edifye not.)

TNT All thynges are laufull vnto me but all thynges are not expedient. All thynges are lawfull to me but all thinges edifye not.
(All things are lawful unto me but all things are not expedient. All things are lawful to me but all things edifye not. )

Wycl Alle thingis ben leeueful to me, but not alle thingis edifien.
(All things been lawful to me, but not all things edifien.)

Luth Ich habe es zwar alles Macht; aber es frommet nicht alles. Ich habe es alles Macht; aber es bessert nicht alles.
(I have it that_is all/everything power(n); but it pious/devoutt not all/everything. I have it all/everything power(n); but it improves not all/everything.)

ClVg Omnia mihi licent, sed non omnia ædificat.[fn]
(Everything to_me licent, but not/no everything builds. )

10.23 Omnia mihi licent. Potestate liberi arbitrii et doctrina legis naturalis. Non quia omnia liceant etiam illicita, sed ecce ponamus licere omnia.

10.23 Everything to_me licent. Canate children of_choice and teaching/instruction law naturalis. Not/No because everything liceant also thereita, but behold I_will_putus licere everything.

UGNT πάντα ἔξεστιν, ἀλλ’ οὐ πάντα συμφέρει. πάντα ἔξεστιν, ἀλλ’ οὐ πάντα οἰκοδομεῖ.
(panta exestin, all’ ou panta sumferei. panta exestin, all’ ou panta oikodomei.)

SBL-GNT ⸀Πάντα ἔξεστιν· ἀλλʼ οὐ πάντα συμφέρει. ⸁πάντα ἔξεστιν· ἀλλʼ οὐ πάντα οἰκοδομεῖ.
(⸀Panta exestin; allʼ ou panta sumferei. ⸁panta exestin; allʼ ou panta oikodomei.)

RP-GNT Πάντα μοι ἔξεστιν, ἀλλ' οὐ πάντα συμφέρει. Πάντα μοι ἔξεστιν, ἀλλ' οὐ πάντα οἰκοδομεῖ.
(Panta moi exestin, all' ou panta sumferei. Panta moi exestin, all' ou panta oikodomei.)

TC-GNT Πάντα [fn]μοι ἔξεστιν, ἀλλ᾽ οὐ πάντα συμφέρει. Πάντα [fn]μοι ἔξεστιν, ἀλλ᾽ οὐ πάντα οἰκοδομεῖ.
(Panta moi exestin, all ou panta sumferei. Panta moi exestin, all ou panta oikodomei. )

10:23 μοι ¦ — CT

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 10:1–11:1: Avoid idolatry completely

Paul addressed believers who thought it was acceptable to eat meals in an idol’s temple. First he warned them (10:1–13). He used examples from the Old Testament to show them their danger. Then he commanded them (10:14–22). He said that no one can take part in both the Lord’s Supper and idol feasts. He said that believers are free to eat meat sold in the market place unless this will hurt someone else’s conscience (10:23–30). In summary, he said that believers should control their behavior in two ways. They should praise God in everything they do, and they should not allow their actions to harm another person (10:31–11:1).

Here are some other possible section headings:

Don’t worship idols

Do everything for the glory of God

Paragraph 10:23–11:1

Paul discussed whether believers can eat food that pagans offered to idols and later sold in the marketplace. He said that believers must consider not only their own freedom and rights. They must also consider the good of others, and how their actions will help non-believers to be saved.

10:23a

“Everything is permissible,”

¶ Some of you^(plur) say, “We^(incl) are allowed to do anything we want to.”
¶ “Nothing is forbidden to us^(incl),” people say.

Everything is permissible: This means that everything is allowed or permitted. It does not say who allows everything. The implied subject is probably “the law” or “God.” See the notes on 6:12a where there is a similar saying.

This clause is probably something that Paul himself had previously said. Now, some of the believers in Corinth used this phrase to claim that they could go to feasts in an idol’s temple. Many English versions, like the BSB, use quotation marks to indicate that this is a quotation. People who listen to scripture will not see the quotation marks. So, it may be helpful to supply a phrase such as “you say.” For example:

Some of you say, “We can do whatever we want to!” (CEV)

“We are allowed to do anything,” so they say. (GNT)

10:23b

but not everything is beneficial.

But not everything is useful/worthwhile.
Yes, but that does not mean that everything is good for us^(incl) to do.

but not everything is beneficial: Paul agreed with the saying in 10:23a up to a certain point. Now he said why he did not agree completely: some things are not helpful. They are harmful to God’s glory or to people’s spiritual life. See the notes on 6:12b. These are the same words that are used there.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

maybe so, but not everything does good (NJB)

yes, but not everything is useful

10:23c

“Everything is permissible,”

Some of you^(plur) say, “We^(incl) are allowed to do anything we want to.”
“Nothing is forbidden to us,” people say.

Everything is permissible: This is the same statement as in 10:23a. You should translate it in the same way that you did there.

10:23d

but not everything is edifying.

But not everything is helpful.
Yet I say that some things do not strengthen the faith of others.

but not everything is edifying: Paul again implied that he agreed with this up to a certain point. The Greek word that the BSB translates as is edifying is literally “builds up.” The same word is used in 8:1d. There, as here, it refers to making people strong spiritually. Here Paul talked about making other people strong.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

but not everything builds others up (NET)

but not all things help others become firm in their faith

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / doublet

πάντα ἔξεστιν, ἀλλ’ οὐ πάντα συμφέρει. πάντα ἔξεστιν, ἀλλ’ οὐ πάντα οἰκοδομεῖ.

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Παντᾶ ἔξεστιν ἀλλʼ οὒ παντᾶ συμφέρει Παντᾶ ἔξεστιν ἀλλʼ οὒ παντᾶ οἰκοδομεῖ)

Here, just as in [6:12](../06/12.md), Paul repeats All things are lawful for me to make two separate comments on the statement. By repeating All things are lawful for me, Paul emphasizes his qualifications or objections to this statement. If your language does not use repetition in this way, you can state All things are lawful for me once and include both comments after that. Alternate translation: [“All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are beneficial, and not all things build up]

Note 2 topic: writing-quotations

(Occurrence -1) πάντα ἔξεστιν, ἀλλ’

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Παντᾶ ἔξεστιν ἀλλʼ οὒ παντᾶ συμφέρει Παντᾶ ἔξεστιν ἀλλʼ οὒ παντᾶ οἰκοδομεῖ)

In this verse, just as in [6:12](../06/12.md), Paul twice quotes what some people in the Corinthian church are saying. By using quotation marks, the ULT indicates that these claims are quotations. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express All things are lawful for me and think that Paul is claiming this by clarifying that some of the Corinthians are saying this, and Paul is saying the words that occur after but. Alternate translation: [You say, “All things are lawful for me,” but I respond that … You say, “All things are lawful for me,” but I respond that]

(Occurrence -1) οὐ πάντα

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Παντᾶ ἔξεστιν ἀλλʼ οὒ παντᾶ συμφέρει Παντᾶ ἔξεστιν ἀλλʼ οὒ παντᾶ οἰκοδομεῖ)

Alternate translation: [only some things … only some things]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

συμφέρει & οἰκοδομεῖ

˓is˒_benefitting & ˓is˒_building

Here Paul does not say to whom everything is not beneficial and who is the one who is not “built up.” He could be implying that it is: (1) other believers within the Corinthian community. Alternate translation: [are beneficial to others … build others up] (2) the person or people who say that All things are lawful. Alternate translation: [are beneficial for you … build you up]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

οὐ πάντα οἰκοδομεῖ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Παντᾶ ἔξεστιν ἀλλʼ οὒ παντᾶ συμφέρει Παντᾶ ἔξεστιν ἀλλʼ οὒ παντᾶ οἰκοδομεῖ)

Just as in [8:1](../08/01.md), Paul here speaks as if believers were a building that one could build up. With this metaphor, he emphasizes that only some things help believers become stronger and more mature, just like building a house makes it strong and complete. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea behind this figure of speech plainly or with a comparable metaphor. Alternate translation: [not all things enable believers to grow] or [not all things edify]

Parallel 1 COR 10:23

Section 10:1–11:1: Avoid idolatry completely

Paragraph 10:23–11:1

10:23a

10:23b

10:23c

10:23d

Parallel 1 COR 10:23