What is the Meaning of I Corinthians 10:25-29?
By Kelly McDonald, Jr.
“25 Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake: 26 For the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof. 27 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. 28 But 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: 29 Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man’s conscience?
Common Argument: This passage has been used by some to say that Paul negated the dietary commandments, and we can eat whatever we want.
Think it Through: Why would Paul tell people to violate God’s instructions about clean and unclean in I Corinthians when in 2 Corinthians 6:17 he commanded the same people not to touch any unclean thing? Unclean animals are also referenced in Romans 6:19 and Revelation 18:2, so they cannot be changed.
Short Answer: The chapter has to do with clean animal meat that has been sacrificed to idols. It has nothing to do with changing the dietary commandments.
Longer Answer: A crucial detail to help us understand chapter 10 is the fact that chapter 8 comes first. In I Corinthians 8, Paul begins to address the issue of eating food offered to idols.
“4 As concerning therefore the eating [broseos] of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one…8 But meat [broma] commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse…13 Wherefore, if meat [broma] make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend” (I Cor. 8:4, 6, 13).
In this chapter, Paul used the Greek word broseos once (verse 4) and the word broma two times (verses 8 and 13). These Greek words refer to that which God defined as ‘to eat’, which means clean animal meat (to learn more about this, read the article “How Does God Define Food” by clicking here). By using these words, he has already defined food by the time we arrive at I Corinthians 10.
In ancient times, most people went to an open market to get their meat. Sometimes this meat had been sacrificed to an idol before it was put on display. I Corinthians chapters 8-10 address the situation between two groups of people.
The first group was composed of mature believers who do not care if meat has been sacrificed to idols or not. The second group is composed of newer believers who think that Christians should never eat meat sacrificed to idols.
In I Corinthians chapter 8, Paul said that idols are nothing and that there is only one God (verses 1-6). Therefore, it should not matter if a believer eats meat sacrificed to idols. At the same time, he warned the more mature believers to avoid eating meat sacrificed to idols in front of less mature believers (verses 7-13). He did not want them to engage in any behavior that might encourage others to turn back to worshipping other gods.
In I Corinthians 10:25-29, Paul explained that eating food sacrificed to idols should be avoided if possible. If a believer was told the food was sacrificed to an idol, then he or she should not eat it. This is to protect the conscience of the newer believers.
On the other hand, if believers go to a meal and they are not informed that the food was sacrificed to idols, then they should not worry about it. There is only one true God. Idols are nothing. This passage, like others from Paul and Jesus, is emphasizing how we should eat in a specific situation. It is not discussing what types of animal meat we should eat.
A second key to understanding this passage is to read the verses following it. Paul concludes this passage in verse 31 by saying “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” That means our thinking, how we treat others, and even how we eat should be used to glorify God.
In Leviticus chapter 11, God explained one way that we glorify Him by in our eating. If we are to uplift His name when we eat, then we must make this important distinction. Eating unclean animals is not glorifying His name because it is contrary to His Word.
Paul’s main concern in these verses is not to define or redefine what God made to eat. He is trying to educate believers in how to encounter situations where they might eat food sacrificed to idols. His goal was not to re-define food, which would require undermining the Words of God, but instead how to maintain the bond of unity and peace between believers (Eph. 4:3).
Kelly McDonald, Jr.
Pastor, David’s Tent Christian Fellowship