01. Instructions for the Age of Grace part 03 (1 Corinthians 10:23-29)
**• are lawful** is ἔξεστι( ĕxĕsti), meaning *it is right, it is permitted, one may*.
• for me x2 is omitted in the Critical Text (CT).
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• are...expedient** is συμφέρω (ĕrō), which means *profitable* (cf. Acts 20:20).
• edify is οἰκοδομέω (ŏikŏdŏmĕō), means *to build up, construct, or erect from the foundation to the roof*, but metaphorically here it means to strengthen and build up in the faith (Acts 9:31; Romans 14:19; 15:1--2; 2 Cor 12:19; Ephesians 4:29; 1 Thessalonians 5:11; 1 Timothy 1:4).
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• Paul writes that even though it is permissible and lawful for him to do all things...all things are not profitable and do not always bring spiritual edification.
• 1 Corinthians 10:24 Paul now moves from talking about himself to all people:
• no man** is μηδείς (ēdĕis), from ḗ, not, and é, but, and, meaning not even one.
• another's wealth is ἕτερος (ĕtĕrŏs), means *another of a different kind*.
• Notice that wealth* *is in italics because it is not in the original Greek. Most likely the translators added wealth* *here because, in 1611, the word wealth* meant the well-being of an individual*.
• Paul writes that everyone is not to seek their own advantage, but instead the well-being of others (Philippians 2:4-5; 1 Corinthians 6:12).
• Ephesians 2:8--9; Romans 11:6; Romans 5:8; 2 Corinthians 5:19; Romans 6:1--2; 6:9--10
• Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 8:9 that even though we have the freedom or power of liberty to eat meat offered unto an idol, as we saw in 1 Corinthians 8:4--8, there are those whose conscience being weak are defiled (1 Corinthians 8:7) by the eating of that food (1 Timothy 4:4--5).
• Paul writes about dealing with the spiritually weak in Romans 14-15 (cf. 1 Corinthians 6:12; Galatians 5:13; Philippians 2:4; 1 Peter 2:16).
**• Paul's focus is on the well-being of others (1 Corinthians 10:24; 1 Cor 9:19--23; Phil 2:3).
• 1 Corinthians 10:25 the shambles** is μάκελλον (ĕllŏn). Shambles is a word from 1300 that meant a footstool, a bench, or table for selling goods, which then evolved into a *marketplace for meat* in the early 15th century. It wasn't until the early 1900s that it came to mean a place of confusion or a mess. Found only here in the Greek Scriptures.
• asking...question is ἀνακρίνω (ō), to judge (Acts 17:11).
• conscience is συνείδησις (ĕidēsis) from ún, with, together and *ídō*, to know, meaning with knowledge. The conscience can be described as a conviction* *(1 Corinthians 8:7).
• There are common sense questions to ask, such as is it fresh, healthy, or good to eat? But other than that, Paul says if food is put in front of you, he commands you to not question or examine it.
• 1 Corinthians 10:26 Paul here is quoting Psalm 24:1. The fulness thereof in our text and in Psalm 24:1 means all that fills the earth* *(cf. Ex 19:5; Deut 10:14; Job 41:11; Psalm 50:12).
• Here in 1 Cor 10:25-26, Paul writes that we are free from conscience issues because the earth is the Lord's, and we can consume all the food that we want because of the fulness thereof, meaning all that fills the earth.
• 1 Corinthians 10:27 of them that believe not is ἄπιστος (ŏs), means those who are faithless, unbelievers.
• to a feast* *is in italics because it is not in the original Greek, added by the translators to help us know the context of what Paul is writing about.
• ye be disposed is θέλω (ĕlō), means *to wish or desire*. It is used to describe the emotional aspect of a decision (cf. Mark 15:9; 15:12), as opposed to βούλομαι (ŏulŏmai) which describes the desire of θέλω (ĕlō), and means an action made after much deliberation (cf. Mk 15:15).
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• Paul is now dealing with invitations to eat with Jewish unbelievers.
• 1 Corinthians 10:28 offered in sacrifice unto idols is εἰδωλόθυτον (ĕidōlŏthutŏn), from εἲδωλον (ĕidōlŏn) and θύω (**úō), to sacrifice, thus it means anything that is offered in a sacrifice to an idol. εἰδωλόθυτον (ĕidōlŏthutŏn) is found 10x: Acts 15:29; 21:25; 1 Cor 8:1; 8:4; 8:7; 8:10; 10:19; **1 Corinthians 10:28**; Revelation 2:14; Revelation 2:20).
**• 1 Corinthians 10:29 liberty** is ἐλευθερία (ĕlĕuthĕria), means freedom, independence.
**• is...judged** is κρίνω (ō), means *to separate, to distinguish, to discriminate between good and evil*.
• When Paul is writing this, he is writing it under the inspiration of God (2 Timothy 3:16), he writes that it is better for us to have self-control over another man's conscience so that my liberty is not judged (cf. Galatians 5:1; Galatians 5:13).
