1 Corinthians 6:12

πάντα μοι ἔξεστιν. All things are possible to me. See Soph. Aj. 346, προσβλέπειν ἔξεστί σοι τὰ τοῦδε πράγη, Marc. Aurel. Medit. IV. 17, ἕως ζῇς, ἕως ἔξεστιν, ἀγαθὸς γένου. So also Xen. Oec. II. 7 ἐξόν σοι ‘you are able’. The translation ‘all things are lawful’ encumbers the argument with a proposition St Paul has not advanced. Chrysostom, however, combats the difficulty, thus proving that he interprets by lawful. Observe the contrast between ἔξεστι and ἐξουσιασθήσομαι, which may be expressed in English thus, ‘I have the power to do all things, but I will not be under the power of anything.’ These words are repeated four times in this Epistle, and the clause which follows twice. See ch. 1 Corinthians 10:23. The limitations thus imposed on the actions which it is in our power to commit are three. First, the action must tend to our own benefit and that of others; next, the power to do a thing must not be held to involve us in any necessity of using that power, and lastly, the power, when used, must produce edification.

ἀλλ' οὐ πάντα συμφέρει. συμφέρω, lit. to bring together, means here to profit. Aristotle, Nic. Eth. VIII. 9, uses the word in connection with the pay of sailors, the booty or victory of soldiers, the mutual advantage of citizens, and the like. So the English word expedient (profitable, margin, spedeful, Wiclif) from ex and pes, signifies originally, the condition of one who has his feet free; and hence that which frees us from entanglements, helps us on, expedites us, as we are accustomed to say. Its opposite, that which entangles us, is similarly called an impediment. Cf. the word speed. The sense ‘that which is advisable for the sake of some personal advantage,’ ‘expedient’ as opposed to ‘on principle,’ is a more modern sense of the word. Hence the meaning here is profitable: i.e. for others as well as ourselves. Cf. ch. 1 Corinthians 7:35; 1 Corinthians 10:33, where the derivative of the verb here used is translated ‘profit.’ Robertson gives a valuable practical illustration of the principle here laid down, accepting, however, the translation ‘all things are lawful.’ ‘In the North on Sunday, men will not sound an instrument of music, or take a walk except to a place of worship. Suppose that an English Christian found himself in some Highland village, what would be his duty? “All things are lawful” for him. By the law of Christian liberty he is freed from bondage to meats and drinks, to holidays or Sabbath days; but if his use of this his Christian liberty should shock his brother Christians, or become an excuse for the less conscientious among them to follow his example, against the dictates of their own conscience, then it would be his Christian duty to abridge his own liberty, because the use of it would be inexpedient,’ or rather, unprofitable. See also ch. 1 Corinthians 14:31-33.

ἐξουσιασθήσομαι. Compare the use of the same Greek word in Luke 22:25, ‘exercise authority,’ and also in ch. 1 Corinthians 7:4.