1 Corinthians 6:12-20

The guilt of the Fornicator

12. All things are lawful unto me In this and the next two verses the main argument of the rest of the Epistle is sketched out, though not in the order afterwards followed by the Apostle. At present he takes them in the order of their importance. First he touches on the comparatively unimportant question of the distinction of meats, treated of at length in ch. 8, 10. Then he alludes to the relations of the sexes, the subject of ch. 1 Corinthians 6:12 to 1 Corinthians 7:40. And lastly he speaks of the great doctrine of the Resurrection, which stands in a close practical relation to the two former, and which is dealt with in ch. 15. The words in this verse appear to have become a watchword with some among the Corinthian Christians. Starting from the doctrine of Christian liberty taught by Christ (St John 8:32; John 8:36), and proclaimed with one mouth by His Apostles (Romans 8:2; James 2:12; 1 Peter 2:16), they declared that the Christian was bound to a -service" which was -perfect freedom." St Paul accepts the principle, but with limitations. No actions were in themselvesunlawful, he was ready to admit, provided (1) that they were in accordance with God's design in creation; (2) that they were calculated to promote the general welfare of mankind; and (3) that we were masters of our actions, not they of us. Bengel well remarks: "Sæpe Paulus prima persona eloquitur quæ vim habent gnomes in hac præsertim epistola. 1 Corinthians 6:15; 1 Corinthians 10:23; 1Co 10:29-30, 1 Corinthians 14:11," and throughout Romans 7.

but all things are not expedient The word expedient (profitable, margin, spedeful, Wiclif) from exand pes, signifies originally, the condition of one who has his feet free; and hence that which frees us from entanglements, helps us on, expeditesus, 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 what is based 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. "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, againstthe 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. Cf. 1 Corinthians 14:26-32.

brought under the power of any Compare the use of the same Greek word in St Luke 22:25, -exercise authority," and also in ch. 1 Corinthians 7:4.