1 Corinthians 6:12

Πάντα μοι ἔξεστιν stands twice here, and twice in 1 Corinthians 10:23; P. harps on the saying in a way to indicate that it was a watchword with some Cor [965] party perhaps amongst both Paulinists and Apollonians; his μοι endorses the declaration (cf. 1 Corinthians 8:8 f., 1 Corinthians 10:23 ff., Romans 14:14; Romans 14:20). Very likely it had been quoted in the Church Letter. This sentence, like those of 1Co 2:14, 1 Corinthians 3:21; 1 Corinthians 4:1 (see notes), recalls the attributes of the Stoic ideal σοφός, to whom it belongs ἐξεῖναι ὡς βουλόμεθα διεξάγειν (Arr.-Epict., II., i., 21 28; see Hn [966] ad loc [967]). ἀλλʼ οὐ πάντα συμφέρει : “Yes, but not all things are advantageous”. Συμφέρει (conducunt) signifies contributing to some one's benefit here one's own, in 1 Corinthians 10:24 one's neighbour's. Parl. to the former ἀλλʼ οὐ, is ἀλλʼ οὐκ ἐγὼ ἐξουσιασθήσομαι κ. τ. λ.: “All things are in my domain; yes, but I will not be dominated by anything”. That is “unprofitable” to a man which “gets the mastery” over him. “Such and such a thing is in my power; I will take care that it does not get me into its power. I will never by abuse of my liberty forfeit that liberty in its noblest part.” This gives the self-regarding, as 1 Corinthians 10:23 f. the other-regarding rule of Christian temperance in the use of things lawful. Cf. the instructive chapter Περὶ ἐλευθερίας in Arr.-Epict., IV., i., For the play on ἔξεστιν, cf. 1 Corinthians 2:15. The emphatic οὐκ ἐγὼ is the jealous self-assertion of the spiritual freeman, fearful of falling again under the dominion of the flesh: cf. 1 Corinthians 9:26 f., Galatians 5:13; Galatians 5:16.

[965] Corinth, Corinthian or Corinthians.

[966] C. F. G. Heinrici's Erklärung der Korintherbriefe (1880), or 1 Korinther in Meyer's krit.-exegetisches Kommentar (1896).

[967] ad locum, on this passage.