1 Corinthians 10:27
New International Version
If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is put before you without raising questions of conscience.

New Living Translation
If someone who isn’t a believer asks you home for dinner, accept the invitation if you want to. Eat whatever is offered to you without raising questions of conscience.

English Standard Version
If one of the unbelievers invites you to dinner and you are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience.

Berean Standard Bible
If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat anything set before you without raising questions of conscience.

Berean Literal Bible
If anyone unbelieving invites you, and you wish to go, eat everything being set before you, inquiring nothing on account of conscience.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
If any of those who do not believe invites you to dinner, and you desire to go, eat whatever is set before you, asking no question for conscience’ sake.

New American Standard Bible
If one of the unbelievers invites you and you want to go, eat anything that is set before you without asking questions, for the sake of conscience.

NASB 1995
If one of the unbelievers invites you and you want to go, eat anything that is set before you without asking questions for conscience’ sake.

NASB 1977
If one of the unbelievers invites you, and you wish to go, eat anything that is set before you, without asking questions for conscience’ sake.

Legacy Standard Bible
If one of the unbelievers invites you and you want to go, eat anything that is set before you without asking questions for conscience’ sake.

Amplified Bible
If one of the unbelievers invites you [to a meal at his home] and you want to go, eat whatever is served to you without asking questions [about its source] for the sake of your conscience.

Christian Standard Bible
If any of the unbelievers invites you over and you want to go, eat everything that is set before you, without raising questions for the sake of conscience.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
If one of the unbelievers invites you over and you want to go, eat everything that is set before you, without raising questions of conscience.

American Standard Version
If one of them that believe not biddeth you to a feast, and ye are disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience' sake.

Contemporary English Version
If an unbeliever invites you to dinner, and you want to go, then go. Eat whatever you are served. Don't cause a problem for someone's conscience by asking where the food came from.

English Revised Version
If one of them that believe not biddeth you to a feast, and ye are disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
If an unbeliever invites you [to his house for dinner], and you wish to go, eat anything he serves you without letting your conscience trouble you.

Good News Translation
If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you decide to go, eat what is set before you, without asking any questions because of your conscience.

International Standard Version
If an unbeliever invites you to his house and you wish to go, eat whatever is set before you, raising no question on the grounds of conscience.

Majority Standard Bible
If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat anything set before you without raising questions of conscience.

NET Bible
If an unbeliever invites you to dinner and you want to go, eat whatever is served without asking questions of conscience.

New Heart English Bible
But if one of those who do not believe invites you to a meal, and you are inclined to go, eat whatever is set before you, asking no questions for the sake of conscience.

Webster's Bible Translation
If any of them that believe not invites you to a feast, and ye are disposed to go; whatever is set before you, eat, asking no question on account of conscience.

Weymouth New Testament
If an unbeliever gives you an invitation and you are disposed to accept it, eat whatever is put before you, and ask no questions for conscience' sake.

World English Bible
But if one of those who don’t believe invites you to a meal, and you are inclined to go, eat whatever is set before you, asking no questions for the sake of conscience.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and if anyone of the unbelieving calls you, and you wish to go, eat all that is set before you, inquiring nothing, because of the conscience;

Berean Literal Bible
If anyone unbelieving invites you, and you wish to go, eat everything being set before you, inquiring nothing on account of conscience.

Young's Literal Translation
and if any one of the unbelieving do call you, and ye wish to go, all that is set before you eat, nothing inquiring, because of the conscience;

Smith's Literal Translation
And if any one of the unbelieving call you, and ye wish to go; every thing set before you, eat, interrogating nothing through consciousness.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
If any of them that believe not, invite you, and you will be willing to go; eat of any thing that is set before you, asking no question for conscience' sake.

Catholic Public Domain Version
If you are invited by any unbelievers, and you are willing to go, you may eat whatever is set before you, without asking questions for the sake of conscience.

New American Bible
If an unbeliever invites you and you want to go, eat whatever is placed before you, without raising questions on grounds of conscience.

New Revised Standard Version
If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
If any pagan invite you, and you wish to go, whatever is set before you eat, without question for conscience sake.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
But if a man who is a pagan invites you and you wish to go, eat everything set before you without inquiry for the sake of conscience.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
If any one of the unbelievers invites you to a feast, and you are disposed to go, eat any thing that is set before you, asking no questions for conscience sake.

Godbey New Testament
If any one of the unbelievers invite you, and you wish to go; eat everything which is placed before you, asking no questions on account of conscience.

Haweis New Testament
And if any one of those, who do not believe, invite you, and ye incline to go, eat every thing set before you, asking no question for conscience sake.

Mace New Testament
if any of the unbelievers invite you to an entertainment, and you are disposed to go; whatever is set before you, eat, without asking any question out of a scruple of conscience.

Weymouth New Testament
If an unbeliever gives you an invitation and you are disposed to accept it, eat whatever is put before you, and ask no questions for conscience' sake.

Worrell New Testament
If one of the unbelieving invites you to a feast, and ye wish to go, whatsoever is set before you eat, asking no question because of conscience.

Worsley New Testament
and if any of the unbelievers invite you to an entertainment, and ye have a mind to go, whatever is set before you, eat, asking no questions for conscience-sake.
Audio Bible



Context
All to God's Glory
26for, “The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.” 27If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat anything set before you without raising questions of conscience. 28But if someone tells you, “This food was offered to idols,” then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who told you and for the sake of conscience—…

Cross References
Acts 10:28
He said to them, “You know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with a foreigner or visit him. But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean.

Acts 15:29
You must abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things. Farewell.

Romans 14:14-15
I am convinced and fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean. / If your brother is distressed by what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy your brother, for whom Christ died.

Romans 14:20-21
Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to let his eating be a stumbling block. / It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything to cause your brother to stumble.

1 Corinthians 8:7-13
But not everyone has this knowledge. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that they eat such food as if it were sacrificed to an idol. And since their conscience is weak, it is defiled. / But food does not bring us closer to God: We are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do. / Be careful, however, that your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak. ...

1 Corinthians 9:19-23
Though I am free of obligation to anyone, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. / To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), to win those under the law. / To those without the law I became like one without the law (though I am not outside the law of God but am under the law of Christ), to win those without the law. ...

1 Corinthians 10:23-24
“Everything is permissible,” but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible,” but not everything is edifying. / No one should seek his own good, but the good of others.

1 Corinthians 10:31-33
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God. / Do not become a stumbling block, whether to Jews or Greeks or the church of God— / as I also try to please everyone in all I do. For I am not seeking my own good, but the good of many, that they may be saved.

Galatians 2:11-14
When Cephas came to Antioch, however, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. / For before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself, for fear of those in the circumcision group. / The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray. ...

Colossians 2:16-17
Therefore let no one judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a feast, a New Moon, or a Sabbath. / These are a shadow of the things to come, but the body that casts it belongs to Christ.

1 Timothy 4:4-5
For every creation of God is good, and nothing that is received with thanksgiving should be rejected, / because it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

Genesis 18:1-8
Then the LORD appeared to Abraham by the Oaks of Mamre in the heat of the day, while he was sitting at the entrance of his tent. / And Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he ran from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground. / “My lord,” said Abraham, “if I have found favor in your sight, please do not pass your servant by. ...

Genesis 19:1-3
Now the two angels arrived at Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gateway of the city. When Lot saw them, he got up to meet them, bowed facedown, / and said, “My lords, please turn aside into the house of your servant; wash your feet and spend the night. Then you can rise early and go on your way.” “No,” they answered, “we will spend the night in the square.” / But Lot insisted so strongly that they followed him into his house. He prepared a feast for them and baked unleavened bread, and they ate.

Exodus 12:43-49
And the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “This is the statute of the Passover: No foreigner is to eat of it. / But any slave who has been purchased may eat of it, after you have circumcised him. / A temporary resident or hired hand shall not eat the Passover. ...

Leviticus 11:1-47
The LORD spoke again to Moses and Aaron, telling them, / “Say to the Israelites, ‘Of all the beasts of the earth, these ones you may eat: / You may eat any animal that has a split hoof completely divided and that chews the cud. ...


Treasury of Scripture

If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and you be disposed to go; whatever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake.

bid.

1 Corinthians 5:9-11
I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: …

Luke 5:29,30
And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great company of publicans and of others that sat down with them…

Luke 15:23
And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:

whatsoever.

Luke 10:7
And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house.

for.

1 Corinthians 10:25
Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake:

2 Corinthians 1:13
For we write none other things unto you, than what ye read or acknowledge; and I trust ye shall acknowledge even to the end;

2 Corinthians 4:2
But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.

Jump to Previous
Account Believe Bid Biddeth Conscience Dinner Disposed Eat Feast Gentile Gives Guest Inclined Inquiry Invitation Invite Invites Makes Making Meal Minded Pleased Question Questions Right Sake Unbeliever Unbelievers Whatever Whatsoever
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Account Believe Bid Biddeth Conscience Dinner Disposed Eat Feast Gentile Gives Guest Inclined Inquiry Invitation Invite Invites Makes Making Meal Minded Pleased Question Questions Right Sake Unbeliever Unbelievers Whatever Whatsoever
1 Corinthians 10
1. The sacraments of the Jews are types of ours;
7. and their punishments,
11. examples for us.
13. We must flee from idolatry.
21. We must not make the Lord's table the table of demons;
24. and in all things we must have regard for our brothers.














If an unbeliever invites you
The phrase begins with a conditional "if," indicating a situation that may or may not occur. The term "unbeliever" refers to someone who does not share the Christian faith. In the early church, Christians often interacted with non-believers, and this phrase suggests a scenario of social engagement. Historically, Corinth was a diverse city with a mix of cultures and religions, making such interactions common. The Greek word for "invites" (καλέω, kaleo) implies a calling or summoning, suggesting a personal and intentional invitation, highlighting the importance of relationships and witness in the Christian life.

to a meal
Sharing a meal in ancient times was a significant act of fellowship and community. Meals were not just about sustenance but were social events that often included discussions and the sharing of ideas. In the context of Corinth, meals could also involve food offered to idols, which was a concern for early Christians. The Greek term for "meal" (δεῖπνον, deipnon) often referred to the main meal of the day, indicating a more formal and significant gathering.

and you want to go
This phrase acknowledges personal desire and freedom. The Greek word for "want" (θέλω, thelo) conveys a sense of will or intention. Paul recognizes the believer's autonomy in deciding whether to accept the invitation, emphasizing that Christian liberty allows for personal choice in matters not explicitly addressed by doctrine. This reflects the broader biblical principle of freedom in Christ, balanced with responsibility and discernment.

eat anything set before you
Here, Paul advises believers to partake in the meal without hesitation. The phrase "eat anything" suggests a freedom from dietary laws or restrictions, which was a significant shift from Jewish customs. The Greek word for "eat" (ἐσθίω, esthio) is straightforward, but the context implies a broader acceptance of cultural differences. This instruction aligns with the teaching that "the earth is the Lord's, and everything in it" (1 Corinthians 10:26), affirming that all food is clean for those in Christ.

without raising questions of conscience
The term "conscience" (συνείδησις, syneidēsis) refers to the inner sense of right and wrong. Paul advises against overanalyzing the situation, which could lead to unnecessary guilt or division. The historical context involved concerns about food sacrificed to idols, which could trouble a believer's conscience. By advising not to raise questions, Paul emphasizes the importance of maintaining peace and unity, trusting in God's sovereignty over all creation. This guidance encourages believers to focus on the relational aspect of the meal rather than potential religious or cultural conflicts.

(27) If any of them that believe not. . . .--How should a Christian act if a heathen friend invited him to a feast? Should he inquire whether there was any sacrificial meat at the feast, and so avoid eating it? No. The same principle applies here--no question need be asked.

Verse 27. - Bid you to a feast. It is assumed that the feast is to take place in a private house, not an idol temple (1 Corinthians 8:10). Ye be disposed to go; rather, ye wish to go, with an emphasis on the "wish," which, as Grotius says, perhaps implies that the wish is not particularly commendable, although the apostle, in his large-hearted tolerance, does not actually blame it. The rabbis decided very differently. "If," said Rabbi Ishmael, "an idolater makes a feast in honour of his son, and invites all the Jews of his town, they eat of the sacrifices of the dead, even though they eat and drink of their own" ('Avodah Zarah,' fol. 18, 1). There are many passages of the Talmud which raise the suspicion that the rabbis are purposely running counter to the teaching of the New Testament.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
If
Εἴ (Ei)
Conjunction
Strong's 1487: If. A primary particle of conditionality; if, whether, that, etc.

an
τις (tis)
Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5100: Any one, some one, a certain one or thing. An enclitic indefinite pronoun; some or any person or object.

unbeliever
ἀπίστων (apistōn)
Adjective - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 571: (passively) untrustworthy (person), or incredible (thing).

invites
καλεῖ (kalei)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2564: (a) I call, summon, invite, (b) I call, name. Akin to the base of keleuo; to 'call'.

you {to a meal}
ὑμᾶς (hymas)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

you want
θέλετε (thelete)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 2309: To will, wish, desire, be willing, intend, design.

to go,
πορεύεσθαι (poreuesthai)
Verb - Present Infinitive Middle or Passive
Strong's 4198: To travel, journey, go, die.

eat
ἐσθίετε (esthiete)
Verb - Present Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 2068: Strengthened for a primary edo; used only in certain tenses, the rest being supplied by phago; to eat.

anything
πᾶν (pan)
Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3956: All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole.

set before
παρατιθέμενον (paratithemenon)
Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3908: From para and tithemi; to place alongside, i.e. Present; by implication, to deposit.

you
ὑμῖν (hymin)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

without
μηδὲν (mēden)
Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3367: No one, none, nothing.

raising questions
ἀνακρίνοντες (anakrinontes)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 350: From ana and krino; properly, to scrutinize, i.e. investigate, interrogate, determine.

of
διὰ (dia)
Preposition
Strong's 1223: A primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through.

conscience.
συνείδησιν (syneidēsin)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 4893: The conscience, a persisting notion. From a prolonged form of suneido; co-perception, i.e. Moral consciousness.


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NT Letters: 1 Corinthians 10:27 But if one of those who don't (1 Cor. 1C iC 1Cor i cor icor)
1 Corinthians 10:26
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