What does 1 Corinthians 6:12 mean?

All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. 1 Corinthians 6:12

Explanation

1 Corinthians 6:12 introduces an interesting tension between freedom and discipline for the Christian believer. On the surface, the verse seems to suggest that all actions are permissible (“all things are lawful unto me”). However, the Apostle Paul quickly qualifies this statement by suggesting that not everything is beneficial or constructive (“but all things are not expedient”). The second half of the verse raises a concern about the power of habits or potential addictions over an individual’s life (“but I will not be brought under the power of any”). This verse is calling for a thoughtful reflection on one’s behaviors and decisions, suggesting that the mere permissibility of an action doesn’t mean it is the best choice for a Christian living within the freedom given by Christ.

Historical Context

This verse is part of Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, a community of early Christians living in the Greek city of Corinth during the first century AD. Corinth was known for its wealth, its bustling trade, its diverse population, and its reputation for moral laxity. The Corinthian church was experiencing a number of issues, including interpersonal conflicts, misunderstandings about Christian freedom, and struggles with the surrounding pagan culture. Paul wrote this letter to address these issues and to offer guidance on how to live as Christians in a non-Christian society. In particular, this verse is part of a broader discussion about sexual immorality and how Christians are to honor God with their bodies.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, 1 Corinthians 6:12 presents several key insights:

• Christian Liberty and Responsibility: This verse highlights the balance between Christian liberty (freedom from the law’s condemnation) and personal responsibility (wise decision-making).
• Moral Discernment: There is an encouragement for believers to cultivate discernment when it comes to permissible actions, pushing them to consider the ultimate benefit and consequences of their choices.
• Mastery Over Self: It warns against allowing lawful things to gain a mastery over one’s life, hinting at the dangers of addiction or behavior that controls an individual.

Views among theologians vary, often hinging on how they understand Christian freedom and the expression of that freedom in everyday life, especially within contemporary societal norms.

Practical Applications

This verse challenges individuals to question their actions and to weigh the consequences of what they consider permissible. It applies to various aspects of daily life, including:

• Personal Habits: Assessing which habits control or negatively impact one’s life and the lives of others.
• Decision Making: Making choices that look beyond immediate gratification to long-term benefits and impact on one’s witness as a Christian.
• Freedom and Love: Using one’s freedom not to indulge in self-serving behaviors but to serve others in love, following the example of Christ.

Cross-References

• Galatians 5:13 – “For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.”
• Romans 14:21 – “It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor anything whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.”
• 1 Corinthians 10:23 – “All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things are not edify.”

Language Study

The key terms in 1 Corinthians 6:12 in the original Greek include:

• Expedient (συμφέρει, sympherei): Conveys the idea of bringing together for good; that is, profitable, beneficial, or advantageous.
• Lawful (ἔξεστιν, exestin): Permitted or not forbidden. In this context, it suggests a broad allowance or permission.
• Brought under the power (κυριεύσεται, kyrieusetai): To exercise lordship or dominate. Paul’s concern is the potential domination of any habit or practice over one’s life.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The concept of balancing freedom with responsibility is found in many cultural and religious traditions. For example, Buddhism’s Noble Eightfold Path advises right action as a way to live responsibly. Stoicism, a philosophical school contemporary with Paul, emphasized self-control and wisdom in action. These traditions, while different in beliefs, also touch upon similar ideas of not allowing oneself to be overpowered by passions or desires.

Scientific Perspectives

Modern psychology and neuroscience often discuss the concepts of habits, addiction, and self-control, which can be related to Paul’s concern about not being “brought under the power of any.” These disciplines study how repeated behaviors can create neural pathways that might make certain actions more automatic and potentially harder to break, paralleling the biblical caution against behaviors that control the individual.

Commentaries

• Matthew Henry’s Commentary: Henry suggests Paul is addressing the arguments some Corinthians were using to justify their actions. He points out that Paul refutes their arguments by showing that not everything is beneficial and that no action should enslave a person.
• John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible: Gill notes that the phrase “all things are lawful for me” was a saying used by the Corinthians to justify indulgences, to which Paul adds a caveat about expediency and power over the body.
• The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: This commentary highlights the need to keep one’s personal freedom in check by considering the greater good of oneself and others within the community of believers.