1 Corinthians 6:12
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 (KJV)
Context
The Apostle Paul wrote 1 Corinthians to address divisions and moral failures in the Corinthian church. In chapter 6, he confronts believers who were taking one another to court and tolerating sexual immorality. This verse sits within that larger appeal for the church to honor God with their bodies, which Paul develops in the following verses about the body as the temple of the Holy Spirit.
Meaning
“All things are lawful unto me” was a popular slogan in Corinth, likely used to justify indulgent behavior. Paul quotes it, but he does not agree that every action is morally permissible. He grants that some things are not explicitly forbidden by the law, yet he immediately adds that “all things are not expedient.” The Greek word translated “expedient” (sympherei) means to bring together or to profit, so Paul is asking whether an action builds up and benefits others. A permissible act may still be unhelpful for spiritual growth or for the well-being of fellow believers.
Paul then declares, “I will not be brought under the power of any.” He refuses to let any habit, desire, or practice dominate him. Christian freedom is not an invitation to slavery; it is the liberty to serve God and others. The believer is to be governed by the Holy Spirit and the principles of God’s Word, not by appetites or addictions.
Application
This verse challenges us to examine our actions and motivations. We are free in Christ, but that freedom is not a license to sin. We should ask whether a choice is beneficial for our spiritual growth and for others, and whether it threatens to control us. Self-control and dependence on the Holy Spirit guard us from being enslaved to anything other than the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
Reflection
1 Corinthians 6:12 reminds us that not everything permissible is profitable. True Christian liberty is expressed in discernment, love, and a disciplined life that honors God.
