1 Corinthians 10:27Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Again, note his condescension. He does not command or prescribe that they go, but neither does he forbid it. He frees those who go from every suspicion. Why? So that excessive caution may not appear to be a matter of fear and alarm. The one who inquires does so from fear. But the one who abstains after learning the matter abstains from aversion, contempt, and loathing. Therefore Paul, wishing to arrange both matters, says, “Eat whatever is set before you... But if anyone says to you, ‘This has been sacrificed to idols,’ do not eat it for the sake of the one who informed you” (1 Cor 10:27-28). He commands abstinence from idol-sacrifices not as though they possessed power, but as things worthy of loathing. Avoid what has been sacrificed to idols, he says, not because it can cause harm.

He rightly said, “if you wish,” for he himself wished neither to advise nor to dissuade. Make no inquiry at all, lest by excessive care you show fear before idols, and so that you may preserve your conscience pure and undisturbed.

If one of the unbelievers invites you to dine, and you wish to go, then eat whatever is set before you because of hunger. Ask no one questions for conscience’ sake, lest it become weak.

The Apostle neither commanded nor forbade the invited person to go. He left what to do to the authority of the one invited, because it would be impossible to catch the unbelievers if intercourse with them were cut off.

Therefore one should take part in such feasts rarely and only under pressing need. “If one of the unbelievers invites us and we decide to go,” the Apostle commands us to eat whatever is set before us. One should not altogether refuse a variety of dishes, but neither should one be overly concerned about them.

The Apostle neither forbids nor commands going to meals with pagans, though not in temples. He leaves this to the freedom of the one invited. For, as blessed Theodoret notes, “it would be impossible to catch the unbelievers if intercourse with them were cut off.”

At that time it was impossible to avoid completely the use of what had been sacrificed to idols. Therefore the Apostle gives certain particular directions, first setting forth general rules. In all things one must seek what is profitable, and especially not one’s own personal profit, but the neighbor’s. According to Blessed Theophylact’s explanation, the Apostle is, as it were, saying to Christians: “Do not look only at the fact that you eat with a pure conscience. Look especially at whether this edifies your neighbor.” But such edification could not be expected from eating idol-sacrifices in public places. Therefore one may say that the Apostle positively forbids eating idol-sacrifices in temples.

Another case is when one of the Gentiles invites someone to dinner, for they had the custom of taking portions from sacrifices and bringing them home. What should be done here? Here also the rule is the same: “Eat whatever is set before you, asking no question, for conscience’ sake.” That is, eat according to the same conviction that every creature of God is good. Do not even allow the thought that anything there has been sacrificed to idols. Ask no question, in simplicity of mind. The Apostle neither forbids nor commands going to dinners with Gentiles. He leaves this to the freedom of the one invited.