1 Corinthians 6:12 - An Understandable Version (2005 edition)

¹² “Everything is permissible for me [to do];” but not everything is profitable. [Note: The words in quote marks in this and the following verse are thought to have been commonly held views of that day, to which Paul gives an inspired reply]. “Everything is permissible for me [to do];” but I will not be ruled by anything.

More versions

King James Version (Oxford) 1769

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.

Amplified Bible - Classic Edition

¹² Everything is permissible (allowable and lawful) for me; but not all things are helpful (good for me to do, expedient and profitable when considered with other things). Everything is lawful for me, but I will not become the slave of anything or be brought under its power.

American Standard Version (1901)

¹² All things are lawful for me; but not all things are expedient. All things are lawful for me; but I will not be brought under the power of any.

Common English Bible

¹² I have the freedom to do anything, but not everything is helpful. I have the freedom to do anything, but I won’t be controlled by anything.

Catholic Public Domain Version

¹² All is lawful to me, but not all is expedient. All is lawful to me, but I will not be driven back by the authority of anyone.

1 Corinthians 6:12 Cross References

John 5:10

So, the Jews said to the man who was healed, “It is not permissible for you to pick up your cot because it is the Sabbath day.”

Romans 7:14

For we know that the Law of Moses is spiritual [i.e., from the Holy Spirit in origin and character], but I am fleshly, sold as a slave to sin. [Note: “Flesh” throughout this section refers to a person’s natural inclinations to sin].

1 Corinthians 8:4

Now concerning [the matter of] eating foods [once] offered as sacrifices to idols, we know that an idol is [really] nothing in the world [at all], and that there is only one God.

1 Corinthians 9:12

If other people have the right to receive a share of what you have, should we not have even more [right to it]? Yet we did not make use of this right, but instead we put up with whatever we had to so we would not become a hindrance to [the spread of] the good news [about Christ].

1 Corinthians 9:27

But I work out and get my body in shape [i.e., spiritually], so that after preaching to other people, I myself do not become disqualified [i.e., for winning the prize from God. See verse 24].

2 Thessalonians 3:9

[We did this], not because we did not have a right [to support], but so we could become an example for you to imitate.

Jude 1:12

These people are like rotten spots [contaminating the food] at your love feasts, while they gorge themselves without fear [i.e., unashamed of their selfish indulgence]. [Note: This passage may mean “like selfish shepherds, looking out only for themselves,” even eating the grain set out for the animals]. They are like clouds that blow over without producing rain; [they are like] trees in the fall that do not produce any fruit and have been uprooted, [thus] being dead twice [i.e., fruitless and rootless].