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. 13 Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body. 14 And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power. 15 Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid. 16 What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh. 17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. 18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. 19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s. (1 Corinthians 6:12-20 KJV)
Glorify God in Body and Spirit
The twelfth verse and the first part of the thirteenth seem to touch on an early Christian debate about food restrictions, while also introducing a warning against fornication. The connection becomes clearer when we remember the apostles’ decision in Acts 15, where they paired dietary rules with a prohibition against sexual immorality. Some among the Corinthians appeared to believe that they had the same freedom regarding fornication as they did concerning food—especially since fornication was not considered a crime under their civil laws. They were saying, even in defense of such sin, “All things are lawful for me.”
Paul strongly refutes this dangerous idea. He reminds them that while something might be lawful in itself, it may not be beneficial in every situation. Christians must think beyond legality and consider what is appropriate given their faith, character, relationships, and eternal calling. Paul emphasizes that he would not let anything—even something technically permitted—gain control over him (1 Corinthians 6:12). Even when something is lawful, believers must not become slaves to it, whether through the manipulation of others or their own fleshly desires.
Though all kinds of food might be lawful, Paul would not allow himself to fall into gluttony or drunkenness. And even more so, he would never use this idea of liberty to justify fornication. Though Corinthian civil law allowed such behavior, it violated natural law and was entirely unworthy of a Christian. He would never twist the principle of Christian freedom into an excuse for indulgence or immoral behavior.