John Calvin Commentary 1 Corinthians 6:12

"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." — 1 Corinthians 6:12 (ASV)

All things are lawful for me. Interpreters work hard to discern the connection of these things, as they appear to be somewhat unrelated to the Apostle's purpose. As for me, without mentioning the different interpretations, I will state what, in my opinion, is the most satisfactory explanation.

It is probable that the Corinthians, even at that time, retained much of their former licentiousness and still had a lingering trace of their city's morals. Now, when vices spread openly without punishment, custom is regarded as law, and then vain pretexts are sought as excuses. An example of this is their resorting to the pretext of Christian liberty, making almost everything permissible for themselves to do. They reveled in excessive luxury. With this, as usual, much pride was mixed. Since it was an outward matter, they did not think any sin was involved in it. Indeed, it appears from Paul’s words that they abused liberty so much as to extend it even to fornication. Therefore, most appropriately, after having spoken of their vices, he now discusses those shameful excuses with which they justified their outward sins.

It is indeed certain that he is dealing here with outward things, which God has left to the free choice of believers. However, by using a term that expresses universality, he either indirectly rebukes their unrestrained licentiousness or praises God’s boundless generosity, which is our best guide to moderation. For it is a sign of excessive licentiousness when people do not willingly restrict themselves and set their own limits amidst such great abundance.

And in the first place, he limits liberty with two exceptions; and secondly, he warns them that it by no means extends to fornication. These words, All things are lawful for me, must be understood as spoken on behalf of the Corinthians, κατ’ ἀνθυποφορὰν (by anticipation), as if he were saying, 'I am aware of the reply you usually make when you want to avoid being corrected for outward vices. You claim that all things are lawful for you, without any reservation or limit.'

But all things are not expedient. Here we have the first exception, by which he restricts the use of liberty: they must not abandon themselves to licentiousness, because consideration must be given to edification. The meaning is: It is not enough that this or that is permitted for us to use indiscriminately, for we must consider what is beneficial to our brothers and sisters, whose edification we ought to pursue. For as he will afterwards point out at greater length (1 Corinthians 10:23–24), and as he has already shown in Romans 14:13 and following, everyone has inward liberty before God on this condition: that all must restrict the use of their liberty for the sake of mutual edification.

I will not be brought under the power of anything. Here we have a second restriction: that we are established as lords of all things in such a way that we ought not to bring ourselves into bondage to anything, as those do who cannot control their appetites. For I understand the word τινος (any) to be in the neuter gender, and I take it as referring not to persons but to things, so that the meaning is this: We are lords of all things; only we must not abuse that lordship in such a way as to suffer a most miserable bondage, being, through intemperance and inordinate lusts, subject to outward things that ought to be subject to us. And certainly, the excessive sullenness of those who begrudge yielding anything for the sake of their brothers and sisters has this effect: they unwisely place nooses of necessity around their own necks.