“All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything.
12. All things are lawful for me. Interpreters labor hard to make out the connection of these things, “A le conioindre avec ce qui a este dit auparauant;” — “To connect it with what has been said before.” as they appear to be somewhat foreign to the Apostle’s design. For my own part, without mentioning the different interpretations, I shall state what, in my opinion, is the most satisfactory.
The twelfth verse and former part of the thirteenth seem to relate to that early dispute among Christians about the distinction of meats, and yet to be prefatory to the caution that follows against fornication. The connection seems plain enough if we attend to the famous determination of the apostles, Acts 15, where the prohibition of certain foods was joined with that of fornication.
Commenting on 1 Corinthians 6:12-20
All things are lawful unto me,.... That is, which are of an indifferent nature; otherwise everything is not lawful to be done: but all things are not expedient; when the doing of them destroys the peace, comfort, and edification of others; when it stumbles and grieves weak minds, and causes offence to them; see Co1 10:23 all things are lawful for me; which is repeated...