Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

1 Corinthians 10:28

ἱερόθυτον. אAB Peshito. Rec. εἰδωλόθυτον with CDEFG Vulg. The latter has the appearance of an accommodation to the feelings of a later age. See note below.

[τοῦ γὰρ κυρίου ἡ γῆ καὶ τὸ πλήρωμα αὐτῆς] at end of verse. Omit אABCDEFG Vetus Lat. Vulg. Peshito.

28. ἐὰν δέ τις, i.e. if (1) one of your fellow-guests should display scruples of conscience, or (2) a heathen should be likely to draw the inference that you approved of idol worship. ‘This altogether alters the case. You are no longer simply eating with thankfulness the food set before you as the gift of God. The question of idolatrous worship is now introduced. If your own conscience would permit you to eat, you have to consider whether your conduct might lead another to suppose that you regarded participation in the worship of idols as permissible to a Christian.’ ἐάν here implies a case not so likely to happen as the invitation imagined in 1 Corinthians 10:27, which εἰ and the pres. indic. mark as an extremely probable supposition. ‘If any one asks you … but if any one should say.’

ἱερόθυτον. The word which a heathen would use. He would be certain not to say εἰδωλόθυτον. It was the failure to see this which led to the rec. reading. See Critical Note.

καὶ τὴν συνείδησιν. In this case it is another man’s conscience, not our own, which is meant, as is explained in 1 Corinthians 10:29.

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Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

1 Corinthians 10:28

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