If: Christians very probably received such invitations in Corinth.

One of the unbelievers: see comments on 6.6; 7.12-15. Paul means “those who do not believe in Christ,” or perhaps more narrowly “pagans,” excluding Jews. The word is not used here as an insult. Paul is merely stating a fact.

To dinner is not in the text but is clearly implied by verse 27b.

You are disposed is literally “you want,” but this can be misunderstood as suggesting that the Corinthian Christians did not go to such meals. This is not Paul’s intention.

It will be unnatural in some languages to put the two verbs go, eat together like this. In such a case, one may say “go, you should eat.”

Whatever is set before you may be rephrased as “the food that they give to you” or “whatever they put on the table.”

For without raising … of conscience, see comments on verse 25.

On the translation of conscience see 4.4; 8.7, and elsewhere.

Quoted with permission from Ellingworth, Paul and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians, 2nd edition. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1985/1994. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .