complete verse (1 Corinthians 6:12)

Following are a number of back-translations of 1 Corinthians 6:12:

  • Uma: “Some of you say: ‘ Since God has freed us from the punishment of our sins, we can do what we want.’ That is true, but I [emphatic] say: if we do what we want, not everything will be useful/beneficial to/for us. I can do what I want, but I don’t want to be under the control of [lit., caused to be under] anything.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Now, this is about the desires of our (dual) body. Perhaps there is/are (some) there who say, ‘I can do anything I want to if only I don’t break the law.’ That is true, but not all you (pl.) wish/want to do causes-good to you (pl.). If I say, ‘I can do anything I want to,’ that is true, but I don’t want to become addicted to my doing.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And if there’s someone who says that as for us (incl.) believers, it’s possible for us to do anything as long as it’s not bad, because we are free from obeying the law, now that’s really true. However, there are many kinds of activity that don’t help us in our faith. For even if it is possible that I can do anything I want to, I will not permit that I become a slave of any kind of activity.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “There are those among you who are saying, ‘I am at-liberty to do whatever I want.’ It’s true granted that we are at-liberty, but all that we do doesn’t lead to our betterment. And as for me, even though something isn’t prohibited, I will still not do it if I will be enslaved by that-aforementioned-thing that I would do.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Well, someone might be saying, ‘It’s possible/acceptable for us to do anything at all, provided it hasn’t been forbidden by God.’ Admittedly so, but not all things are for our benefit. And even though it is true that we can do whatever we want to do that the Lord hasn’t forbidden, we need to be careful that there is no habit that we overly value, which is like enslaving us.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Now, we are not ruled by the law which the Jews walk by. Now we are able to do what we want. But always let us control ourselves so that we will not do what is not proper.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on 1 Corinthians 6:12

Commentators agree that the clause All things are lawful to me was a slogan used in Corinth at that time. It is repeated in 10.23, where the Greek is the same except that the phrase for me is omitted.

Good News Bible adds the phrases “Someone will say” and “I could say” to show that these clauses in quotes are familiar to the Christians in Corinth. Translators in other languages may find it helpful to add these phrases too.

Are lawful for me: the Greek verb means “it is allowed” and therefore does not raise the question of who gives the permission. Clearly Paul is not thinking of the Old Testament Law. Probably the people who misused this saying thought that because the body did not matter, they could do anything they liked with it. All things are lawful for me may also be expressed as “It is permissible for me to do anything” or “There is no law against anything that I want to do.”

Good News Bible‘s rendering “Yes” is implicit in the Greek; it is added to strengthen the contrast expressed by “but.” “For you” is also added by Good News Bible. “For us” would be an alternative; for example, “but not all things are helpful (or, good) for us.” Another possibility is “for my good.” The last part of the verse but I will not be enslaved by anything explains not all things are helpful. The Greek word for I is emphatic and implies “I, for one,” that is, Paul in contrast to some of his readers in Corinth. Are helpful can be rendered “are appropriate” or “are to one’s advantage.” The same Greek impersonal verb is used in 10.23; 2 Cor 8.10; and a related adjective is used in 1 Cor 12.7; 2 Cor 12.1.

Be enslaved by anything: the verb that is translated be enslaved is used twice in the active voice in 7.4, where it is translated “rule over.” Underlying this verse and the following ones is the contrast between the false freedom of the slogan All things are lawful for me and true Christian freedom.

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 .

SIL Translator’s Notes on 1 Corinthians 6:12

Section 6:12–20

Believers must live pure lives because they belong to the Lord

6:12a “Everything is permissible for me,”

⌊Someone has said:⌋ “I am permitted to do anything.”
-or-
⌊It has been said:⌋ “I am allowed to do whatever I want.”
-or-
Some of you like to quote this teaching/saying: “We (incl.) can do/be anything we choose.”

6:12b but not everything is beneficial.

Some things, however, are not useful/helpful.
-or-

⌊Well, yes.⌋ But that does not mean that everything is good/helpful ⌊for you/us (incl.)⌋.
-or-

⌊In one sense that may be true,⌋ but some things have no value/profit/advantage.

6:12c “Everything is permissible for me,”

“I am permitted to do anything,” yes,
-or-

⌊Someone has said:⌋ “I am allowed to do whatever I want,”
-or-

⌊You say that⌋ we (incl.) are free to do anything we want/choose to do,

6:12d but I will not be mastered by anything.

but I will not let anything be my boss/master.
-or-
but I will not become a slave to anything.
-or-
but I refuse to allow anything to control me.

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