1 Corinthians 10:31
Bible Verses. Also called 1 Cor 10:31, 1 Corinthians 10.31, Whether ye eat, or drink, Do all to the glory of God.
Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
Scripture quotation from the King James Version (KJV). Read this chapter
1 Corinthians 10:31 reads, "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God" (KJV). As a proof text for the first question of the Westminster Shorter Catechism, it serves almost as a motto of the Reformed faith and is widely cited as a passage on the holiness of everyday life and work.
About this articleAI draft from a Korean source. Notes on Korean Protestant practice. No sources listed. Not yet reviewed by a person.
- Origin
Drafted by AI from the Korean church.wiki article, then translated and adapted for English readers on 5 November 2026.
- Perspective
Includes notes on Korean Protestant practice; other traditions are noted where they differ.
- Sources
None listed yet. The article draws on the biblical text and general reference works. Add a source
- Review
Not yet reviewed by a person. Last edited by a person: never. Translation updated 5 November 2026. Edit history
Context
First Corinthians 8–10 addresses whether it is permissible to eat meat offered to idols. Paul states that an idol is nothing and that the meat itself is therefore not the problem, yet he insists that believers must not cause a brother who is weak in faith to stumble. Meat sold in the market may be eaten without asking questions, but if someone points out, "This is offered in sacrifice unto idols," one should abstain for the sake of that person's conscience (vv. 25–29). Verse 31 concludes this lengthy discussion, and verses 32–33 continue with the exhortation to give no offense to the Jews, the Gentiles, or the church of God.
Interpretation
- As the holiness of all of daily life: This reading takes the verse to mean that even ordinary acts such as eating and drinking can be done for the glory of God. The Reformation tradition used it as a basis for the doctrine of vocation, which moves beyond the distinction between sacred and secular callings. It is one of the proof texts for the first question of the Westminster Shorter Catechism ("Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him for ever").
- As freedom exercised for one's neighbor: Reading the verse closely within its context, this interpretation holds that God's glory is displayed not in asserting one's own freedom but in seeking the good of others (10:24, 33). On this view, the verse is a principle of communal ethics and not merely of personal piety.
Questions of Application
The verse is cited as a criterion in matters where Christian liberty and self-restraint come into tension, such as alcohol and tobacco, eating food at ancestral rites and memorial services, and participation in cultural activities. The same verse is invoked both as grounds for broadening liberty and as grounds for urging restraint.
Perspective: Korean Protestant practiceHow this idea is used in Korean churches, kept from the original Korean article.
In Korean Protestant churches, the verse is used as a motto by church cafeterias, workplace Christian fellowships, and Christian-owned businesses, and it is often presented alongside the Latin phrase Soli Deo Gloria ("to God alone be the glory").
Related Passages
See also 5
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