Michael's Abbey Bible Study - 1 Corinthians Chapter 10

1 For I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea; Continuing his exhortation for Christians to exercise self-control in chapter 9, Paul gave examples from scripture of what happened when God's people failed to do so in the past. He wrote in a way that assumed the Corinthians were aware of these scriptures in the Old Testament. However, he was pointing out that these scriptures have significance to their lives that they may not have realized before.
Brethren could be translated as brothers and sisters. And by referring to the Israelites as "our" fathers Paul emphasized that the gentiles were adopted into the family of God through Christ.
The cloud refers to the pillar of cloud that God used to lead the Israelites during the Exodus. The poetic language of being "under the cloud" is a reference to Psalm 105 which is about the Exodus, specifically how God's wonders brought them out of Egypt to the promised land. Most significant about this reference is that it states God's purpose for doing this was "so that they might keep His statutes and observe His laws". This reinforces Paul's call for self-control among Christians. Passed through the sea refers to passing through the Red Sea which is symbolic of leaving the pagan life of Egypt behind and heading for the promised land of God. This is a parallel to the symbolism of Christian baptism where the old life is buried and the Christian emerges from the water a new person.
2 and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea; Just as the Israelites were baptized into Moses, specifically the Law of Moses, in the cloud and sea we are baptized into our new Christian life.
3 and all ate the same spiritual food; 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ. The Israelites were miraculously fed by manna from heaven, and miraculously given water flowing from a rock. Water miraculously coming from a rock is detailed two times in the Exodus account. But this almost certainly happened many other times without being documented as they travelled through the desert. Only the first time and the time Moses disobeyed were significant to the account. This verse strongly implies it happened many more times.
While there was more than one rock that miraculously gave water to sustain the Israelites in the historical accounts, Paul connected them to the rock which is Christ. Thus the rock is a metaphor of Christ who is the real source of Israel's provision in the desert. And this further ties the Corinthians and us to the Israelites in the desert.
5 Nevertheless, with most of them God was not well-pleased; for they were laid low in the wilderness. The majority of the Israelites repeatedly failed to trust God, and even turned away from Yahweh to false gods and idols. Despite having seen wondrous miracles with their own eyes and being cared for by God directly, they abandoned Him at the drop of a hat. So they were laid low, which is poetic language meaning they died. In like manner the Corinthians were turning away from Christ to false idols and false gospels. And this would result in them being laid low rather than receiving eternal life.
6 Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as they also craved. The purpose of those events is to be an example, specifically a negative example of what not to do. That the Israelites did them and suffered the consequences is a warning to us not to follow in their footsteps. Unfortunately, just like the Israelites with Moses most "Christians" today follow all sorts of idols and do all sorts of evil with no care for the rock that sustains us, which is Christ.
This why these events are recorded in scripture for us, and one of the reasons we need to study the Old Testament as well as the New Testament. While some try to set aside or "unhitch" from the Old Testament, in trying to do this they are creating a false religion and rejecting God. Jesus affirmed the scripture we call the Old Testament is the Holy Spirit inspired Word of God. Marcion in the second century rejected the Old Testament and anything in the New Testament that referenced the old. He even made his own Bible editing out the parts he disagreed with. He was excommunicated and called a heretic. Those who dismiss the Old Testament are not followers of Christ and deny the Holy Spirit.
7 Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written, "The people sat down to eat and drink, and stood up to play." The quote is from Exodus 32:6. Moses went up on Mount Sinai to get the law and the stone tablets from God, leaving Aaron to settle any issues that came up. He was only gone 40 days, although the Israelites didn't know how long it would be. While Moses was gone, the people demanded Aaron make them an idol to worship. So he had them give their gold earrings which he used to make a golden calf for them to worship. They had a feast then got up to "play", which is a polite way of saying they were sinning their brains out. Remember, they stopped at the mountain after they had been traveling through the desert and living in tents. So it must have taken considerable time to do. They may have had to make a forge to melt the gold, and then it took time to fashion the idol out of it. Thus the Israelites likely abandoned Yahweh in the first week of Moses' absence. They had no faithfulness at all.
An idol doesn't have to be a golden object with an altar and sacrifices. Anything that takes the place of God is an idol. In Matthew 6:24 Jesus pointed out the most common idol people replace God with is money. Some will make an idol of their children putting them above God and even their spouse. (Putting kids over one's spouse is a special kind of idiocy as neglecting the spouse will inevitably make for a bad situation for the kids with household strife and divorce.) Some make their job an idol. Others worship the idol of personal pleasure. We ought to take the warnings in scripture seriously and not fall into those traps.
8 Nor let us act immorally, as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in one day. "Immorally" in this verse is not a complete translation. The Greek word here is eporneusan from porneuo, which is to commit sexual immorality. In this context it refers generally to any sexual immorality, which is any sexual act outside of the marriage of a man and a woman.
Paul was referring to the bad behavior of Israel in Numbers 25:1-9 and was specifically citing this as an indictment of the Corinthian church. Some Israelites were being sexually immoral with the Moabites and going to the temple of Baal of Peor, eating at the temple and bowing down to the Moabite gods. Because of this a great plague came upon them killing thousands. They were commanded to execute the leaders of those who had done this. And one who openly defied the law and brought a Midianite woman to his family in plain sight of everyone were both killed by the son of Aaron. The indictment was clear. The people of the Corinthian church were patting themselves on the back for being so tolerant of open and unrepentant sin in their midst when they should have been casting it out. Churches in the west today are also indicted because they are silent or even welcoming of those who are in open and unrepentant sexual sin of all types. The few that do address sexual sin at all seem to only address certain types of sexual sin and ignore the most common one in their midst, couples fornicating and even shacking up without even a hint of guilt.
There is a numerical difference between this verse and Numbers 25:9. However, the 24,000 in Numbers is the total number who died of the plague. Paul cites 23,000 as the number who died in one day, not the total. This information is not found in any Jewish sources available today. Thus this was available at the time of Paul's writing or this was information provided by the Holy Spirit. That so many died in a single day is further illustration of how the churches of today in the west underestimate how bad sin really is.
9 Nor let us try the Lord, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the serpents. Here Paul was referring to Numbers 21:5-9. While crossing the wilderness the Israelites were grumbling about their situation. They were grumbling against Moses, which wasn't fair. And they were grumbling against God, which is beyond stupid. It's one thing to ask God for relief, for deliverance, or for a change. But to grumble against Him is dangerous arrogance. Who are we to try to judge God? But people throughout time have done so. We do not and cannot know enough to even understand God, let alone be His judge. And it is unquestionable that any who do so are always in the wrong.
In this case, God sent fiery serpents among them, and those who were bit died. The people repented very quickly and asked Moses to intercede for them. God told Moses to make a serpent and put it on a standard so that any who are bitten can look at it and live. Moses made a bronze serpent and put it on a pole, a snake on a stick. This doesn't say it took the pain away. It only says they lived through it.
The snake on a stick is symbolic of Jesus on the cross. And all who look to Him are saved from death. But it doesn't mean they are saved from the Earthly consequences of their sin and bad judgement.
10 Nor grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer. Here Paul was referring to Numbers 16:41-49. Korah, Dathan And Abiram had rebelled against Moses and Aaron. They declared that all were holy and therefore anyone could lead in Moses' place, meaning Korah. Korah was a Levite, but not God's chosen. His arrogant behavior and words demonstrate why he was not chosen for leadership. The ground literally opened up and swallowed them and all that was theirs, then closed over them. 250 men had joined them trying to be priests under Korah. They burned incense in censers and carried them for this showdown. The fire of God came out the the censers they carried and consumed them.
Paul referred to their rebellion as grumbling. And that is certainly the beginning of all this. Instead of accepting God's will they put themselves as leaders. This is just like pastors today who make their own gospel in contradiction of God and scripture. A big warning for us today is that those that chose to follow the false religious leaders also paid for it with their lives. Thus we should take great care and never, ever blindly follow any mere human nor even an angel. All should be checked against scripture. Any who reject scripture, or the parts they don't agree with, are telling us they are not of God, but are putting themselves above God. I wouldn't be in any church with someone like that.
11 Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. The events Paul listed in the previous verses were to teach the Israelites by example. And the main lesson taught by example was that to defy God is really dumb.
Second, these events were written down so their mistakes and God's correction could instruct us and warn us. The word translated as "instruction" is nouthesia in Greek, which means warning in this context. In every context this word is always instruction against improper conduct, admonition, or rebuke against wrong choices and behaviors. Thus there is no doubt that this is not just instruction but warning against doing the wrong things.
The last part of this verse means that Jesus' ascension back to heaven marks the beginning of the last age of this earth and this life. That does not indicate how long it will be until this age also ends, only that it is the last age.
12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall. Here Paul tied the historical references to the Corinthian church and to us today. In each of the examples from Israel's history people thought they were able to stand alone and in defiance of God. They were wrong. And their fall was catastrophic. Paul was warning that doing the same would be as bad for the people of the Corinthian church as well as for us today.
13 No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it. This verse is one of the most commonly memorized verses in scripture, and with good reason. It is a good one to keep in mind because of the perspective on sin it provides. However, it should be remembered in the context of the surrounding verses.
The first part counters the lie that our temptation is somehow special or unique. Many tell themselves this lie to justify yielding to temptation. But it does not really justify doing what they know is wrong. All temptation is common to humanity. Second, God does not allow us to be tempted beyond what we are able to resist. The problem is just that we don't want to resist sin. And third, God provides a way of escape from sin. We just don't want to take it.
The inseparable context of this verse is the verses before and after it. The verses before tell of arrogant people setting themselves up as the authority and not submitting to God. There is a tendency to think of temptation in terms of external things tempting us to sin. But in every one of the preceding examples the temptation came from the self and was the self. They were arrogance personified.
14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. Idolatry in the form of worshiping man-made objects was a problem in Corinth, and had been in Israel's past. However, none of Paul's examples from Israel's history were dealing with that type of idolatry. They were all about the idolatry of self. People were worshipping themselves, setting themselves and their own thoughts and reasoning as the standard instead of God's standard. And they were even judging God by the standard they came up with, under the ridiculous notion that they had the intelligence and knowledge to judge God. Paul was making the point that merely avoiding the obvious direct worship of the man-made idols themselves was not the only idolatry.
It is here that Paul tied together all his instruction on dealing with the temples and idols that he began in chapter 8.
15 I speak as to wise men; you judge what I say. The opening of this verse could be sarcastic like in 4:10. However, it seems Paul is being serious here. At the least, he is using a Pygmalion technique referring to them as wise so they will step up to the mark and behave as wise Christians in this instance.
The judging Paul is calling for here is not that they should decide for themselves what is right and wrong. It is that they should judge for themselves if Paul, their founder, was making sense and guiding rightly.
16 Is not the cup of blessing which we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is not the bread which we break a sharing in the body of Christ? Here Paul was not giving instruction on communion, but was using rhetorical questions about communion to make his point about eating at the temples of idols. This verse does not support a doctrine of transubstantiation. It is merely using the symbolic language of Christ to make a point. The point is that by taking communion we are in communion with each other in unity.
17 Since there is one bread, we who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one bread. Here Paul made it clear that his point in verse 16 was that we are unified in communion into one body which is the church. The church shares the same bread, and in our communion together believers are literally in communion with each other. In this day and age it should be emphasized that this is communion with believers only, and never with those who teach and follow a different gospel. And it absolutely excludes wolves in sheep's clothing in the congregation. They drink and eat judgement on themselves when they take communion with a false heart and mind.
18 Look at the nation Israel; are not those who eat the sacrifices sharers in the altar? In the temple and synagogues of Israel the priests and workers who served in the temple would eat of the sacrifices made, which would include meat, bread, and wine. Jesus the Christ was the final and perfect sacrifice, making those altar sacrifices unnecessary. But we take communion in remembrance of that sacrifice.
19 What do I mean then? That a thing sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? Here Paul was leading up to his comparison between eating at the temples, temple workers eating from the altar sacrifices, and Christian communion. But first he wanted to clarify the difference so there could be no misunderstanding or improper connections made. Thus he asked the rhetorical question. Essentially Paul was asking if he was saying that something sacrificed to an idol is real, or that an idol is real. This was with the clear implication that the answer was no. But communion with the church is a symbolic remembrance of the real sacrifice of the real Jesus.
20 No, but I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God; and I do not want you to become sharers in demons. Often Paul asked rhetorical questions that made it clear what the correct answer was without stating it outright. This time he made it absolutely clear by answering it. Idols are not real. And anything sacrificed to them is meaningless.
However, the pagans of Corinth were actually dupes. There were real demons behind these false gods. And it was really demons that were being worshipped, not the false gods the dupes made idols of. In Exodus 7:8-13 Moses was before Pharaoh and Aaron threw down his staff which became a snake, the Egyptian sorcerers did the same thing with their staffs. It was by the power of demons they were able to do it. But the snake from Aaron's staff ate the snakes of the Egyptians, demonstrating to Pharaoh that God was more powerful. In like manner, the demons behind these pagan temples in Corinth would allow some show of power on occasion. Thus "miraculous" occurrences helped to dupe many people, including the priests and workers in the pagan temples.
There is a connection that comes from sharing a meal that is hardwired into humanity. This is why in 5:11 Paul commanded that we not even eat with someone who calls themself a Christian but lives in unrepentant sin. And why in Matthew 18:17 Jesus instructed us to treat an unrepentant brother as a tax collector or outsider, (a.k.a. Gentile.) This didn't mean total shunning as the goal is always to reach such people for Jesus. But it does mean not to fellowship with them, which includes worship, communion, and sharing a meal. Thus eating at a pagan temple is to share in the community of the demons behind it. This has no direct power over us. But the act of eating a meal does form a bond which we shouldn't do inappropriately. And it is disrespectful to God.
21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. This verse ought to be self-explanatory. However, research shows that a majority of people who claim to be Christians violate this verse daily, and do so without any thought. They partake of the sins of this pagan culture and then go to church as if it was nothing. Sin and Christ are incompatible. The worst part is they don't even acknowledge it is sin. The pagan culture has conformed them to itself instead of them being the positive influence on the culture. God is not mocked. Either we follow Him and repent, or we fool ourselves that all is well.
To be clear, this was not a reference to participation in a specific pagan ritual involving a cup or a table. While such things existed, that was not Paul's point. The Corinthians were not directly participating in pagan rituals. Paul was using the language of communion to make the connection to a practice by the Corinthian Christians they should not be doing. The pagan temples were sacrificing animals to false gods. And they temples had what was essentially a restaurant where all the meat served came from those sacrifices. And the people of the Corinthian church were eating at the temples.
22 Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? We are not stronger than He, are we? The rhetorical questions in this verse are Old Testament references like the references at the beginning of this chapter. The first is a reference to Deuteronomy 32:21 where God states that he was made jealous by the Israelites' turning to what is not God and provoked Him to anger with their idols. The second is a reference to Isaiah 45:9-10. This passage uses metaphors familiar to most Christians of us being clay and God being the potter. Specifically this is a warning against questioning God. Woe to the clay that questions the potter.
In short, we should be careful to separate ourselves from any form of idolatry. Remember, all the examples Paul cited in verses 1-10 were not about worship of man-made idols. They were all about making an idol of oneself and self-worship. This is setting ourselves above God like the clay questioning the potter. It is foolish.
23 All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things edify. Paul repeated his statement from 6:12. "All things are lawful" is likely to have been a slogan in the Corinthian church that came from a distortion of Christian freedom. Like the Corinthians and the Pharisees we take things too far and make absolutes where they don't exist, and turn those absolutes into hard and fast rules. Instead, we are supposed to use wisdom and judgement. Some read these verses superficially and see a contradiction. First Paul says the idols and meat sacrificed to them are nothing, then he scolds them for eating at the temples. However, this is not a contradiction. Paul is instructing that our faith is not blindly following simple rules. It requires wisdom and the right attitude towards God.
The most famous example by the Pharisees is that they made up a bunch of unscriptural rules about what could and couldn't be done on the Sabbath. The reasoning was that people weren't observing the Sabbath, so they thought they would lend God a hand. But God doesn't need a hand. God was more concerned with people choosing to honor the Sabbath out of their love for Him than their following nit-picking man-made rules.
A great example in modern times is drinking alcohol. One the one hand, some try to prohibit any alcohol consumption by Christians, or even of anyone. The majority who get this wrong are on this side. The reasoning is that because it is abused, it should be abolished. However, by that logic we can't do anything because everything a human can do is abused. Even worship and church is abused. But it would be absurd to try to ban them on that basis. And scripture is explicitly clear that alcohol is a gift from God to make our hearts glad. Thus banning it is contrary to scripture. On the other hand, a minority argue for absolute freedom to consume alcohol anytime, anywhere, and under any circumstances. Some will even deliberately flaunt their "freedom" in the face of those who have difficulty with it.
This verse through the end of the chapter Paul argued against hard and fast rules whether they are restrictive or permissive. Either way it is wrong. In these verses he laid out examples of the right attitude and approach.
24 Let no one seek his own good, but that of his neighbor. We are to emulate Christ and be selfless in how we live and treat others. Doing this is not easy, which is one of the reasons people like hard and fast rules that take it out of their hands regardless of how inappropriate or even harmful the rule is in a particular situation. Unfortunately for them, Christ called us to be wise and to use our minds, the more difficult path.
However, seeking the good of our neighbor does not mean satisfying their selfish and self-destructive wishes. That is another false interpretation and distortion of this verse that ought to be easy to see through. Doing what is good for others is not doing what they want. If someone wants to play roller-hockey on the highway, just "accepting" that is not for their good. That is to allow foolish behavior that will hurt them. Confronting them is likely to result in pushback, or even disfellowship or attack. So it is easier to stand back and say nothing. But it is selfish and unchristian to say nothing. A true Christian risks the consequences of correcting another Christian's error or crazy. If that other Christian is unwilling to accept correction, and especially if they turn and attack, they were not a Christian brother or sister in the first place. And we are under no obligation to cast any more pearls in their direction.
However, we should disfellowship from a Christian who refuses correction. This does not mean we cut them off entirely. After all, the goal is to reach them for the real Jesus. However, it does mean cutting off any worship, small group, Bible study, or other Christian practice with them. I would go golfing with them, and perhaps refer to scripture if I could do it in the right way. But I would never participate in a Bible study with them any more than I would participate in a Bible study with a Satan worshiper. It would make a mockery of studying the Bible, and would validate their false gospel. To be clear, this would not be over disputable matters but over basic Christianity. The most common thing to disfellowship over in my experience is calling evil good and good evil.
25 Eat anything that is sold in the meat market without asking questions for conscience' sake; This verse absolutely contradicts those that try to make hard and fast rules, especially the restrictive ones. The Pharisees made up rules with silly requirements like not eating this meat. The reality is that those who thought we shouldn't eat meat sacrificed to idols were wrong. It doesn't matter.
The pagan temples did more sacrificing of animals than they were able to sell in their own temple "restaurants". Most of the meat was sold in the meat markets along with regularly butchered meat, and it wasn't openly identified which was which. Paul's instruction was don't worry about it, don't even ask. That this instruction is for conscience' sake in light of verse 29 means this is for another's conscience rather than our own. It absolutely does not mean we are to be governed by another's silly or crazy ideas that mess with their conscience. If we did that we couldn't do anything ever, not even work for the kingdom of God. But by not asking we avoid making it harder for the weak Christian without hindering our own ability to go about such things. For those who are weak and have a conscience bothered by such things, they should just not think about it. Don't give these foolish thoughts a place in our minds because in reality it is nothing.
26 for the earth is the Lord's, and all it contains. This verse is a quote of Psalm 24:1. The entire earth and all it contains were created by God and belong to God. The actions of some pagan do not make any part of God's creation belong to God any less. Idol cooties aren't a real thing. To say that what some pagan does makes a thing unsuitable for Christians is to deny the sovereignty of God. Our worship must only be for God and never towards any idol, whether an object or human. However, to place those objects and people as off-limits for Christians is to confer power to them that they do not posses. Ironically, avoiding these things wrongly is to give these false idols reverence and respect in much the same way as worshiping them.
27 If one of the unbelievers invites you and you want to go, eat anything that is set before you without asking questions for conscience' sake. 28 But if anyone says to you, "This is meat sacrificed to idols," do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for conscience' sake; Here Paul gave a hypothetical example that could happen to Christians in Corinth. When eating with a non-believer we are to eat what is put in front of us without questioning where it came from, and thus avoid even raising the subject. Paul would eat with Gentiles. This meant the food wasn't kosher as the requirements were strict and no gentile followed them. Paul just wouldn't ask.
This instruction is also about winning people to Christ. Being a gracious guest presents a good witness. Objecting to what is served pushes people away. Have you ever had a vegan over for dinner or a party that talked about all the things they won't eat? Most will also lecture everyone on why. This makes the most gracious host want to fling them out of their house like a frisbee. Being obnoxious turns people away from Christ. So-called Christians like that can only win people to Christ by claiming to be goat-sacrificing pagans as they drive people away from themselves and anything they advocate for.
Then Paul presented the situation of someone deliberately telling them the meat was sacrificed to idols. This does not change anything. It is still fine to eat that meat. The issue is this person wouldn't make a point of it if they weren't trying to provoke people present, possibly you. Clearly they are too immature to handle a discussion about it graciously. And we aren't going to convince someone like that over one meal. It's better to stay clear of the subject with the provocateur so as to not turn people away from Christ by our behavior. Reacting calmly and kindly in the face of provocation is a better witness than a thousand words.
29 I mean not your own conscience, but the other man's; for why is my freedom judged by another's conscience? Here Paul made it clear that the conscience he was referring to from verse 25 to here is the conscience of others. These are pagans, or if they claim to be Christian these are weak Christians. And they are the ones who are wrong by holding onto silly ideas and beliefs.
We are not judged by ignorant people, or by people at all. We are definitely not judged by people who claim to be Christians yet hold their own un-Christian and un-biblical thoughts as the standard to judge others. We are judged by Jesus. True Christians will judge us according to the true biblical standard. But this is for the purpose of helping us, not condemning us.
30 If I partake with thankfulness, why am I slandered concerning that for which I give thanks? Continuing his critique of the weak Christian, Paul refers to their wrong judgement as slander. In Greek this is blasphemoumai from blasphemeo, which means to verbally abuse or blaspheme. On the surface this seems harsh, but it is entirely accurate. Weak Christians judging others as not being Christian or not behaving like a Christian by using the false standard they made up in their own heads is not just wrong. It is in direct contradiction of actual Christianity and it is blasphemy. Paul specifically forbade this kind of judgement in Romans 14:1-4.
31 Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. This ought to be obvious to a Christian. In everything we ought to have bringing glory to God in mind. The point is, we can't have a bunch of hard and fast rules on everything. The Pharisees added a bunch of nitpicky rules to Judaism and Jesus the Christ called them sons of Satan. Instead, we have to use our brains and wisdom and figure it out for ourselves as we go through life.
That is the part that weak Christians and fake Christians don't like. Mindless obedience to stupid rules brings no glory to God. As a human parent it would be an embarrassment to have to make all these rules for my adult daughters to live by. That they can make good decisions themselves out of what I and scripture taught them is something to be proud of. In the same way, it brings glory to God when his adopted children choose the right path out of their own wisdom and free will.
32 Give no offense either to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God; This verse is misused by weak and fake Christians. Even from the English it ought to be clear. But the influence of the pagan culture causes people to misread it. Someone taking offense is not the same thing as us giving offense. If some twit choosing to be offended was the standard then it would contradict verses 29-30.
In Greek it is even clearer. The NASB's "no offense" is aproskopoi from aproskopos in Greek, which means blameless. Thus it would be a clearer translation as "Be blameless either to Jews or Greeks or to the church of God." How others react or judge is not our responsibility, which is a good thing as we have zero control over others. And the standard for being blameless is God's standard, not theirs. Thus in the context of verse 31 we are to seeking to do what is glorifying to God, and be blameless in our conduct. Remember that those who are doing wrong are offended by one doing right. A good example is an unspoken accusation to one in sin. Thus their offense cannot be our standard.
33 just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit but the profit of the many, so that they may be saved. And the point of trying to live our lives in such a way as to bring glory to God is for the purpose of winning others to Christ. Thus without compromising Christian morality and always living according to Christ's commands, we should try to win people to Christ. Paul often bragged about his frailty and failure to do good, while giving Jesus and the Spirit the credit for the good in him. "It is not me but He who is in me" is a concept worth keeping in mind. The humility of that attitude coupled with the joy of a life lived in accordance with Jesus' commands is a compelling witness. The true gospel message wins people to the true Jesus. A fake gospel leads people to destruction.

Scripture quotations taken from the NASB © The Lockman Foundation.

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