All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.
All things are lawful unto me. Paul's own words on some former occasion (cf. 1 Corinthians 10:23) were made a pretext for excusing the eating of meats offered to idols, and so of what was generally connected with it (Acts 15:29), "fornication" (perhaps in the letter of the Corinthians to Paul, 1 Corinthians 7:1). Paul had referred only to things indifferent, and things within the sphere of Christian liberty (John 8:34-36). They wished to treat fornication as such, as though the existence of bodily appetites proved the lawfulness of their gratification. Me. Paul makes himself a sample of Christians in general.
But I - whatever others do.
Lawful ... brought under the power. There is a play on similar sounds - х exestin (G1832) ... exousiastheesomai (G1850)]. All things are in my power, but I will not be brought under the power of any (of the "all things"). He who commits "fornication" forfeits his legitimate power, and is "brought under the power" of an harlot) (1 Corinthians 6:15: cf. 1 Corinthians 7:4). The "power" ought to be in the hands of the believer, not in the things which he uses, else his liberty is forfeited-he ceases to be his own master (John 8:34-36; Galatians 5:13; 1 Peter 2:16; 2 Peter 2:19). Unlawful things ruin thousands; "lawful" things (unlawfully used), ten thousands.