Fathers

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What the Fathers say

1 Corinthians 6:12

Eastern Fathers

John Chrysostom

Here he glances at the gluttons. For since he intends to assail the fornicator again, and fornication arises from luxuriousness and want of moderation, he strongly chastises this passion. It cannot be that he speaks thus with regard to things forbidden, such not being "lawful:" but of things which seem to be indifferent. …

Homily on 1 Corinthians 17 ↗

Theophylact of Ohrid

Since he had spoken before about the fornicator and will soon speak about him again, he introduces a discussion about gluttony as well: for the passion of fornication arises chiefly from gluttony. So he says: it is permitted for me to eat and drink, but it is harmful for me to partake of food and drink beyond measure. I, he says, am master over food and drink; but if I use them immoderately, from a master I will become their slave. …

Commentary on 1 Corinthians ↗

Clement of Alexandria

"Wherefore," he says, "ye are justified in the name of the Lord." Ye are made, so to speak, by Him to be righteous as He is, and are blended as far as possible with the Holy Spirit. For "are not all things lawful to me? yet I will not be brought under the power of any," so as to do, or think, or speak aught contrary to the Gospel. …

The Stromata Book 7 ↗

Western Saints

Thomas Aquinas

Then when he says, all things are lawful, he clarifies what he had said about forbidding lawsuits, and shows in what sense he rejects them, namely, he does not reject them as altogether unlawful, but as not expedient and as harmful. In regard to this he does two things: first, he states his proposition; secondly, he assigns a reason (v. 13). First, he states that what he rejects is lawful but not expedient, saying, All things are lawful for me. Now those things are lawful which a man is not forbidden to do. …

Commentary on 1 Corinthians ↗

Bonaventure

A man is instructed by the gift of counsel to discern what is lawful, what is fitting, and what is expedient according to the judgment of right reason. First a man ought to consider whether it is lawful, whether it is fitting: many things are lawful that are not fitting. Afterward he ought to consider whether it is expedient, because the Apostle says: 'All things are lawful for me, but not all things are expedient.' Once this threefold consideration has been attained, thoughts are instructed, and wisdom dwells in the counsel of man.

Collationes de Septem Donis, Collation 7 ↗