<p>6:12 <i>All things are lawful for me, but not all things are expedient- </i>Perhaps Paul is quoting a phrase used by the Corinthians- &quot;all things are lawful for me&quot;. He runs with the idea, but shows that this is not the complete picture. &quot;Expedient&quot; is a favourite word of Paul's in the Corinthian correspondence. The idea is always of what is best for others or in the context of salvation (1 Cor. 7:35; 10:23,33; 12:7; 2 Cor. 8:10; 12:1). Paul will use the same phrase in 1 Cor. 10:23, in the context of not eating food offered idols. It was lawful, but it didn't 'gather together for advantage' (Gk.). The Corinthians lacked the Spirit and were therefore selfish, thinking of what felt good for them, rather than seeing their own actions and decisions within the wider context of what is good for others in the perspective of attaining the Kingdom, both for them and us as individuals. Again we have a principle which affects so many of the challenges we face today. Whether or not something is admissable within our own consciences is not the complete picture.</p><p><i>All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any- </i>This is a valid observation in the context of addictions, or permitting oneself things which may later lead to enslavement. Paul would not be brought under the <i>exousia</i> of any policy, dogma, political requirement or agreement- exactly because he was under the sole <i>exousia</i> of the Lord Jesus. His Lordship becomes the practical answer to so many quandries regarding which course to follow. We are under His authority or power, the power of the Spirit which we received at baptism. This must be the deciding issue rather than the power of group think, acting as others do, even within a church. Being under the Lord's <i>exousia</i> is in fact a call to radical individuality and perception in practice of the true meaning and value of the human person.</p>