1 Corinthians8

New International Version

TranslationKJV WEB ASV ESV NIV NASB NKJV NLT

¹Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that “We all possess knowledge.” But knowledge puffs up while love builds up.

²Those who think they know something do not yet know as they ought to know.

³But whoever loves God is known by God.

⁴So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that “An idol is nothing at all in the world” and that “There is no God but one.”

⁵For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”),

⁶yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.

⁷But not everyone possesses this knowledge. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat sacrificial food they think of it as having been sacrificed to a god, and since their conscience is weak, it is defiled.

⁸But food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.

⁹Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak.

¹⁰For if someone with a weak conscience sees you, with all your knowledge, eating in an idol’s temple, won’t that person be emboldened to eat what is sacrificed to idols?

¹¹So this weak brother or sister, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge.

¹²When you sin against them in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.

¹³Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause them to fall.

Study Guide

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for 1 Corinthians 8.

Full AI study →

Chapter Summary

In this chapter: The danger of having a high conceit of knowledge. (1–6). The mischief of offending weak brethren. (7–13).

vv1-6

There is no proof of ignorance more common than conceit of knowledge. Much may be known, when nothing is known to good purpose. And those who think they know any thing, and grow vain thereon, are the least likely to make good use of their knowledge. Satan hurts some as much by tempting them to be proud of mental powers, as others, by alluring to sensuality. Knowledge which puffs up the possessor, and renders him confident, is as dangerous as self-righteous pride, though what he knows may be right. Without holy affections all human knowledge is worthless. The heathens had gods of higher and lower degree; gods many, and lords many; so called, but not such in truth. Christians know better. One God made all, and has power over all. The one God, even the Father, signifies the Godhead as the sole object of all religious worship; and the Lord Jesus Christ denotes the person of Emmanuel, God manifest in the flesh, One with the Father, and with us; the appointed Mediator, and Lord of all; through whom we come to the Father, and through whom the Father sends all blessings to us, by the influence and working of the Holy Spirit. While we refuse all worship to the many who are called gods and lords, and to saints and angels, let us try whether we really come to God by faith in Christ.

vv7-13

Eating one kind of food, and abstaining from another, have nothing in them to recommend a person to God. But the apostle cautions against putting a stumbling-block in the way of the weak; lest they be made bold to eat what was offered to the idol, not as common food, but as a sacrifice, and thereby be guilty of idolatry. He who has the Spirit of Christ in him, will love those whom Christ loved so as to die for them. Injuries done to Christians, are done to Christ; but most of all, the entangling them in guilt: wounding their consciences, is wounding him. We should be very tender of doing any thing that may occasion stumbling to others, though it may be innocent in itself. And if we must not endanger other men's souls, how much should we take care not to destroy our own! Let Christians beware of approaching the brink of evil, or the appearance of it, though many do this in public matters, for which perhaps they plead plausibly. Men cannot thus sin against their brethren, without offending Christ, and endangering their own souls.

Key Words

NowG1161Greek

δέ (dé): but, and, etc.

concerningG4012Greek

περί (perí): properly, through (all over), i.e. around; figuratively with respect to; used in various applications, of place, cause or time (with the genitive case denoting the subject or occasion or superlative point; with the accusative case the locality, circuit, matter, circumstance or general period)

offered to idolsG1494Greek

εἰδωλόθυτον (eidōlóthyton): an image-sacrifice, i.e. part of an idolatrous offering

knowG1492Greek

εἴδω (eídō): used only in certain past tenses, the others being borrowed from the equivalent G3700 (ὀπτάνομαι) and G3708 (ὁράω); properly, to see (literally or figuratively); by implication, (in the perfect tense only) to know

thatG3754Greek

ὅτι (hóti): demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because

usG3956Greek

πᾶς (pâs): all, any, every, the whole

possessG2192Greek

ἔχω (échō): to hold (used in very various applications, literally or figuratively, direct or remote; such as possession; ability, contiuity, relation, or condition)

knowledgeG1108Greek

γνῶσις (gnōsis): knowing (the act), i.e. (by implication) knowledge

puffs upG5448Greek

φυσιόω (physióō): to inflate, i.e. (figuratively) make proud (haughty)

loveG26Greek

ἀγάπη (agápē): love, i.e. affection or benevolence; specially (plural) a love-feast

Cross References

1 Corinthians 8

v11Romans 14:15thematic

Direct thematic parallel warning against destroying a brother with meat for whom Christ died.

Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin, JFB

v13Romans 14:21thematic

Parallels Paul's resolution to abstain from eating meat or doing anything to offend a brother.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole

v3Galatians 4:9allusion

Exhibits the same theological reversal of knowing God versus being known by Him.