1 Corinthians 8
8
Food Sacrificed to Idols
1 With regard to food sacrificed to idols, we know that “we all have knowledge.”#sn “We all have knowledge.” Here and in v. 4 Paul cites certain slogans the Corinthians apparently used to justify their behavior (cf. 6:12-13; 7:1; 10:23). Paul agrees with the slogans in part, but corrects them to show how the Corinthians have misused these ideas. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. 2 If someone thinks he knows something, he does not yet know to the degree that he needs to know. 3 But if someone loves God, he#tn Grk “this one.” is known by God.#tn Grk “him”; in the translation the most likely referent (God) has been specified for clarity.
4 With regard then to eating food sacrificed to idols, we know that “an idol in this world is nothing,” and that “there is no God but one.”#sn “An idol in this world is nothing” and “There is no God but one.” Here and in v. 1 Paul cites certain slogans the Corinthians apparently used to justify their behavior (cf. 6:12-13; 7:1; 10:23). Paul agrees with the slogans in part, but corrects them to show how the Corinthians have misused these ideas. 5 If after all there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords), 6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we live, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we live.#tn Grk “through whom [are] all things and we [are] through him.”
7 But this knowledge is not shared by all. And some, by being accustomed to idols in former times, eat this food as an idol sacrifice, and their conscience, because it is weak, is defiled. 8 Now food will not bring us close to God. We are no worse if we do not eat and no better if we do. 9 But be careful that this liberty of yours does not become a hindrance to the weak. 10 For if someone weak sees you who possess knowledge dining in an idol’s temple, will not his conscience be “strengthened”#tn Or “built up”; This is the same word used in v. 1b. It is used ironically here: The weak person is “built up” to commit what he regards as sin. to eat food offered to idols? 11 So by your knowledge the weak brother or sister,#tn Grk “the one who is weak…the brother for whom Christ died,” but see note on the word “Christian” in 5:11. for whom Christ died, is destroyed.#tn This may be an indirect middle, “destroys himself.” 12 If you sin against your brothers or sisters#tn See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:10. in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. 13 For this reason, if food causes my brother or sister to sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I may not cause one of them#tn Grk “my brother.” Both “my brother or sister” earlier in the verse and “one of them” here translate the same Greek phrase. Since the same expression occurs in the previous line, a pronoun phrase is substituted here to suit English style, which is less tolerant of such repetition. to sin.
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1996 - 2007 by Biblical Studies Press, LLC
1 Corinthians 8
8
1But concerning things sacrificed to idols, we know, (for we all have knowledge: knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. 2If any one think he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know it. 3But if any one love God, he is known of him):
4— concerning then the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God save one. 5For and if indeed there are those called gods, whether in heaven or on earth, (as there are gods many, and lords many,) 6yet to us there is one God, the Father, of whom all things, and we for him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.
7But knowledge is not in all: but some, with conscience of the idol, until now eat as of a thing sacrificed to idols; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. 8But meat does not commend us to God; neither if we should not eat do we come short; nor if we should eat have we an advantage. 9But see lest anywise this your right to eat itself be a stumbling-block to the weak. 10For if any one see thee, who hast knowledge, sitting at table in an idol-house, shall not his conscience, he being weak, be emboldened to eat the things sacrificed to the idol? 11and the weak one, the brother for whose sake Christ died, will perish through thy knowledge. 12Now, thus sinning against the brethren, and wounding their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ. 13Wherefore if meat be a fall-trap to my brother, I will eat no flesh for ever, that I may not be a fall-trap to my brother.
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First published in 1890. This edition is maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society.