1 Corinthians — Chapter 8
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1Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.
2The one who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know.
3But the one who loves God is known by God.
4So 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 there are many so-called gods and lords),
6yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we exist. And there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we exist.
7But not everyone has this knowledge. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that they eat such food as if it were sacrificed to an idol. And since their conscience is weak, it is defiled.
8But food does not bring us closer to God: We are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.
9Be careful, however, that your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak.
10For if someone with a weak conscience sees you who are well informed eating in an idol’s temple, will he not be encouraged to eat food sacrificed to idols?
11So this weak brother, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge.
12By sinning against your brothers in this way and wounding their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.
13Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to stumble.
1Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.
2And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.
3But if any man love God, the same is known of him.
4As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.
5For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,)
6But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.
7Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.
8But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse.
9But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.
10For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol’s temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols;
11And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?
12But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.
13Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.
1Now concerning things sacrificed to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but love edifieth.
2If any man thinketh that he knoweth anything, he knoweth not yet as he ought to know;
3but if any man loveth God, the same is known by him.
4Concerning therefore the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that no idol is [anything] in the world, and that there is no God but one.
5For though there be that are 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 are all things, and we unto him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and we through him.
7Howbeit there is not in all men that knowledge: but some, being used until now to the idol, eat as [of] a thing sacrificed to an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.
8But food will not commend us to God: neither, if we eat not, are we the worse; nor, if we eat, are we the better.
9But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to the weak.
10For if a man see thee who hast knowledge sitting at meat in an idol`s temple, will not his conscience, if he is weak, be emboldened to eat things sacrificed to idols?
11For through thy knowledge he that is weak perisheth, the brother for whose sake Christ died.
12And thus, sinning against the brethren, and wounding their conscience when it is weak, ye sin against Christ.
13Wherefore, if meat causeth my brother to stumble, I will eat no flesh for evermore, that I cause not my brother to stumble.
1With regard to food sacrificed to idols, we know that “we all have knowledge.” Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.
2If someone thinks he knows something, he does not yet know to the degree that he needs to know.
3But if someone loves God, he is known by God.
4With 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.”
5If after all there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords),
6yet 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.
7But 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.
8Now food will not bring us close to God. We are no worse if we do not eat and no better if we do.
9But be careful that this liberty of yours does not become a hindrance to the weak.
10For if someone weak sees you who possess knowledge dining in an idol’s temple, will not his conscience be “strengthened” to eat food offered to idols?
11So by your knowledge the weak brother or sister, for whom Christ died, is destroyed.
12If you sin against your brothers or sisters in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.
13For 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 to sin.
1Now concerning things sacrificed to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.
2But if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he doesn’t yet know as he ought to know.
3But if anyone loves God, the same is known by him.
4Therefore concerning the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that no idol is anything in the world, and that there is no other God but one.
5For though there are things that are called “gods”, whether in the heavens or on earth; as there are many “gods” and many “lords”;
6yet to us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and we live through him.
7However, that knowledge isn’t in all men. But some, with consciousness of the idol until now, eat as of a thing sacrificed to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled.
8But food will not commend us to God. For neither, if we don’t eat, are we the worse; nor, if we eat, are we the better.
9But be careful that by no means does this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to the weak.
10For if a man sees you who have knowledge sitting in an idol’s temple, won’t his conscience, if he is weak, be emboldened to eat things sacrificed to idols?
11And through your knowledge, he who is weak perishes, the brother for whose sake Christ died.
12Thus, sinning against the brothers, and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ.
13Therefore if food causes my brother to stumble, I will eat no meat forever more, that I don’t cause my brother to stumble.
Summary
Paul turns to the question of eating food sacrificed to idols, cautioning that knowledge alone tends to make people arrogant, while love builds others up, and that anyone who thinks they know something fully still has more to learn (vv. 1-3). He affirms that idols have no real existence and there is only one God the Father and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom all things exist (vv. 4-6). But not everyone shares this understanding — some believers, out of a weak conscience formed by their past experience with idols, are defiled if they eat such food thinking it is dedicated to a real god (v. 7). Food itself does not bring anyone closer to or further from God, but Paul warns that the "strong" believer's freedom can become a stumbling block that damages a weaker believer's conscience, in effect sinning against that brother and against Christ himself, who died for him (vv. 8-12). Paul concludes that he would rather give up eating meat permanently than cause a fellow believer to stumble (v. 13).
Authorship & Background
Commentary
- Enduring Word (David Guzik): enduringword.com Guzik examines knowledge vs. love, the idol-meat issue, the weaker brother principle, and Paul's radical self-limitation.
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown (1871): blueletterbible.org A critical and explanatory commentary on the whole Bible, more concise than Matthew Henry and closer to the Hebrew and Greek, with attention to historical and geographical detail. Public domain.
- Matthew Henry's Exposition (1710): blueletterbible.org A devotional verse-by-verse commentary in the Puritan tradition, still among the most widely read three centuries on. Public domain.
Videos
Articles
- GotQuestions.org: gotquestions.org On the whole book: an overview of the book of 1 Corinthians -- who wrote it, when, why, and how it fits the rest of Scripture.
Links open on the publisher's own site. Nothing here is reproduced on this page.
Reflection
- Knowledge vs. Love (v.1) — Paul says knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. Is your understanding of Scripture making you more arrogant or more loving toward others?
- The Limits of What We Think We Know (v.2) — Paul warns that anyone who thinks he knows something doesn't yet know as he ought. Where might spiritual pride be blinding you to your own limits?
- Being Right Isn't Always Enough (v.4) — Paul agrees idols are nothing, yet correct theology alone isn't the point. Where might you be technically right but relationally unloving?
- Freedom Can Become a Stumbling Block (v.9) — Paul warns that a Christian's liberty can wound someone else's conscience. Is there a freedom you exercise that might be causing someone weaker in faith to stumble?
- Christ Died for the One You Might Wound (v.11) — Paul reminds the "strong" that the brother they could harm is someone Christ died for. How much weight do you give to the impact of your choices on fellow believers?
- Willing to Give Up Freedom for Love (v.13) — Paul commits to permanently limiting his own liberty for the sake of others' faith. What freedom might God be asking you to set aside for someone else's good?