The Letters · New Testament
1 Corinthians 8
1 Corinthians 8: knowledge about idols, and the brother who is weak
General context
The subject is announced: "Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge." The first move is against that knowledge, "Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth", and whoever thinks he knows something "knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know", while whoever loves God "the same is known of him". On the question itself the answer is granted: "an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one". Though there are things called gods, "as there be gods many, and lords many", "to us there is but one God, the Father" and "one Lord Jesus Christ". But the knowledge is not universal: "there is not in every man that knowledge", and some eat "with conscience of the idol", so that "their conscience being weak is defiled". Food settles nothing before God, "neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse". The instruction follows: "take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak". The case is drawn out. If a weak man sees someone with knowledge "sit at meat in the idol’s temple", his conscience may be emboldened to eat, and "through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died". Sinning against the brethren and wounding "their weak conscience" is called sinning against Christ. The conclusion is personal and absolute: "if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth".
Cited passages: 1 Corinthians 8:1, 1 Corinthians 8:2, 1 Corinthians 8:3, 1 Corinthians 8:4, 1 Corinthians 8:5, 1 Corinthians 8:6, 1 Corinthians 8:7, 1 Corinthians 8:8, 1 Corinthians 8:9, 1 Corinthians 8:10, 1 Corinthians 8:11, 1 Corinthians 8:12, 1 Corinthians 8:13
1 Corinthians 8 (KJV)
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.
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Historical context
The subject is introduced as another matter under discussion, "Now as touching things offered unto idols", and the chapter quotes no Old Testament verse anywhere. No idol, temple, city or festival is named, and no meal is described beyond sitting "at meat in the idol’s temple". The clause "as there be gods many, and lords many" is printed inside parentheses in this source and stands as part of a concession, not as the writer's own account of what exists; the sentence's own conclusion is "But to us there is but one God, the Father". The weak are identified by conscience alone, not by nation, party or former religion, and the chapter says nothing about how many people held either position or whether anyone had already been harmed.
Cited passages: 1 Corinthians 8:1, 1 Corinthians 8:4, 1 Corinthians 8:5, 1 Corinthians 8:6, 1 Corinthians 8:7, 1 Corinthians 8:10
Literary context
One word carries the chapter and changes value as it goes. Knowledge is claimed in the first sentence, undercut in the second, granted again in the statement about idols, denied to some in verse 7, and finally named as the very thing that destroys a brother in verse 11. The argument concedes and limits in turn, and does it twice: the idol is nothing, but not everyone knows that; food changes nothing, but liberty can trip someone. The weak brother is kept concrete, watched sitting at a meal and then followed to the consequence. The last verse drops the general case and answers in the first person with an unlimited promise, which puts the cost of the argument on the writer rather than on the readers.
Cited passages: 1 Corinthians 8:1, 1 Corinthians 8:2, 1 Corinthians 8:4, 1 Corinthians 8:7, 1 Corinthians 8:8, 1 Corinthians 8:9, 1 Corinthians 8:10, 1 Corinthians 8:11, 1 Corinthians 8:13
Key moments
- Knowledge puffeth up (1 Corinthians 8:1). The subject is raised and the value of knowledge questioned at once.
- An idol is nothing (1 Corinthians 8:4). The factual claim is granted.
- One God and one Lord (1 Corinthians 8:6). The confession is stated against many so-called gods.
- Not every man has it (1 Corinthians 8:7). Some are said to eat with conscience of the idol.
- Liberty as a stumblingblock (1 Corinthians 8:9). The instruction turns from knowledge to its effect on others.
- The weak brother perishes (1 Corinthians 8:11). The consequence is stated in the sharpest terms in the chapter.
- No flesh while the world standeth (1 Corinthians 8:13). The writer applies the conclusion to himself.
For reflection
The chapter agrees that the knowledge in question is correct and then says acting on it can ruin someone. When has being right not been the deciding thing for you?
