1 Corinthians 8:1

1 Corinthians 8:1 in other versions

• New International Version (NIV)Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that “We all possess knowledge.” But knowledge puffs up while love builds up.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that "all of us possess knowledge." This "knowledge" puffs up, but love builds up.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Now concerning things offered to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies.
• New Living Translation (NLT)Now regarding your question about food that has been offered to idols. Yes, we know that “we all have knowledge” about this issue. But while knowledge makes us feel important, it is love that strengthens the church.

Context of 1 Corinthians 8:1

Now 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.

1 Corinthians 8:1 word by word

Περὶ δὲ τῶν εἰδωλοθύτων, οἴδαμεν ὅτι πάντες γνῶσιν ἔχομεν. ἡ γνῶσις φυσιοῖ, ἡ δὲ ἀγάπη οἰκοδομεῖ.Read the interlinear

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Nowδέde · thenG1161
• as touchingπερίperi · aboutG4012
• things offered unto idolsεἰδωλόθυτοςeidōlothuton · sacrificed to idolsG1494
• we knowεἴδωeidō · to perceive: understandG1492
• thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
• weἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
• allπᾶςpas · allG3956
• knowledgeγνῶσιςgnōsis · knowledgeG1108
• puffeth upφυσιόωphusioō · to inflateG5448
• charityἀγάπηagapē · loveG26
• edifiethοἰκοδομέωoikodomeō · to buildG3618

Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 8:1

• 1 Corinthians 8:10For 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;
• 1 Corinthians 10:19What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing?
• Numbers 25:2And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods: and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods.
• Acts 15:10Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
• Acts 21:25As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication.
• Revelation 2:14But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.
• 1 Corinthians 8:2And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.
• 1 Corinthians 1:5That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge;
• 1 Corinthians 4:10We are fools for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised.
• 1 Corinthians 13:2And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
• 1 Corinthians 14:20Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.
• 1 Corinthians 15:34Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.
• Romans 14:14I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.
• Colossians 2:18Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
• 1 Corinthians 4:18Now some are puffed up, as though I would not come to you.
• 1 Corinthians 5:2And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 8:1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1As touching things offered unto idols - This was another subject on which the Corinthians had asked the apostle's advice, and we shall understand the whole of this chapter the better when we consider one fact, viz. That there had long subsisted a controversy between the Karaites and the Traditionists, how far it was lawful to derive any benefit or advantage from things used by the Gentiles. The Karaites were a sect of the Jews who scrupulously held to the…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1Now as touching - In regard to; in answer to your inquiry whether it is right or not to partake of those things. Things offered unto idols - Sacrifices unto idols. Meat that had been offered in sacrifice, and then either exposed to sale in the market, or served up at the feasts held in honor of idols, at their temples, or at the houses of their devotees. The priests, who were entitled to a part of the meat that was offered in sacrifice, would expose it to…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1The danger of having a high conceit of knowledge. (1-6) The mischief of offending weak brethren. (7-13) Verses 1-6 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…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1Paul addresses the Corinthians' question about eating food offered to idols. In the Greco-Roman world, temples and shrines dedicated to pagan gods were common. Worshipers often offered animal sacrifices, and pagan priests sold the extra meat in the market. Christians wondered if they could eat this meat. Was meat from a sacrifice to a pagan god impure? Paul does not mention the Jewish Christian leaders' prohibition in Acts 15:20, 29. Instead, he stresses…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-131Co 8:1-13. On Partaking of Meats Offered to Idols. 1. Though to those knowing that an idol has no existence, the question of eating meats offered to idols (referred to in the letter of the Corinthians, compare 1Co 7:1) might seem unimportant, it is not so with some, and the infirmities of such should be respected. The portions of the victims not offered on the altars belonged partly to the priests, partly to the offerers; and were eaten at feasts in the…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Corinthians 8:1

• Commandments
• Fraternity
• Idolatry
• Love
• Pride
• Wisdom

In the dictionaries

• Charity
• Commend
• Offend
• Perish
• Touching
• Builder
• Corinthians, First Epistle to the
• Food
• Gnosticism
• Jude, the Epistle of

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 8

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings