1 Now concerning those things that are sacrificed to idols: we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but charity builds up. 2 But if anyone considers himself to know anything, he does not yet know in the way that he ought to know. 3 For if anyone loves God, he is known by him. 4 But as to the foods that are immolated to idols, we know that an idol in the world is nothing, and that no one is God, except One. 5 For although there are things that are called gods, whether in heaven or on earth, (if one even considers there to be many gods and many lords) 6 yet we know that there is only one God, the Father, from whom all things are, and in whom we are, and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom all things are, and by whom we are. 7 But knowledge is not in everyone. For some persons, even now, with consent to an idol, eat what has been sacrificed to an idol. And their conscience, being infirm, becomes polluted. 8 Yet food does not commend us to God. For if we eat, we will not have more, and if we do not eat, we will not have less. 9 But be careful not to let your liberty become a cause of sin to those who are weak. 10 For if anyone sees someone with knowledge sitting down to eat in idolatry, will not his own conscience, being infirm, be emboldened to eat what has been sacrificed to idols? 11 And should an infirm brother perish by your knowledge, even though Christ died for him? 12 So when you sin in this way against the brothers, and you harm their weakened conscience, then you sin against Christ. 13 Because of this, if food leads my brother to sin, I will never eat meat, lest I lead my brother to sin.
1 Corinthians · Catholic Public Domain Version
1 Corinthians 8 Catholic Public Domain Version
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
Notes on this text (3)
- Esther and Daniel are the Vulgate books (Esther 1–16 with the Greek additions as chapters 10:4–16; Daniel 1–14 with the Song of the Three, Susanna and Bel). Baruch 6 is the Letter of Jeremiah.
- The translator's footnotes, cross-references, chapter summaries and book introductions in the CrossWire module are not shown.
- No imprimatur; single translator.
Cross references (13)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 1 Corinthians 8:7; Isaiah 5:21; Romans 14:3; 1 Corinthians 8:4; Revelation 2:14
- 2 1 Corinthians 13:12; 1 Corinthians 3:18; Galatians 6:3; Proverbs 26:12; 1 Timothy 6:3–4
- 3 Revelation 3:8–9; Exodus 33:17; Nahum 1:7; 2 Timothy 2:19; 1 Corinthians 2:9
- 4 Deuteronomy 4:39; 1 Corinthians 10:19–20; Ephesians 4:6; Deuteronomy 6:4; 1 Timothy 2:5
- 5 Galatians 4:8; Jeremiah 2:28; 2 Thessalonians 2:4; Jeremiah 11:13; Jeremiah 2:11
- 6 Romans 11:36; John 1:3; Malachi 2:10; Hebrews 1:2–3; Colossians 1:16–17
- 7 Romans 14:14; 1 Corinthians 10:28–29; 1 Corinthians 8:9–10; Romans 14:22–23; 1 Corinthians 1:10–11
- 8 Romans 14:17; Hebrews 13:9; 1 Corinthians 6:13; Colossians 2:20–23
- 9 Galatians 5:13; Romans 14:20–21; 1 Peter 2:16; 2 Peter 2:19; Romans 14:1–2
- 10 1 Corinthians 10:28–29; 1 Corinthians 8:4; Romans 14:23; 1 Corinthians 10:20–21; 1 Corinthians 8:1–2
- 11 Romans 14:15; Romans 15:1–3; 1 Corinthians 8:13; 1 Corinthians 10:33–11:1; Romans 14:20–21
- 12 Matthew 18:6; Matthew 25:45; 1 Corinthians 12:12; 1 Samuel 2:25; Acts 9:4–5
- 13 Romans 14:21; 2 Corinthians 11:29; 2 Corinthians 6:3; 1 Corinthians 6:12; 1 Corinthians 13:5
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
It is necessary first to say what the meaning of this passage is: for so shall we readily comprehend the Apostle's discourse. For he that sees a charge brought against any one, except he first perceive the nature of the offence will not understand what is said. What then is it of which he was then accusing the Corinthians?
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 12 (1889)
And for this reason Paul exclaimed, "Knowledge puffeth up, but love edifieth:" not that he meant to inveigh against a true knowledge of God, for in that case he would have accused himself; but, because he knew that some, puffed up by the pretence of knowledge, fall away from the love of God, and imagine that they themselves are perfect, …
For now, filled with my punishment, I had begun to desire to seem wise; yet mourned I not, but rather was puffed up with knowledge. For where was that charity building upon the "foundation" of humility, "which is Jesus Christ"?
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 1 (1886)
He again, to put an end to his fears and the other's disputatiousness, says, "For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink." Is it by these, he means, that we are to be approved? As he says in another passage too, "Neither if we eat are we the better, neither if we eat not are we the worse." …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 11 (1889)
For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or on earth; yet to us there is One God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in Him; and One Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and we through Him.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 7 (1894)