1 Corinthians 8-10
King James Version
8 Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.
2 And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.
3 But if any man love God, the same is known of him.
4 As 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.
5 For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,)
6 But 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.
7 Howbeit 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.
8 But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse.
9 But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.
10 For 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;
11 And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?
12 But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.
13 Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.
9 Am I am not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?
2 If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.
3 Mine answer to them that do examine me is this,
4 Have we not power to eat and to drink?
5 Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?
6 Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?
7 Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?
8 Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also?
9 For it is written in the law of Moses, thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen?
10 Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.
11 If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?
12 If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.
13 Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar?
14 Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.
15 But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void.
16 For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!
17 For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.
18 What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.
19 For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.
20 And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;
21 To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.
22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
23 And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.
24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
10 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;
2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat;
4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.
8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.
9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.
10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
11 Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
14 Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.
15 I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.
16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?
17 For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.
18 Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?
19 What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing?
20 But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.
21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils.
22 Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?
23 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.
24 Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth.
25 Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake:
26 For the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof.
27 If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake.
28 But if any man say unto you, this is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof:
29 Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience?
30 For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks?
31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
32 Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:
33 Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.
1 Corinthians 8-10
New King James Version
Be Sensitive to Conscience
8 Now (A)concerning things offered to idols: We know that we all have (B)knowledge. (C)Knowledge [a]puffs up, but love [b]edifies. 2 And (D)if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know. 3 But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him.
4 Therefore concerning the eating of things offered to idols, we know that (E)an idol is nothing in the world, (F)and that there is no other God but one. 5 For even if there are (G)so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords), 6 yet (H)for us there is one God, the Father, (I)of whom are all things, and we for Him; and (J)one Lord Jesus Christ, (K)through whom are all things, and (L)through whom we live.
7 However, there is not in everyone that knowledge; for some, (M)with consciousness of the idol, until now eat it as a thing offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is (N)defiled. 8 But (O)food does not commend us to God; for neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we do not eat are we the worse.
9 But (P)beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become (Q)a [c]stumbling block to those who are weak. 10 For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will not (R)the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things offered to idols? 11 And (S)because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? 12 But (T)when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, (U)if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.
A Pattern of Self-Denial
9 Am (V)I not an apostle? Am I not free? (W)Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? (X)Are you not my work in the Lord? 2 If I am not an apostle to others, yet doubtless I am to you. For you are (Y)the [d]seal of my apostleship in the Lord.
3 My defense to those who examine me is this: 4 (Z)Do we have no [e]right to eat and drink? 5 Do we have no right to take along [f]a believing wife, as do also the other apostles, (AA)the brothers of the Lord, and (AB)Cephas? 6 Or is it only Barnabas and I (AC)who have no right to refrain from working? 7 Who ever (AD)goes to war at his own expense? Who (AE)plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Or who (AF)tends a flock and does not drink of the milk of the flock?
8 Do I say these things as a mere man? Or does not the law say the same also? 9 For it is written in the law of Moses, (AG)“You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain.” Is it oxen God is concerned about? 10 Or does He say it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written, that (AH)he who plows should plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope. 11 (AI)If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things? 12 If others are partakers of this right over you, are we not even more?
(AJ)Nevertheless we have not used this right, but endure all things (AK)lest we hinder the gospel of Christ. 13 (AL)Do you not know that those who minister the holy things eat of the things of the (AM)temple, and those who serve at the altar partake of the offerings of the altar? 14 Even so (AN)the Lord has commanded (AO)that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel.
15 But (AP)I have used none of these things, nor have I written these things that it should be done so to me; for (AQ)it would be better for me to die than that anyone should make my boasting void. 16 For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for (AR)necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel! 17 For if I do this willingly, (AS)I have a reward; but if against my will, (AT)I have been entrusted with a stewardship. 18 What is my reward then? That (AU)when I preach the gospel, I may present the gospel [g]of Christ without charge, that I (AV)may not abuse my authority in the gospel.
Serving All Men
19 For though I am (AW)free from all men, (AX)I have made myself a servant to all, (AY)that I might win the more; 20 and (AZ)to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the [h]law, that I might win those who are under the law; 21 (BA)to (BB)those who are without law, as without law (BC)(not being without [i]law toward God, but under [j]law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; 22 (BD)to the weak I became [k]as weak, that I might win the weak. (BE)I have become all things to all men, (BF)that I might by all means save some. 23 Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you.
Striving for a Crown
24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? (BG)Run in such a way that you may [l]obtain it. 25 And everyone who competes for the prize [m]is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for (BH)an imperishable crown. 26 Therefore I run thus: (BI)not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. 27 (BJ)But I discipline my body and (BK)bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become (BL)disqualified.
Old Testament Examples
10 Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under (BM)the cloud, all passed through (BN)the sea, 2 all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3 all ate the same (BO)spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same (BP)spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. 5 But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies (BQ)were scattered in the wilderness.
6 Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as (BR)they also lusted. 7 (BS)And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, (BT)“The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.” 8 (BU)Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as (BV)some of them did, and (BW)in one day twenty-three thousand fell; 9 nor let us [n]tempt Christ, as (BX)some of them also tempted, and (BY)were destroyed by serpents; 10 nor complain, as (BZ)some of them also complained, and (CA)were destroyed by (CB)the destroyer. 11 Now [o]all these things happened to them as examples, and (CC)they were written for our [p]admonition, (CD)upon whom the ends of the ages have come.
12 Therefore (CE)let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but (CF)God is faithful, (CG)who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to [q]bear it.
Flee from Idolatry
14 Therefore, my beloved, (CH)flee from idolatry. 15 I speak as to (CI)wise men; judge for yourselves what I say. 16 (CJ)The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the [r]communion of the blood of Christ? (CK)The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? 17 For (CL)we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread.
18 Observe (CM)Israel (CN)after the flesh: (CO)Are not those who eat of the sacrifices [s]partakers of the altar? 19 What am I saying then? (CP)That an idol is anything, or what is offered to idols is anything? 20 Rather, that the things which the Gentiles (CQ)sacrifice (CR)they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons. 21 (CS)You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and (CT)the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the (CU)Lord’s table and of the table of demons. 22 Or do we (CV)provoke the Lord to jealousy? (CW)Are we stronger than He?
All to the Glory of God(CX)
23 All things are lawful [t]for me, but not all things are (CY)helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things [u]edify. 24 Let no one seek his own, but each one (CZ)the other’s well-being.
25 (DA)Eat whatever is sold in the meat market, asking no questions for conscience’ sake; 26 for (DB)“the earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness.”
27 If any of those who do not believe invites you to dinner, and you desire to go, (DC)eat whatever is set before you, asking no question for conscience’ sake. 28 But if anyone says to you, “This was offered to idols,” do not eat it (DD)for the sake of the one who told you, and for conscience’ sake; [v]for (DE)“the earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness.” 29 “Conscience,” I say, not your own, but that of the other. For (DF)why is my liberty judged by another man’s conscience? 30 But if I partake with thanks, why am I evil spoken of for the food (DG)over which I give thanks?
31 (DH)Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 (DI)Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God, 33 just (DJ)as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.
Footnotes
- 1 Corinthians 8:1 makes arrogant
- 1 Corinthians 8:1 builds up
- 1 Corinthians 8:9 cause of offense
- 1 Corinthians 9:2 certification
- 1 Corinthians 9:4 authority
- 1 Corinthians 9:5 Lit. a sister, a wife
- 1 Corinthians 9:18 NU omits of Christ
- 1 Corinthians 9:20 NU adds though not being myself under the law
- 1 Corinthians 9:21 NU God’s law
- 1 Corinthians 9:21 NU Christ’s law
- 1 Corinthians 9:22 NU omits as
- 1 Corinthians 9:24 win
- 1 Corinthians 9:25 exercises self-control
- 1 Corinthians 10:9 test
- 1 Corinthians 10:11 NU omits all
- 1 Corinthians 10:11 instruction
- 1 Corinthians 10:13 endure
- 1 Corinthians 10:16 fellowship or sharing
- 1 Corinthians 10:18 fellowshippers or sharers
- 1 Corinthians 10:23 NU omits for me
- 1 Corinthians 10:23 build up
- 1 Corinthians 10:28 NU omits the rest of v. 28.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
