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1 Corinthians 8
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
1 Corinthians 8
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
B. Offerings to Idols[a]
Chapter 8
Knowledge Insufficient. 1 Now in regard to meat sacrificed to idols:[b] we realize that “all of us have knowledge”; knowledge inflates with pride, but love builds up.(A) 2 If anyone supposes he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. 3 But if one loves God, one is known by him.(B)
4 So about the eating of meat sacrificed to idols: we know that “there is no idol in the world,” and that “there is no God but one.”(C) 5 Indeed, even though there are so-called gods in heaven and on earth (there are, to be sure, many “gods” and many “lords”), 6 [c]yet for us there is
one God, the Father,
from whom all things are and for whom we exist,
and one Lord, Jesus Christ,
through whom all things are and through whom we exist.(D)
Practical Rules. 7 But not all have this knowledge. There are some who have been so used to idolatry up until now that, when they eat meat sacrificed to idols, their conscience, which is weak, is defiled.(E)
8 [d]Now food will not bring us closer to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, nor are we better off if we do.(F) 9 But make sure that this liberty of yours in no way becomes a stumbling block to the weak.(G) 10 If someone sees you, with your knowledge, reclining at table in the temple of an idol, may not his conscience too, weak as it is, be “built up” to eat the meat sacrificed to idols? 11 Thus through your knowledge, the weak person is brought to destruction, the brother for whom Christ died.(H) 12 When you sin in this way against your brothers and wound their consciences, weak as they are, you are sinning against Christ. 13 [e](I)Therefore, if food causes my brother to sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I may not cause my brother to sin.
Footnotes
- 8:1–11:1 The Corinthians’ second question concerns meat that has been sacrificed to idols; in this area they were exhibiting a disordered sense of liberation that Paul here tries to rectify. These chapters contain a sustained and unified argument that illustrates Paul’s method of theological reflection on a moral dilemma. Although the problem with which he is dealing is dated, the guidelines for moral decisions that he offers are of lasting validity. Essentially Paul urges them to take a communitarian rather than an individualistic view of their Christian freedom. Many decisions that they consider pertinent only to their private relationship with God have, in fact, social consequences. Nor can moral decisions be determined by merely theoretical considerations; they must be based on concrete circumstances, specifically on the value and needs of other individuals and on mutual responsibility within the community. Paul here introduces the theme of “building up” (oikodomē), i.e., of contributing by individual action to the welfare and growth of the community. This theme will be further developed in 1 Cor 14; see note on 1 Cor 14:3b–5. Several years later Paul would again deal with the problem of meat sacrificed to idols in Rom 14:1–15:6.
- 8:1a Meat sacrificed to idols: much of the food consumed in the city could have passed through pagan religious ceremonies before finding its way into markets and homes. “All of us have knowledge”: a slogan, similar to 1 Cor 6:12, which reveals the self-image of the Corinthians. 1 Cor 8:4 will specify the content of this knowledge.
- 8:6 This verse rephrases the monotheistic confession of v 4 in such a way as to contrast it with polytheism (1 Cor 8:5) and to express our relationship with the one God in concrete, i.e., in personal and Christian terms. And for whom we exist: since the Greek contains no verb here and the action intended must be inferred from the preposition eis, another translation is equally possible: “toward whom we return.” Through whom all things: the earliest reference in the New Testament to Jesus’ role in creation.
- 8:8–9 Although the food in itself is morally neutral, extrinsic circumstances may make the eating of it harmful. A stumbling block: the image is that of tripping or causing someone to fall (cf. 1 Cor 8:13; 9:12; 10:12, 32; 2 Cor 6:3; Rom 14:13, 20–1). This is a basic moral imperative for Paul, a counterpart to the positive imperative to “build one another up”; compare the expression “giving offense” as opposed to “pleasing” in 1 Cor 10:32–33.
- 8:13 His own course is clear: he will avoid any action that might harm another Christian. This statement prepares for the paradigmatic development in 1 Cor 9.
1 Corinthians 8
New International Version
1 Corinthians 8
New International Version
Concerning Food Sacrificed to Idols
8 Now about food sacrificed to idols:(A) We know that “We all possess knowledge.”(B) But knowledge puffs up while love builds up. 2 Those who think they know something(C) do not yet know as they ought to know.(D) 3 But whoever loves God is known by God.[a](E)
4 So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols:(F) We know that “An idol is nothing at all in the world”(G) and that “There is no God but one.”(H) 5 For even if there are so-called gods,(I) whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”), 6 yet for us there is but one God,(J) the Father,(K) from whom all things came(L) and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord,(M) Jesus Christ, through whom all things came(N) and through whom we live.
7 But not everyone possesses this knowledge.(O) Some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat sacrificial food they think of it as having been sacrificed to a god, and since their conscience is weak,(P) it is defiled. 8 But food does not bring us near to God;(Q) we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.
9 Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block(R) to the weak.(S) 10 For if someone with a weak conscience sees you, with all your knowledge, eating in an idol’s temple, won’t that person be emboldened to eat what is sacrificed to idols?(T) 11 So this weak brother or sister, for whom Christ died, is destroyed(U) by your knowledge. 12 When you sin against them(V) in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.(W) 13 Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause them to fall.(X)
Footnotes
- 1 Corinthians 8:3 An early manuscript and another ancient witness think they have knowledge do not yet know as they ought to know. 3 But whoever loves truly knows.
1 Corinthians 8
New King James Version
1 Corinthians 8
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.
Footnotes
- 1 Corinthians 8:1 makes arrogant
- 1 Corinthians 8:1 builds up
- 1 Corinthians 8:9 cause of offense
1 Corinthians 8
English Standard Version
1 Corinthians 8
English Standard Version
Food Offered to Idols
8 Now concerning[a] (A)food offered to idols: we know that (B)“all of us possess knowledge.” This “knowledge” (C)puffs up, (D)but love builds up. 2 (E)If anyone imagines that he knows something, (F)he does not yet know as he ought to know. 3 But if anyone loves God, (G)he is known by God.[b]
4 Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that (H)“an idol has no real existence,” and that (I)“there is no God but one.” 5 For although there may be (J)so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”— 6 yet (K)for us there is one God, the Father, (L)from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and (M)one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and (N)through whom we exist.
7 However, not all possess this knowledge. But some, (O)through former association with idols, eat food as really offered to an idol, and (P)their conscience, being weak, is defiled. 8 (Q)Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. 9 But take care (R)that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block (S)to the weak. 10 For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating[c] in an idol's temple, will he not be encouraged,[d] if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? 11 And so by your knowledge this weak person is (T)destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. 12 Thus, sinning against your brothers[e] and (U)wounding their conscience when it is weak, (V)you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, (W)if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.
Footnotes
- 1 Corinthians 8:1 The expression Now concerning introduces a reply to a question in the Corinthians' letter; see 7:1
- 1 Corinthians 8:3 Greek him
- 1 Corinthians 8:10 Greek reclining at table
- 1 Corinthians 8:10 Or fortified; Greek built up
- 1 Corinthians 8:12 Or brothers and sisters
New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)
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New International Version (NIV) 
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New King James Version (NKJV) 
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English Standard Version (ESV) 
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.