The Bible — World English Bible

1 Corinthians 8

In brief

In 1 Corinthians 8, Paul answers a concrete question: may we eat meat sacrificed to idols? He grants that idols are nothing, since there is only one God and one Lord, Jesus Christ. But he reminds them that knowledge puffs up, while love builds up. Some brothers, still marked by their past, have a fragile conscience. Paul asks the stronger ones to give up their freedom rather than cause a brother for whom Christ died to fall.

The chapter in 3 parts

  1. v. 1-3Knowledge puffs up, love builds up
  2. v. 4-6One God and one Lord
  3. v. 7-13The conscience of the weak brother and the responsibility of the strong

1Now concerning things sacrificed to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.

2But if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he doesn’t yet know as he ought to know.

3But if anyone loves God, the same is known by him.

4Therefore concerning the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that no idol is anything in the world, and that there is no other God but one.

5For though there are things that are called “gods”, whether in the heavens or on earth; as there are many “gods” and many “lords”;

6yet to us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and we live through him.

7However, that knowledge isn’t in all men. But some, with consciousness of the idol until now, eat as of a thing sacrificed to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled.

8But food will not commend us to God. For neither, if we don’t eat, are we the worse; nor, if we eat, are we the better.

9But be careful that by no means does this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to the weak.

10For if a man sees you who have knowledge sitting in an idol’s temple, won’t his conscience, if he is weak, be emboldened to eat things sacrificed to idols?

11And through your knowledge, he who is weak perishes, the brother for whose sake Christ died.

12Thus, sinning against the brothers, and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ.

13Therefore if food causes my brother to stumble, I will eat no meat forever more, that I don’t cause my brother to stumble.

Key verses

Verse 1
Now concerning things sacrificed to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.

Knowledge alone makes proud, while love builds. Paul does not despise knowledge, he gives it its proper place.

Verse 6
yet to us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and we live through him.

For Christians there is only one God, the Father, and one Lord, Jesus Christ. This is why idols are nothing.

Verse 9
But be careful that by no means does this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to the weak.

Paul warns the stronger ones: freedom must not become a stumbling block for the weak. You can be right and still hurt someone.

Verse 13
Therefore if food causes my brother to stumble, I will eat no meat forever more, that I don’t cause my brother to stumble.

Paul ends with his own example: he is ready never to eat meat again if it makes his brother stumble. Freedom is lived in the service of love.

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What the sermons say

Can Your Christian Freedom Wound Your Brother?Église Protestante Évangélique de Paris Beaugrenelle: Bill Cameron reads the chapter in three movements, from knowledge that makes proud to the conscience of the brother, then asks whether your freedom serves to build up or to show off.Read the summary →Living Out Christian Freedom Through LoveÉglise Connexion: Jason Procopio applies the chapter to gray areas, those subjects on which Christians disagree. True freedom means knowing how to give them up out of love.Read the summary →The Freedom to Give Up Your Freedom for the GospelÉglise Connexion: this sermon starts from chapter 8 and applies it to the wallet. As Paul gives up his right to be paid, the believer gives up a legitimate right so as not to hinder the Gospel.Read the summary →We Are Spiritual DoctorsHamadera Bible Church: the preacher describes the weak brother as one who lacks discernment on matters of conscience, and calls the more mature to bear with him and support him.Read the summary →

Frequently asked questions about 1 Corinthians 8

Can we eat meat sacrificed to idols according to 1 Corinthians 8?

Paul answers that, in itself, yes: the idol is nothing and food does not bring us closer to God. But he asks us to give it up if it causes a brother with a fragile conscience to stumble. The question is not only what is permitted, but what is good for others.

What does “knowledge puffs up, but love builds up” mean?

Paul contrasts two ways of using what we know. Knowledge without love makes proud and pushes us to show ourselves superior. Love builds, because it seeks the good of the other. The verb for building up is the one used for building a house.

Who is the weak brother in 1 Corinthians 8?

He is a believer whose conscience has not yet been enlightened, often still marked by his former life of idolatry. He may feel defiled on seeing another eat this meat. Paul asks the stronger ones not to despise him and not to lead him to act against his conscience.

Articles quoting 1 Corinthians 8

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World English Bible translation — public domain.