1 Corinthians 8
8
Food Offered to Idols
1Now concerning#8:1 The expression Now concerning introduces a reply to a question in the Corinthians’ letter; see 7:1 #ver. 4, 7, 10; See Acts 15:29 food offered to idols: we know that #See Rom. 15:14 “all of us possess knowledge.” This “knowledge” #Rom. 14:3 puffs up, #ch. 13:4-13but love builds up. 2#Gal. 6:3; [ch. 3:18] If anyone imagines that he knows something, #[ch. 13:8, 9, 12; 1 Tim. 6:3, 4]he does not yet know as he ought to know. 3But if anyone loves God, #Gal. 4:9; [Ex. 33:12, 17; Jer. 1:5; Nah. 1:7; 2 Tim. 2:19]he is known by God.#8:3 Greek him
4Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that #ch. 10:19; Isa. 41:24; [Acts 14:15] “an idol has no real existence,” and that #ver. 6; See Deut. 4:35, 39“there is no God but one.” 5For although there may be #2 Thess. 2:4so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”— 6yet #ver. 4; Mal. 2:10; Eph. 4:6 for us there is one God, the Father, #See Rom. 11:36 from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and #Eph. 4:5; [ch. 1:2; 1 Tim. 2:5]; See John 13:13 one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and #John 1:3; Col. 1:16through whom we exist.
7However, not all possess this knowledge. But some, #[Rom. 14:14, 22, 23] through former association with idols, eat food as really offered to an idol, and #ch. 10:25, 28, 29their conscience, being weak, is defiled. 8#Rom. 14:17Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. 9But take care #[ch. 10:23; Rom. 14:21; Gal. 5:13] that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block #Rom. 14:1, 2to the weak. 10For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating#8:10 Greek reclining at table in an idol’s temple, will he not be encouraged,#8:10 Or fortified; Greek built up if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? 11And so by your knowledge this weak person is #Rom. 14:15, 20destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. 12Thus, sinning against your brothers#8:12 Or brothers and sisters and #[Zech. 2:8; Matt. 18:6] wounding their conscience when it is weak, #[Matt. 25:45]you sin against Christ. 13Therefore, #Rom. 14:13, 21; [2 Cor. 6:3; 11:29]if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.
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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
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1 Corinthians 8
8
Food Offered to Idols
1About food offered to idols: # Ac 15:29; 21:25; 1Co 10:19; Rv 2:14,20 We know that “we all have knowledge.” # See note at 1Co 6:12-13. Knowledge inflates with pride, # 1Co 4:6 but love # 1Co 13:1-13 builds up. 2If anyone thinks he knows anything, he does not yet know it as he ought to know it. # 1Co 3:18; 13:8-12; 1Tm 6:4 3But if anyone loves God, # Dt 6:5; Lk 10:27 he is known # Pr 2:6 by Him.
4About eating food offered to idols, then, we know that “an idol is nothing in the world,” and that “there is no God but one.” # Dt 6:4 5For even if there are so-called gods, # 2Th 2:4 whether in heaven or on earth — as there are many “gods” and many “lords” —
6yet for us there is one God, the Father. # Mt 5:16; 11:27; Lk 11:13; Jn 8:42; Eph 5:20
All things are from Him, # Ps 104:24; Col 1:16; Rv 3:14
and we exist for Him.
And there is one Lord, Jesus Christ.
All things are through Him,
and we exist through Him. # Jn 1:3
7However, not everyone has this knowledge. In fact, some have been so used to idolatry up until now that when they eat food offered to an idol, their conscience, being weak, is defiled. 8Food will not make us acceptable to God. We are not inferior if we don’t eat, and we are not better if we do eat. # Rm 14:17 9But be careful that this right of yours in no way becomes a stumbling block # Ex 23:33; Rm 14:20 to the weak. 10For if someone sees you, the one who has this knowledge, dining in an idol’s temple, won’t his weak conscience be encouraged to eat food offered to idols? 11Then the weak person, the brother for whom Christ died, # Jn 11:51; Rm 5:6,8; 8:34; 14:9,15; 1Co 15:3; Gl 2:21; Eph 5:2; 1Th 5:10 is ruined # Or destroyed # Heb 6:8 by your knowledge. # Mt 25:45 12Now when you sin like this against the brothers and wound their weak conscience, you are sinning against Christ. 13Therefore, if food causes my brother to fall, I will never again eat meat, # Dt 12:15 so that I won’t cause my brother to fall.
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