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1 Corinthians 8
Disciples’ Literal New Testament
1 Corinthians 8
Disciples’ Literal New Testament
Concerning Food Sacrificed To Idols: Let Love Guide Your Exercise of “Rights”
8 Now concerning the foods-sacrificed-to-idols, we know that we all have knowledge[a]. Knowledge puffs-up, but love builds-up. 2 If anyone thinks that he has come-to-know anything, he did not-yet know as he ought-to know. 3 But if one loves[b] God, this one has been known by Him. 4 Therefore concerning the eating of the foods-sacrificed-to-idols— we know that an idol is nothing[c] in the world, and that there is no God except one. 5 For even if-indeed there are ones being called gods, whether in heaven or on earth— as-indeed there are many[d] gods and many lords— 6 yet for us there is One God the Father, from Whom are all things, and we are[e] for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through Whom are all things, and we are through Him. 7 But this knowledge is not in all people. But some, by the accustomed-habit[f] of the idol until now, eat this food as[g] food-sacrificed-to-an-idol. And their conscience, being weak, is stained[h]. 8 But food will not bring us[i] near[j] to God— neither if we do not eat are we lacking, nor if we eat are we abounding. 9 But be watching-out that this right[k] of yours does not somehow become an opportunity-for-stumbling to the weak ones. 10 For if someone sees you, the one having knowledge, reclining [to eat] in an idol-temple, will not his conscience, being weak, be built-up so as to eat the foods-sacrificed-to-idols? 11 For the one being weak is being destroyed[l] by your knowledge— the brother for the sake of whom Christ died! 12 And in this manner sinning against the brothers and striking[m] their conscience while being weak, you are sinning against Christ.
On The One Hand, I Will Not Do Anything That Hinders People’s Spiritual Advance
13 For-this-very-reason, if food causes my brother to fall, I will never eat meats, ever— in-order-that I may not cause my brother to fall.
Footnotes
- 1 Corinthians 8:1 Before Paul gives the content of such knowledge in v 4-6, he corrects the spirit of such a statement.
- 1 Corinthians 8:3 Love is the heart of our relationship with God, not knowledge.
- 1 Corinthians 8:4 Or, that there is no idol (no genuine representation of any god).
- 1 Corinthians 8:5 Paul later calls them demons, 10:20.
- 1 Corinthians 8:6 Or, exist.
- 1 Corinthians 8:7 Or, habitual-use.
- 1 Corinthians 8:7 That is, as if the sacrifice, the eating, and the food still carry their old meanings.
- 1 Corinthians 8:7 Or, soiled, dirtied.
- 1 Corinthians 8:8 That is, us having knowledge, whose choices are the focus of the entire discussion in chapters 8-10.
- 1 Corinthians 8:8 Or, present us to God (for reward or judgment).
- 1 Corinthians 8:9 That is, this right to eat such food.
- 1 Corinthians 8:11 Or, ruined.
- 1 Corinthians 8:12 Or, assaulting, wounding.
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
King James Version
1 Corinthians 8
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.
Disciples’ Literal New Testament (DLNT) 
Disciples' Literal New Testament: Serving Modern Disciples by More Fully Reflecting the Writing Style of the Ancient Disciples, Copyright © 2011 Michael J. Magill. All Rights Reserved. Published by Reyma Publishing
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.