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1 Corinthians 8

1 Cor. 8:1 KJV (With Strong’s)

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1
Now
ho (Greek #3588)
the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
KJV usage: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.
Pronounce: ho
Origin: ἡ (hay), and the neuter τό (to) in all their inflections
de (Greek #1161)
but, and, etc.
KJV usage: also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English).
Pronounce: deh
Origin: a primary particle (adversative or continuative)
as touching
peri (Greek #4012)
properly, through (all over), i.e. around; figuratively with respect to; used in various applications, of place, cause or time (with the genitive case denoting the subject or occasion or superlative point; with the accusative case the locality, circuit, matter, circumstance or general period)
KJV usage: (there-)about, above, against, at, on behalf of, X and his company, which concern, (as) concerning, for, X how it will go with, ((there-, where-)) of, on, over, pertaining (to), for sake, X (e-)state, (as) touching, (where-)by (in), with. In comparative, it retains substantially the same meaning of circuit (around), excess (beyond), or completeness (through).
Pronounce: per-ee'
Origin: from the base of 4008
things offeredq unto idols
eidolothuton (Greek #1494)
an image-sacrifice, i.e. part of an idolatrous offering
KJV usage: (meat, thing that is) offered (in sacrifice, sacrificed) to (unto) idols.
Pronounce: i-do-loth'-oo-ton
Origin: neuter of a compound of 1497 and a presumed derivative of 2380
, we know
eido (Greek #1492)
used only in certain past tenses, the others being borrowed from the equivalent 3700 and 3708; properly, to see (literally or figuratively); by implication, (in the perfect tense only) to know
KJV usage: be aware, behold, X can (+ not tell), consider, (have) know(-ledge), look (on), perceive, see, be sure, tell, understand, wish, wot. Compare 3700.
Pronounce: i'-do
Origin: a primary verb
that
hoti (Greek #3754)
demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because
KJV usage: as concerning that, as though, because (that), for (that), how (that), (in) that, though, why.
Pronounce: hot'-ee
Origin: neuter of 3748 as conjunction
we
echo (Greek #2192)
(used in certain tenses only) a primary verb; to hold (used in very various applications, literally or figuratively, direct or remote; such as possession; ability, contiuity, relation, or condition)
KJV usage: be (able, X hold, possessed with), accompany, + begin to amend, can(+ -not), X conceive, count, diseased, do + eat, + enjoy, + fear, following, have, hold, keep, + lack, + go to law, lie, + must needs, + of necessity, + need, next, + recover, + reign, + rest, + return, X sick, take for, + tremble, + uncircumcised, use.
Pronounce: ekh'-o
Origin: σχέω (skheh'-o)
all
pas (Greek #3956)
apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole
KJV usage: all (manner of, means), alway(-s), any (one), X daily, + ever, every (one, way), as many as, + no(-thing), X thoroughly, whatsoever, whole, whosoever.
Pronounce: pas
Origin: including all the forms of declension
have
echo (Greek #2192)
(used in certain tenses only) a primary verb; to hold (used in very various applications, literally or figuratively, direct or remote; such as possession; ability, contiuity, relation, or condition)
KJV usage: be (able, X hold, possessed with), accompany, + begin to amend, can(+ -not), X conceive, count, diseased, do + eat, + enjoy, + fear, following, have, hold, keep, + lack, + go to law, lie, + must needs, + of necessity, + need, next, + recover, + reign, + rest, + return, X sick, take for, + tremble, + uncircumcised, use.
Pronounce: ekh'-o
Origin: σχέω (skheh'-o)
knowledge
gnosis (Greek #1108)
knowing (the act), i.e. (by implication) knowledge
KJV usage: knowledge, science.
Pronounce: gno'-sis
Origin: from 1097
t. Knowledge
ho (Greek #3588)
the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
KJV usage: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.
Pronounce: ho
Origin: ἡ (hay), and the neuter τό (to) in all their inflections
gnosis (Greek #1108)
knowing (the act), i.e. (by implication) knowledge
KJV usage: knowledge, science.
Pronounce: gno'-sis
Origin: from 1097
u puffeth up
phusioo (Greek #5448)
to inflate, i.e. (figuratively) make proud (haughty)
KJV usage: puff up.
Pronounce: foo-see-o'-o
Origin: from 5449 in the primary sense of blowing
, but
de (Greek #1161)
but, and, etc.
KJV usage: also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English).
Pronounce: deh
Origin: a primary particle (adversative or continuative)
charity
agape (Greek #26)
love, i.e. affection or benevolence; specially (plural) a love-feast
KJV usage: (feast of) charity(-ably), dear, love.
Pronounce: ag-ah'-pay
Origin: from 25
v edifieth
oikodomeo (Greek #3618)
to be a house-builder, i.e. construct or (figuratively) confirm
KJV usage: (be in) build(-er, -ing, up), edify, embolden.
Pronounce: oy-kod-om-eh'-o
Origin: from the same as 3619
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q
Acts 15:10,20• 10Now therefore why tempt ye God, by putting a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?
 20but to write to them to abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from what is strangled, and from blood. (Acts 15:10,20)
t
Rom. 14:14,22• 14I know, and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean of itself; except to him who reckons anything to be unclean, to that man it is unclean.
 22Hast *thou* faith? have it to thyself before God. Blessed is he who does not judge himself in what he allows. (Rom. 14:14,22)
u
Isa. 47:10• 10For thou hast confided in thy wickedness: thou hast said, None seeth me. Thy wisdom and thy knowledge, it hath seduced thee; and thou hast said in thy heart, It is I, and there is none but me. (Isa. 47:10)
v
1 Cor. 13•  (1 Cor. 13)

More on:

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Charity,
Idolatry

Cross References

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Ministry on This Verse

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1-7:  To abstain from meats offered to idols.
8-10:  We must not abuse our Christian liberty, to the offence of our brethren;
11-13:  but must bridle our knowledge with charity.
touching.
1 Cor. 8:10• 10For if any one see thee, who hast knowledge, sitting at table in an idol-house, shall not his conscience, he being weak, be emboldened to eat the things sacrificed to the idol? (1 Cor. 8:10)
;
1 Cor. 10:19‑22,28• 19What then do I say? that what is sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything?
 20But that what the nations sacrifice they sacrifice to demons, and not to God. Now I do not wish you to be in communion with demons.
 21Ye cannot drink the Lord's cup, and the cup of demons: ye cannot partake of the Lord's table, and of the table of demons.
 22Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?
 28But if any one say to you, This is offered to holy purposes, do not eat, for his sake that pointed it out, and conscience sake; (1 Cor. 10:19‑22,28)
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Num. 25:2• 2And they invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods; and the people ate, and bowed down to their gods. (Num. 25:2)
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Acts 15:10,19‑20,29• 10Now therefore why tempt ye God, by putting a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?
 19Wherefore *I* judge, not to trouble those who from the nations turn to God;
 20but to write to them to abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from what is strangled, and from blood.
 29to abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what is strangled, and from fornication; keeping yourselves from which ye will do well. Farewell. (Acts 15:10,19‑20,29)
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Acts 21:25• 25But concerning those of the nations who have believed, we have written, deciding that they should observe no such thing, only to keep themselves both from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication. (Acts 21:25)
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Rev. 2:14,20• 14But I have a few things against thee: that thou hast there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a snare before the sons of Israel, to eat of idol sacrifices and commit fornication.
 20But I have against thee that thou permittest the woman Jezebel, she who calls herself prophetess, and she teaches and leads astray my servants to commit fornication and eat of idol sacrifices. (Rev. 2:14,20)
we are.
1 Cor. 8:2,4,7,11• 2If any one think he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know it.
 4--concerning then the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God save one.
 7But knowledge is not in all: but some, with conscience of the idol, until now eat as of a thing sacrificed to idols; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled.
 11and the weak one, the brother for whose sake Christ died, will perish through thy knowledge. (1 Cor. 8:2,4,7,11)
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1 Cor. 1:5• 5that in everything ye have been enriched in him, in all word of doctrine, and all knowledge, (1 Cor. 1:5)
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1 Cor. 4:10• 10*We* are fools for Christ's sake, but *ye* prudent in Christ: *we* weak, but *ye* strong: *ye* glorious, but *we* in dishonour. (1 Cor. 4:10)
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1 Cor. 13:2• 2And if I have prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. (1 Cor. 13:2)
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1 Cor. 14:20• 20Brethren, be not children in your minds, but in malice be babes; but in your minds be grown men. (1 Cor. 14:20)
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1 Cor. 15:34• 34Awake up righteously, and sin not; for some are ignorant of God: I speak to you as a matter of shame. (1 Cor. 15:34)
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Rom. 14:14,22• 14I know, and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean of itself; except to him who reckons anything to be unclean, to that man it is unclean.
 22Hast *thou* faith? have it to thyself before God. Blessed is he who does not judge himself in what he allows. (Rom. 14:14,22)
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Col. 2:18• 18Let no one fraudulently deprive you of your prize, doing his own will in humility and worship of angels, entering into things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by the mind of his flesh, (Col. 2:18)
Knowledge.
1 Cor. 4:18• 18But some have been puffed up, as if I were not coming to you; (1 Cor. 4:18)
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1 Cor. 5:2,6• 2And *ye* are puffed up, and ye have not rather mourned, in order that he that has done this deed might be taken away out of the midst of you.
 6Your boasting is not good. Do ye not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? (1 Cor. 5:2,6)
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1 Cor. 13:4• 4Love has long patience, is kind; love is not emulous of others; love is not insolent and rash, is not puffed up, (1 Cor. 13:4)
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Isa. 5:21• 21Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and intelligent in their own esteem! (Isa. 5:21)
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Isa. 47:10• 10For thou hast confided in thy wickedness: thou hast said, None seeth me. Thy wisdom and thy knowledge, it hath seduced thee; and thou hast said in thy heart, It is I, and there is none but me. (Isa. 47:10)
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Rom. 11:25• 25For I do not wish you to be ignorant, brethren, of this mystery, that ye may not be wise in your own conceits, that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the nations be come in; (Rom. 11:25)
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Rom. 12:16• 16Have the same respect one for another, not minding high things, but going along with the lowly: be not wise in your own eyes: (Rom. 12:16)
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Rom. 14:3,10• 3Let not him that eats make little of him that eats not; and let not him that eats not judge him that eats: for God has received him.
 10But thou, why judgest thou thy brother? or again, thou, why dost thou make little of thy brother? for we shall all be placed before the judgment-seat of God. (Rom. 14:3,10)
but.
1 Cor. 13:1‑13• 1If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.
 2And if I have prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
 3And if I shall dole out all my goods in food, and if I deliver up my body that I may be burned, but have not love, I profit nothing.
 4Love has long patience, is kind; love is not emulous of others; love is not insolent and rash, is not puffed up,
 5does not behave in an unseemly manner, does not seek what is its own, is not quickly provoked, does not impute evil,
 6does not rejoice at iniquity but rejoices with the truth,
 7bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
 8Love never fails; but whether prophecies, they shall be done away; or tongues, they shall cease; or knowledge, it shall be done away.
 9For we know in part, and we prophesy in part:
 10but when that which is perfect has come, that which is in part shall be done away.
 11When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I felt as a child, I reasoned as a child; when I became a man, I had done with what belonged to the child.
 12For we see now through a dim window obscurely, but then face to face; now I know partially, but then I shall know according as I also have been known.
 13And now abide faith, hope, love; these three things; and the greater of these is love. (1 Cor. 13:1‑13)
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Eph. 4:16• 16from whom the whole body, fitted together, and connected by every joint of supply, according to the working in its measure of each one part, works for itself the increase of the body to its self-building up in love. (Eph. 4:16)
• If we look at it as knowledge that we possess, it does but puff us up; it is something in me, my knowledge. True Christian knowledge unfolded something in God. By means of that which is revealed, God, better known, became greater to the soul. (“1 Corinthians 8” by J.N. Darby)
• If we look at it as knowledge that we possess, it does but puff us up; it is something in me, my knowledge. True Christian knowledge unfolded something in God. By means of that which is revealed, God, better known, became greater to the soul. (“1 Corinthians 8” by J.N. Darby)
• The apostle does not dispute that we Christians as such have knowledge; but he soon proceeds to show how empty it is without that love which brings in the consideration of others, and, above all, God Himself. (“Notes on 1 Corinthians 8” by W. Kelly)

J. N. Darby Translation

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1
But concerning things sacrificed to idols, we knowa, (for we all have knowledge: knowledge puffs up, but love edifies.

JND Translation Notes

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a
Two Greek words are used for "to know" in the New Testament -- ginosko and oida. The former signifies objective knowledge, what a man has learned or acquired. The English expression "being acquainted with" perhaps conveys the meaning. Oida conveys the thought of what is inward, the inward consciousness in the mind, intuitive knowledge not immediately derived from what is external. The difference between the two words is illustrated in John 8.55, "ye know (ginosko) him not; but I know (oida) him"; in John 13.7, "What I do thou dost not know (oida) now, but thou shalt know (ginosko) hereafter"; and in Heb. 8.11, "they shall not teach ... saying, Know (ginosko) the Lord; because all shall know (oida) me." The word oida is used of Christ as knowing the Father, and as knowing the hypocrisy of the Scribes and Pharisees, of Paul's knowledge of a "man in Christ," and of the Christian's knowledge that he has eternal life. "I know whom I have believed," 2 Tim. 1.12 -- I have the inward conscious knowledge of who the person is. see also 1 Cor. 16.15; 2 Tim. 3.14 and 15 -- all of these refer to inward conscious knowledge. The difference between the significance of the two words is often slight; and objective knowledge may pass into conscious knowledge, but not vice versa. The Greek for conscience is derived from oida. see ch. 4.4, "I am conscious of nothing in myself," that is, not conscious of any fault. In the present passage, "We know that an idol is nothing" is conscious knowledge. "we all have knowledge" and "knowledge puffs up" is objective knowledge. "If any one think he knows (conscious knowledge), he knows (objectively) nothing yet as he ought to know it (objectively)." "he is known (objectively) of him," so "knowledge," ver. 10.

W. Kelly Translation

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But concerning the things sacrificed to idols, we know that we all have knowledge; knowledge puffeth up, but love edifieth.