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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, that ye should put a yoke on the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
 20but write to them that they may 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 by itself; unless to him that reckoneth anything to be unclean, to him [it is] unclean.
 22Hast thou faith? to thyself have [it] before God. Happy [is] he that judgeth not himself in what he approveth; (Rom. 14:14,22)
u
Isa. 47:10•  (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 anyone see thee who hast knowledge sitting at table in an idol's temple, shall not his conscience, as he is weak, be emboldened to eat the things sacrificed to idols? (1 Cor. 8:10)
;
1 Cor. 10:19‑22,28• 19What say I then? that an idol-sacrifice is anything, or that an idol is anything?
 20but that what they sacrifice, they sacrificed to demons, and not to God; and I wish you not to be in fellowship with demons.
 21Ye cannot drink [the] Lord's cup, and a cup of demons; ye cannot partake of [the] Lord's table, and of a table of demons.
 22What! do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?
 28But if anyone say to you, This is sacrificed, eat not for his sake that pointed [it] out, and conscience; (1 Cor. 10:19‑22,28)
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Num. 25:2•  (Num. 25:2)
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Acts 15:10,19‑20,29• 10Now therefore why tempt ye God, that ye should put a yoke on the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
 19Wherefore my judgment is that we trouble not those who from the Gentiles turn to God,
 20but write to them that they may abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from what is strangled, and from blood.
 29to abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and blood, and things strangled, and fornication, from which if ye keep yourselves ye shall do well. Farewell. (Acts 15:10,19‑20,29)
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Acts 21:25• 25But, as touching the Gentiles that believed, we wrote, giving judgment, that they should keep themselves from things sacrificed to idols, and blood, and things strangled, and fornication. (Acts 21:25)
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Rev. 2:14,20• 14But I have a few things against thee, [because] thou hast there {i}some{/i} {i}that{/i} hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a stumbling-block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit fornication.
 20But I have against thee that thou lettest alone the woman Jezebel that calleth herself a prophetess; and she teacheth and deceiveth my servants to commit fornication and to eat things sacrificed to idols. (Rev. 2:14,20)
we are.
1 Cor. 8:2,4,7,11• 2If anyone thinketh that he knoweth anything, not yet knoweth he as he ought to know;
 4Concerning the eating, then, of the things sacrificed to idols, we know that [there is] no idol in [the] world, and that [there is] no God save one.
 7Howbeit not in all [is] the knowledge, but some with conscience of the idol until now eat as of a thing sacrificed to an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.
 11And he that is weak perisheth by thy knowledge, the brother for whom Christ died? (1 Cor. 8:2,4,7,11)
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1 Cor. 1:5• 5that in everything ye were enriched in him, in all discourse and all knowledge, (1 Cor. 1:5)
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1 Cor. 4:10• 10we, fools for Christ, but ye prudent in Christ; we weak, but ye strong; ye illustrious, but we disgraced. (1 Cor. 4:10)
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1 Cor. 13:2• 2And if I have prophecy, and know all the mysteries and all the knowledge, and if I have all the faith so as to remove mountains, yet have not love, I am nothing. (1 Cor. 13:2)
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1 Cor. 14:20• 20Brethren, be not children in mind, but in malice be infantine, but in mind be of full age. (1 Cor. 14:20)
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1 Cor. 15:34• 34Wake up righteously, and sin not; for some are ignorant of God: I speak unto your 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 by itself; unless to him that reckoneth anything to be unclean, to him [it is] unclean.
 22Hast thou faith? to thyself have [it] before God. Happy [is] he that judgeth not himself in what he approveth; (Rom. 14:14,22)
;
Col. 2:18• 18Let no one defraud you of your prize, doing his will in humility and worship of the angels, intruding into things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by the mind of his flesh, (Col. 2:18)
Knowledge.
1 Cor. 4:18• 18Now some were puffed up as though I were not coming unto you; (1 Cor. 4:18)
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1 Cor. 5:2,6• 2And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that did this deed might be taken away out of the midst of you.
 6Your boasting [is] not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? (1 Cor. 5:2,6)
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1 Cor. 13:4• 4Love is long-suffering, is kind; love is not emulous, is not vain-glorious, is not puffed up, (1 Cor. 13:4)
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Isa. 5:21•  (Isa. 5:21)
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Isa. 47:10•  (Isa. 47:10)
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Rom. 11:25• 25For I do not wish you, brethren, to be ignorant of this mystery, that ye be not wise in your own eyes, that hardness hath happened in part to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles come in; (Rom. 11:25)
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Rom. 12:16• 16Be of the same mind one toward another, not minding high things, but consorting 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 eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him that eateth not judge him that eateth; for God hath received him.
 10But thou, why judgest thou thy brother? or thou too, why despisest thou thy brother? for we shall all stand 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, yet have not love, I am become sounding brass and a clanging cymbal.
 2And if I have prophecy, and know all the mysteries and all the knowledge, and if I have all the faith so as to remove mountains, yet have not love, I am nothing.
 3And if I should dole out in food all my substance, and if I should deliver my body that I might be burned, and have not love, I am nothing profited.
 4Love is long-suffering, is kind; love is not emulous, is not vain-glorious, is not puffed up,
 5doth not behave unseemly, seeketh not its own things, is not easily provoked, reckoneth not the evil,
 6rejoiceth not over iniquity, but rejoiceth with the truth,
 7beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
 8Love never faileth, but whether prophecies, they shall be done away; whether tongues, they shall cease; whether knowledge, it shall be done away.
 9For in part we know, and in part we prophesy;
 10but when that which is perfect is come, that which is in part shall be done away.
 11When I was a child, I talked as a child, I thought as a child, I reckoned as a child; when I am become a man, I have done with the things of a child.
 12For we see now through a mirror in a dark form, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall fully know, even as I also was fully known.
 13But now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; but [the] greater of these [is] love. (1 Cor. 13:1‑13)
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Eph. 4:16• 16from whom all the body, being fitted together and compacted by every joint of supply, according to [the] working in [the] measure of each one part, worketh the increase of the body for edifying of itself 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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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.