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Mark Dunagan Commentaries

1 Corinthians 8:11

For through thy knowledge he that is weak perisheth, the brother for whose sake Christ died.

'through thy knowledge' -'ruined by your "enlightened mind"' (Mof) Led to ruin by knowledge that makes one arrogant (1 Corinthians 8:1); pushes for "rights", even if they led. brother into sin. 'Boy, that's. good use of bible knowledge!'

'perisheth' -(Romans 14:15).. Christian can fall away and end up lost. No once saved, always saved here. Same word that Jesus used in Matthew 10:28. 'eternal loss, not simply some internal "falling apart"' (Fee p. 387)

'for whose sake Christ died' -'but the person is no longer merely "someone with. weak conscience"; he is "the brother for whom Christ died."....A Christian life is at stake..all for the sake of their freedom informed by their knowledge..' (Fee p. 387)

The soul of. brother is too high. price to pay for such "rights". When "choice" results in the death of another, it was the wrong choice!

Modern Application:

If Paul preached this strong against the abuse of "liberty" and actions that led others to violate their consciences, what would Paul have said about an action, proclaimed "liberty" that actually "kills" someone, i.e. like abortion?

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See also 1 Corinthians 8:11 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse 1 Corinthians 8:11. _SHALL THE WEAK BROTHER PERISH_] Being first taught by thy conduct that there was no harm in thus eating, he grieves the Spirit of God; becomes again darkened and hardened; a...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    AND THROUGH THY KNOWLEDGE - Because you knew that an idol was nothing, and that there could be really no danger of falling into idolatry from partaking of these entertainments. You will thus be the me...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    5. CONCERNING MEATS OFFERED TO IDOLS: CHRISTIAN LIBERTY GOVERNED BY LOVE CHAPTER 8 _ 1. Concerning things sacrificed to idols and knowledge. (1 Corinthians 8:1)._ 2. True knowledge and liberty gove...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    1 CORINTHIANS 8. LET THOSE WHO HAVE KNOWLEDGE CONTROL ITS EXERCISE BY LOVE, LEST THEY RUIN THEIR BROTHER FOR WHOM CHRIST DIED. Paul begins with a quotation from the church letter. They claim that all...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    ADVICE TO THE WISE (1 Corinthians 8:1-13) 8 With reference to things offered to idols--we are well aware that we all possess knowledge; but knowledge inflates a man, whereas love builds him up. If an...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    THROUGH. upon. App-104. The texts read "in", Greek. _en._ PERISH. Greek. _apollumi._ See 1 Corinthians 1:18. FOR. on account of. App-104. 1 Corinthians 8:2. CHRIST. App-98. This sentence is not. qu...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _shall the weak brother perish_ Some read, _the weak brother is perishing_. Cf. Romans 14:15....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    1 Corinthians 8:1-13. The Question of Meats offered in Sacrifice to Idols There is a great general similarity between this chapter and Romans 14. The question comes before the reader there in a somew...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    ἈΠΌΛΛΥΤΑΙ ΓΆΡ אB, ἀπόλλυται οὖν A, καὶ� D. Rec. καὶ� EFG Peshito, Vulg. and Irenaeus. The copies of Vetus Lat. are divided. 11. ἈΠΌΛΛΥΤΑΙ ΓΆΡ. This may either be rendered (1) _Why! through thy knowle...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    THE QUESTION OF MEATS OFFERED IN SACRIFICE TO IDOLS There is a great general similarity between this chapter and Romans 14. The question comes before the reader there in a somewhat different form. The...

  • Charles Box Commentaries

    _I WILL EAT NO FLESH 1 CORINTHIANS 8:11-13:_ We must deny ourselves even concerning what is lawful rather than to cause a weak brother for whom Christ died to stumble. What happened is this; the weak...

  • Charles Rose Commentaries

    ΆΠΌΛΛΥΤΑΙ _praes. ind. pass. от_ ΆΠΌΛΛΥΜΙ (G59) губить; здесь: "совершать грех". Это значит повести себя не по-христиански (Grosheide). ΑΣΘΕΝΏΝ _praes. act. part. от_ ΆΣΘΕΝΈΩ (G19) быть слабым. Part,...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    BUTLER'S COMMENTS SECTION 3 The Practice (1 Corinthians 8:8-13) 8Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. 9Only take care lest this liberty...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    APPLEBURY'S COMMENTS _Text_ 1 Corinthians 8:7-12. Howbeit there is not in all men that knowledge: but some, being used until now to the idol, eat as of a thing sacrificed to an idol; and their consci...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? SHALL ... PERISH. So G g, Vulgate. But 'Aleph (') A B C Delta f read 'is being destroyed.' A single act, seemingly un...

  • Concordant Commentary on the New Testament by A. E. Knoch

    31 The transient, fleeting character of all of this world's relationships and experiences should warn us not to let them take an undue hold upon our hearts. We cannot but use the world to a limited ex...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    _(B) FOOD OFFERED TO IDOLS_ In these Chapter s St. Paul answers another question of the Corinthians—as to the lawfulness of eating food which had been offered in sacrifice to idols. This was a very ur...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    PERISH] The result of acting against conscience: cp. Romans 14:23. 'Whatsoever is not of faith' (i.e. done without thorough conviction that it is right) 'is sin.'...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    SERVANTS OF CHRIST 1 CORINTHIANS _HILDA BRIGHT_ CHAPTER 8 THE PROBLEM 8:1-13 V1 Now I want to deal with the question about food that someone has *sacrificed to *idols. We know that we all have k...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    AND THROUGH THY KNOWLEDGE SHALL... — Better, _and by means of thy knowledge the weak one perishes_ — _the brother for whom Christ died._ It is not, as in the English version, a question, but it is the...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER 12 LIBERTY AND LOVE THE next question which had been put to Paul by the Corinthian Church, and to which he now replies, is "touching things offered unto idols," whether a Christian had libert...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    “For the weak man [whom you talk of building up!] _is being destroyed_ through thy knowledge the brother, on whose account Christ died!” (Romans 14:15). This affirms, with terrible emphasis, the issue...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    § 26. THE WEAK CONSCIENCE OF THE OLD IDOLATER. The knowledge of the one Father and Lord upon which the Cor [1251] Church prided itself, had not released all its members from fears respecting the _idol...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    CONSIDERATION FOR OTHERS' WEAKNESS 1 Corinthians 8:1 It was the heathen custom of the time to present for blessing in the idol temples the food that was sold and bought in public marketplaces. A grav...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    The apostle next dealt with the subject of "things sacrificed to idols." The question evidently was whether the members of the Church in Corinth ought under any circumstances to eat parts of the heath...

  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

    A Demonstration of Brotherly Love Despite the fact that there is only one true God, Paul indicated some converts still held a feeling of reverence for the idols they had long worshiped. They would hav...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    (7) And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? (7) An amplification of the argument taken both of comparison and opposites: "You wretched man", he says, "pleasing...

  • Godet's commentary on Luke, John, Romans, 1 Corinthians

    “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 so...

  • Godet's commentary on Luke, John, Romans, 1 Corinthians

    I. THE QUESTION CONSIDERED FROM THE VIEWPOINT OF OUR NEIGHBOUR'S SALVATION. 8:1-9:22. The apostle proves that if there is a knowledge which all equally possess (1 Corinthians 8:1-6), there remains a d...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    (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 me...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    As usual, the introductory words (1 Corinthians 1:1-3) of the epistle give us no little intimation of that which is to follow. The apostle speaks of himself as such "called [to be] an apostle of Jesus...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    11._And thy brother perish _Mark how serious an evil it is, that mankind commonly think so little of — that of venturing upon anything with a doubtful or opposing conscience. For the object to which o...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    After this the apostle answers the question respecting meats offered to idols, which gives occasion to a few words on the value of knowledge. Simply as knowledge, it is worth nothing. If we look at it...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    AND THROUGH THY KNOWLEDGE,.... These words contain an aggravation of the sin such persons are guilty of, who are the means, by their example, of ensnaring weak minds, and causing them to stumble and f...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? Ver. 11. _Thy weak brother perish_] Revolt to paganism, or at least pollute his conscience with mortal sin, which shall...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _But take heed lest this liberty of yours_ To eat indifferently of such meats; _become a stumbling-block_ An occasion of doing what they judge unlawful; _to them that are weak_ Uninformed in the truth...

  • Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament (1851)

    THROUGH THY KNOWLEDGE; the improper use of it....

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    AND THROUGH THY KNOWLEDGE SHALL THE WEAK BROTHER PERISH, FOR WHOM CHRIST DIED?...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    A warning against the reckless use of Christian liberty:...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    Chapter s 1 Timothy 4 have given God's answer to worldly wisdom; Chapter s 5 to 7 have dealt with questions concerning the flesh: now chapter 8 turns to the matter of Satanic influence, and this is fu...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    7-13 Eating one kind of food, and abstaining from another, have nothing in them to recommend a person to God. But the apostle cautions against putting a stumbling-block in the way of the weak; lest t...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    THROUGH THY KNOWLEDGE, in this place, is, by occasion of thy knowledge. God hath not given people knowledge that they thereby should be a means to harm and to destroy, but to do good, and to save othe...

  • McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries

    For through thy knowledge he that is weak perisheth, the brother for whose sake Christ died. [Paul here presents a new appeal, of unapproachable pathos and power. The world had never before heard any...

  • NT Verse References in the Ante-Nicene Fathers

    Irenaeus Against Heresies Book III And again: "And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died; "[338] Origen Commentary on Matthew Book XIII But if we were to give mo...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    1 Corinthians 8:11 And G2532 because G1909 your G4674 knowledge G1108 shall G622 weak G770 (G5723) brother G80

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    'But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to the weak. For if a man sees you who have knowledge sitting at meat in an idol's temple, will not his conscience, if he...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    It was impossible for Christians in almost any Greek or Roman colony, and least of all at Corinth, to avoid coming frequently in contact with idolatrous practices in various and ensnaring forms. In wr...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    As part of the sacrificial victims went to the market, it was liable to be served to Christians at the tables of their heathen friends; and as festive entertainments were often held in the idol temple...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    1 Corinthians 8:11. FOR THROUGH THY KNOWLEDGE HE THAT IS WEAK PERISHETH, THE BROTHER [1] FOR WHOSE SAKE CHRIST DIED. It might seem that “for” here is inappropriate; but the thought is this: ‘The wrong...

  • Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament

    THROUGH THY KNOWLEDGE (εν τη ση γνωσε). Literally, in thy knowledge. Surely a poor use to put one's superior knowledge.PERISHETH (απολλυτα). Present middle indicative of the common verb απολλυμ,...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Meats offered to idols, and the limitations of Christians' liberty. CHARACTERS: God, Christ, Paul. CONCLUSION: There is nothing in the distinction of food that will make any distinction be...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    1 Corinthians 8:4. _We know that an idol is nothing._ St. Paul transcribes this from Zechariah 2:18, where the Hebrew text is literally “dumb nothings,” for dumb idols; a phrase used by the Gnostics....

  • The Bible Study New Testament

    AND SO THIS WEAK MAN. Because he sins in eating (Romans 14:23), he may perish; or he might be led back into idolatry....

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _How as touching things offered to idols._ LIBERTY AND LOVE 1. The question about meats necessarily arose in a society partly heathen and partly Christian. Every meal was dedicated to the household g...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge._ IGNORANCE 1. Great ignorance may consist with genuine piety. 2. Is a source of much unnecessary anxiety and peril. 3. Is to be deplored and piti...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?_ SUFFERING, THE MEASURE OF WORTH I. The “weak brother” is not of much value in himself; but he is made valuable by the...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    1 CORINTHIANS—NOTE ON 1 CORINTHIANS 8:10 EATING IN AN IDOL’S TEMPLE. See note on 8:1–11:1. Paul elsewhere uses DESTROYED to mean eternal destruction ...

  • The Great Commentary of Cornelius à Lapide

    CHAPTER 8 SYNOPSIS OF THE CHAPTER In this Chapter he treats of the second general question put before him by the Corinthians. It dealt with things offered to idols, and whether it was lawful to eat...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    _CRITICAL NOTES_ N.B. 1.—See the question discussed in this chapter homiletically treated under 1 Corinthians 6:12. N.B. 2.—Note how Paul here (as in Romans 14:15.) bases nothing of his reply to th...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION 1 CORINTHIANS 8:1 _The relation of lore to knowledge with respect to the question of eating idol offerings._ 1 CORINTHIANS 8:1 AS TOUCHING THINGS OFFERED UNTO IDOLS. This was doubtless...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Now, the second issue: Now as touching the things offered unto idols, we know that we have all knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up (1 Corinthians 8:1). A contrast between knowledge and...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Corinthians 10:33; 1 Corinthians 11:1; 1 Corinthians 8:13; Romans 14:15;...

  • Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament (4 Volume Set)

    Shall the weak brother perish [α π ο λ λ υ τ α ι ο α σ θ ε ν ω ν]. Not a question, as A. V. The participle "he that is being weak" indicates a continuance of the weakness, and the present tense, is pe...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? — And for whom thou wilt not lose a meal's meat, so far from dying for him! We see, Christ died even for them that perish...

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Old Testament