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Summarized Bible Commentary

1 Corinthians 8:1-13

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 between men in God's account, and the Christian is free to eat that which the conscience allows. Nevertheless he must be careful how he uses this liberty, lest it be the occasion of stumbling or hazzard the ruin of one younger and weaker in the faith.

Key Word: Christian liberty, 1 Corinthians 8:9.

Strong Verses: 1 Corinthians 8:2; 1 Corinthians 8:3; 1 Corinthians 8:6; 1 Corinthians 8:9; 1 Corinthians 8:13.

Striking Facts: 1 Corinthians 8:12. Injuries done to Christians are injuries done to Christ especially to babes in Christ weak Christians.

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See also 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    CHAPTER VIII. _The question of the Corinthians concerning meats offered to_ _idols, and the apostle's preface to his instructions on that_ _head_, 1-3. _The nature of idolatry_, 4, 5. _Of genuine...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    NOW AS TOUCHING - In regard to; in answer to your inquiry whether it is right or not to partake of those things. THINGS OFFERED UNTO IDOLS - Sacrifices unto idols. Meat that had been offered in sacrif...

  • 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

    AS TOUCHING. concerning. App-104. THINGS, &C. = the things offered to idols. Greek. _eidolothutos._ See Acts 15:29. This was another subject about which they had written. KNOW. App-132. ALL. i.e. t...

  • 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 Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _as touching things offered unto idols_ These were the parts of the sacrifice not consumed by fire, but reserved, as in the Jewish peace-offerings (see Leviticus 7:15-16; Leviticus 22:30), for the use...

  • 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...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    ΔΈ. NEXT, as we should say. The Apostle answers another of the questions which have been submitted to him. ΕἸΔΩΛΟΘΎΤΩΝ. These were the parts of the sacrifice not consumed by fire, but reserved, as in...

  • Charles Box Commentaries

    _KNOWLEDGE PUFFS UP 1 CORINTHIANS 8:1-3:_ In their letter to Paul the Corinthian brethren had asked him about meat that had been offered to idols. Paul said this was a subject that everyone had some k...

  • Charles Rose Commentaries

    ΠΕΡΊ (G4012) с _gen._ по поводу, относительно. Павел начинает обсуждать второй вопрос, который ему задали коринфяне (Grosheide). ΕΊΔΩΛΌΘΥΤΟΝ (G1494) то, что предлагается в жертву идолу. Это слово евр...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    NOW AS TOUCHING THINGS, &C.— This chapter is concerning the eating of things offered to idols: wherein one may guess by St. Paul's answer, that they had written to him; that they knew their Christian...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    BUTLER'S COMMENTS SECTION 1 The Principle (1 Corinthians 8:1-3) 8 Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that all of us possess knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. 2If any one...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth. Though to those knowing that an idol has no existence, the question of eat...

  • 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...

  • Darby's translation notes (1890)

    8:1 know, (a-8) 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 expre...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    WE ALL HAVE KNOWLEDGE] This remark is probably quoted from the letter of the Corinthians. 1 Corinthians 8:2 are St. Paul's comment on it. CHARITY] RV 'love.'...

  • 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...

  • 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

    VIII. (1) NOW AS TOUCHING THINGS OFFERED UNTO IDOLS. — A new subject is here introduced, and occupies the whole of this chapter. In Corinth and other cities meat was offered for sale which had been us...

  • 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)

    _a_. Περὶ δὲ τῶν εἰδωλοθύτων : another topic of the Church Letter, to which the Apostle continues his reply (see note on 1 Corinthians 7:1; also _Introd_., chap. 2). The word εἰδωλόθυτον (see parls.),...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    § 25. KNOWLEDGE OF THE ONE GOD AND ONE LORD. In inquiring from their Ap. “about the εἰδωλόθυτα,” the Cor [1217] had intimated their “knowledge” of the falsity of the entire system of idolatry. Here Pa...

  • 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 Question of Christian Liberty The questions sent by the Corinthians to Paul did not end with those on marriage. McGarvey sees the next question as, "Have not Christians perfect liberty to eat meat t...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    Now (1) as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we (a) all have knowledge. Knowledge (b) puffeth up, but charity (c) edifieth. (1) He begins to entreat of another type of indifferent thing...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    Now concerning those things. It appears from this whole passage that the Corinthians had, in a former letter, consulted this apostle, upon the subject of eating meats offered to idols. It was not unus...

  • 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...

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

    “Now, as touching things offered to idols, we know that we all have knowledge, knowledge puffeth up, but love edifieth. 2. If any man think that he knoweth anything, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    CONTENTS The Apostle in this Chapter, is treating on the Subject of Meats offered unto Idols. He very blessedly states the Privileges of the Lord's People, in their Christian Liberty; but shews, with...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    (1) 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 anything, he knoweth nothing yet...

  • 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...

  • James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary

    _THE MORE EXCELLENT GIFT_ ‘Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.’ 1 Corinthians 8:1 The Apostle does not mean to depreciate either scientific or religious knowledge, but there is in the text...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    He now passes on to another question, which he had merely touched upon in the sixth chapter, without fully discussing. For when he had spoken of the avarice of the Corinthians, and had drawn that disc...

  • 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

    NOW AS TOUCHING THINGS OFFERED UNTO IDOLS,.... This was another of the things the Corinthians wrote to the apostle about, desiring to have his judgment in; it was a controversy that had been before mo...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth. Ver. 1. _Now as touching things_] Another case that they had propounded to h...

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

    _Now_ As to the next question you proposed, namely, _touching things offered_ Meats sacrificed, and so consecrated; _unto idols_ When the heathen offered sacrifices of such animals as were fit for foo...

  • Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament (1851)

    THINGS OFFERED UNTO IDOLS; the flesh of animals sacrificed to idols, on which the offerers and their friends feasted in the idol's temple, verse 1 Corinthians 8:10, and which was sometimes sold in the...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    CHRISTIAN LIBERTY IN THE MATTER OF EATING MEAT OFFERED TO IDOLS. Knowledge and charity:...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    NOW AS TOUCHING THINGS OFFERED UNTO IDOLS, WE KNOW THAT WE ALL HAVE KNOWLEDGE. KNOWLEDGE PUFFS UP, BUT CHARITY EDIFIES....

  • 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...

  • Mark Dunagan Commentaries

    NOW CONCERNING THINGS SACRIFICED TO IDOLS: WE KNOW THAT WE ALL HAVE KNOWLEDGE. KNOWLEDGE PUFFETH UP, BUT LOVE EDIFIETH. 'Now concerning' -signals that Paul is picking up yet another item from their...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    1-6 There is no proof of ignorance more common than conceit of knowledge. Much may be known, when nothing is known to good purpose. And those who think they know any thing, and grow vain thereon, are...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    1 CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 8 1 CORINTHIANS 8:1 The preference of charity to knowledge. 1 CORINTHIANS 8:4 An idol is nothing in the esteem of those who have right notions of one God, and of one Lord Jesus C...

  • McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries

    [The question which Paul here answers may be stated thus: "Have not Christians perfect liberty to eat meat that has been sacrificed to idols?" To this question the Corinthians seem to have added a lin...

  • NT Verse References in the Ante-Nicene Fathers

    Epistle of Mathetes to Diognetus The Apostle, perceiving the force [of this conjunction], and blaming that knowledge which, without true doctrine, is admitted to influence life,[66] Irenaeus Against...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    1 Corinthians 8:1 Now G1161 concerning G4012 idols G1494 know G1492 (G5758) that G3754 all G3956 have G2192

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    'Now concerning things sacrificed to idols.' Paul here indicates by 'now concerning' that he is dealing with the second main question raised by the Corinthians through their visiting party (compare 1...

  • 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 8:1. NOW CONCERNING THINGS SACRIFICED UNTO IDOLS: WE KNOW THAT WE ALL HAVE KNOWLEDGE ‘Ye plead your knowledge; we are at one with you there; but this is a question, not of knowledge, but...

  • Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament

    NOW CONCERNING THINGS SACRIFICED TO IDOLS (περ δε των ειδωλοθυτων). Plainly the Corinthians had asked also about this problem in their letter to Paul (1 Corinthians 7:1). This compound adjective (ει...

  • 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

    FOOD OFFERED TO IDOLS. The temple of an idol (1 Corinthians 8:10) was a meeting-place for feasting. Constant sacrifices on the idol's altars provided a source of meat. Much of the meat sold in markets...

  • 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 ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    1 CORINTHIANS—NOTE ON 1 CORINTHIANS 8:1 Because pagan temples offered animal parts in sacrifice to the gods, they also often functioned as butcher shops and banqueting halls. Sometimes meals for trade...

  • 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 Great Commentary of Cornelius à Lapide

    _Now as touching things offered unto idols we know that we all have knowledge._ We all know, though some of you may think differently, that things offered to idols are the same as other food, and have...

  • 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 1:5; 1 Corinthians 10:19; 1 Corinthians 10:28; 1 Corinthians 13:1;...

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

    Things offered unto idols [ε ι δ ω λ ο θ υ τ ω ν]. See on Revelation 2:14. We know that we all, etc. The arrangement of the text is in question. Evidently a parenthesis intervenes between the beginnin...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    Now concerning the next question you proposed. All of us have knowledge — A gentle reproof of their self — conceit. Knowledge without love always puffeth up. Love alone edifies — Builds us up in holin...

  • William Burkitt's Expository Notes

    It was the opinion of the Gnostics and Nicolaitans, those early erroneous persons in the apostle's days, that from the knowledge they had of their Christian liberty, they might either be present in th...

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