1 Corinthians 8

Food Offered to Idols

1 Now concerning 1 m food offered to idols: we know that n "all of us possess knowledge." This "knowledge" o puffs up, p but love builds up. 2 q If anyone imagines that he knows something, r he does not yet know as he ought to know. 3 But if anyone loves God, s he is known by God. 2

4 Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that t "an idol has no real existence," and that u "there is no God but one." 5 For although there may be v so-called gods in heaven or on earth - as indeed there are many "gods" and many "lords" - 6 yet w for us there is one God, the Father, x from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and y one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and z through whom we exist.

7 However, not all possess this knowledge. But some, a through former association with idols, eat food as really offered to an idol, and b their conscience, being weak, is defiled. 8 c Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. 9 But take care d that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block e to the weak. 10 For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating 3 in an idol's temple, will he not be encouraged, 4 if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? 11 And so by your knowledge this weak person is f destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. 12 Thus, sinning against your brothers 5 and g wounding their conscience when it is weak, h you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, i if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.

  1. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 8:4
    Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that "an idol has no real existence," and that "there is no God but one.
    1 Corinthians 8:7
    However, not all possess this knowledge. But some, through former association with idols, eat food as really offered to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled.
    1 Corinthians 8:10
    For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol's temple, will he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols?
    Acts 15:29
    That you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.
  2. Cross References
    Romans 15:14
    I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another.
  3. Cross References
    Romans 14:3
    Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him.
  4. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 13:4 - 13
    Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant
  5. Cross References
    Galatians 6:3
    For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
    1 Corinthians 3:18
    Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.
  6. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 13:8 - 9
    Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.
    1 Corinthians 13:12
    For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.
    1 Timothy 6:3 - 4
    If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness.
  7. Cross References
    Galatians 4:9
    But now that you have come to know God, or rath...
    Exodus 33:12
    Moses said to the Lord, "See, you say to me, 'B...
    Exodus 33:17
    And the Lord said to Moses, "This very thing th...
    Jeremiah 1:5
    "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, an...
    Nahum 1:7
    The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of tr...
    2 Timothy 2:19
    But God's firm foundation stands, bearing this ...
  8. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 10:19
    What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything?
    Isaiah 41:24
    Behold, you are nothing, and your work is less than nothing; an abomination is he who chooses you.
    Acts 14:15
    Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men, of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them.
  9. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 8:6
    Yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.
    Deuteronomy 4:35
    To you it was shown, that you might know that the Lord is God; there is no other besides him.
    Deuteronomy 4:39
    Know therefore today, and lay it to your heart, that the Lord is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other.
  10. Cross References
    2 Thessalonians 2:4
    Who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.
  11. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 8:4
    Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that "an idol has no real existence," and that "there is no God but one.
    Malachi 2:10
    Have we not all one Father? Has not one God created us? Why then are we faithless to one another, profaning the covenant of our fathers?
    Ephesians 4:6
    One God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
  12. Cross References
    Romans 11:36
    For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.
  13. Cross References
    Ephesians 4:5
    One Lord, one faith, one baptism.
    1 Corinthians 1:2
    To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:
    1 Timothy 2:5
    For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.
    John 13:13
    You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am.
  14. Cross References
    John 1:3
    All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.
    Colossians 1:16
    For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities - all things were created through him and for him.
  15. Cross References
    Romans 14:14
    I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean.
    Romans 14:22 - 23
    The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves.
  16. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 10:25
    Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience.
    1 Corinthians 10:28 - 29
    But if someone says to you, "This has been offered in sacrifice," then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience -
  17. Cross References
    Romans 14:17
    For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
  18. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 10:23
    All things are lawful," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful," but not all things build up.
    Romans 14:21
    It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble.
    Galatians 5:13
    For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
  19. Cross References
    Romans 14:1 - 2
    As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions.
  20. Cross References
    Romans 14:15
    For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died.
    Romans 14:20
    Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats.
  21. Cross References
    Zechariah 2:8
    For thus said the Lord of hosts, after his glory sent me to the nations who plundered you, for he who touches you touches the apple of his eye:
    Matthew 18:6
    But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.
  22. Cross References
    Matthew 25:45
    Then he will answer them, saying, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.
  23. Cross References
    Romans 14:13
    Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.
    Romans 14:21
    It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble.
    2 Corinthians 6:3
    We put no obstacle in anyone's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry.
    2 Corinthians 11:29
    Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant?
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.
Previous Book Next Book