1 Corinthians, Chapter 8: Knowledge Puffeth Up, but Love Builds Up
Introduction
We are introduced to a new admonition in Chapter 8 of 1 Corinthians with this phrase in 1 Corinthians 8:1, “…Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.“ Followed by the warning in 1 Corinthians 8:2, “And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.” Whereby, we are being told, as Matthew Henry so eloquently put it, that “even lawful liberty must be used with charity and not to the prejudice of weaker brethren.”
This is followed by asserting the vanity of idols and making clear that there is only One True God, Our Father in Heaven, and that the sole mediation between man and God is the Lord Jesus Christ (implicitly instructing us by God’s Holy Spirit).
The rest of the chapter addresses the proscription against eating meats sacrificed to idols, and its substance, and to what degree it might be heeded will be a matter of individual conscience, which should be respected out of love for those who feel differently as a matter of their individual consciences. While the chapter focuses on this one prohibition regarding eating of certain meats, it actually applies across the board to all situations where differing spiritual understandings come into play between fellow believers. One believer, who may have a more well Biblically grounded understanding of what is an acceptable practice before God, another believer may not have the same view. This chapter is telling all believers that whatever situation arises, we are to not abuse our liberty based on our knowledge to conduct ourselves in such a way to cause our brother (or sister) in Christ to stumble, if his or her conscience is opposed to it. To do otherwise is (as the last two verses tell us) as written:”But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ. Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.” The essence is to love others above ourselves.
Again, as Matthew Henry noted, “Strong Christians should be very careful to avoid what will offend weak ones, to not lay a stumbling-block in their way. Shall we sin against Christ who suffered for us? Shall we set ourselves to defeat his gracious designs, and help to ruin those whom He died to save? We must show compassion to those to whom Christ has shown so much.”
Note to the reader: There are a lot of parallels between 1 Corinthians chapter 8 and Romans chapter 14, which deals with similar principles of conscience.
Take Care with Your Liberty
1 Corinthians 8:1, “¶Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge (γνῶσις (gnōsis))G1108. Knowledge (γνῶσις (gnōsis))G1108 puffeth (φυσιόω (physioō))G5448 up, but charity (ἀγάπη (agapē))G26 edifieth (οἰκοδομέω (oikodomeō))G3618.“
This verse has four key words that in the original Greek provide us with some insights that could be missed when reading only the English translation.
- “knowledge“in the original Greek pertains to intellectual understanding, which in this case is Biblical understanding.
- “puffeth” in the original Greek has the primary sense of blowing; to inflate, but in figurative sense is to make proud, haughty, and arrogant.
- “charity” in the original Greek pertains to brotherly, benevolent love.
- “edifieth” in the original Greek pertains to building up, establishing, and edifying
Before looking at some cross references, this teacher would like to remind the reader of some verses that relate to “knowledge”, which is often closely linked to “wisdom”.
Ecclesiastes 1:18, “For in much wisdom [is] much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.“
Proverbs 9:10, “The fear of the LORD [is] the beginning תְּחִלָּה (tᵊḥillâ)H8462of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy [is] understanding.” The Hebrew word that is translated here as “beginning” is another word, תְּחִלָּה (tᵊḥillâ)H8462, which also means “beginning or “first time” (or “initial time”). We also see a similar verse in Proverbs 1:7, “The fear of the LORD [is] the beginning (רֵאשִׁית (rē’šîṯ)H7225of knowledge: [but] fools despise wisdom and instruction.“
Romans 12:16, “[Be] of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.“
Romans 11:25, “For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.“
For more on Biblical Knowledge and Wisdom, please see these posts:
That Which Is Offered to Idols
Acts 15:20, “But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and [from] fornication, and [from] things strangled, and [from] blood.“
1 Corinthians 10:19-22, “What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing? But I [say], that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the tableof devils. Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?“
1 Corinthians 10:23&24, “¶All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not. Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s [wealth].“
Romans 14:14, “¶I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that [there is] nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him [it is] unclean. But if thy brother be grieved with [thy] meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.”
Romans 14:3, “Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.”
1 Corinthians 8:2, “And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.“
1 Corinthians 13:8&9, “¶Charity never faileth: but whether [there be] prophecies, they shall fail; whether [there be] tongues, they shall cease; whether [there be] knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.“
Galatians 6:3, “For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.“
1 Timothy 6:3&4, “¶If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,”
And let us not forget, Pro 16:18, “Pride [goeth] before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.“
1 Corinthians 8:3, “But if any man love God, the same is known of him.“
Exodus 33:12, “¶And Moses said unto the LORD, See, thou sayest unto me, Bring up this people: and thou hast not let me know whom thou wilt send with me. Yet thou hast said, I know thee by name, and thou hast also found grace in my sight.”
Matthew 7:23, “And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.“
Galatians 4:9, “But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?“
1 Corinthians 8:4, “¶As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol [is] nothing in the world, and that [there is] none other God but one.“
Isaiah 41:24, “Behold, ye [are] of nothing, and your work of nought: an abomination [is he that] chooseth you.”
Deuteronomy 4:39, “Know therefore this day, and consider [it] in thine heart, that the LORD he [is] God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: [there is] none else.“
Mark 12:29, ҦAnd Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments [is], Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:
1 Timothy 2:5, “For [there is] one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;“
1 Corinthians 8:5, “For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,)
John 10:34, “¶Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?“
1 Corinthians 8:6, “But to us [there is but] one God, the Father, of whom [are] all things, and we in him (or “for” him); and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom [are] all things, and we by him.“
Malachi 2:10, “Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every managainst his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers?“
Ephesians 4:6, “One God and Father of all, who [is] above all, and through all, and in you all.”
Acts 17:28, “For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.“
Romans 11:36, “¶For of him, and through him, and to him, [are] all things: to whom [be] glory for ever. Amen.”
John 13:13, “Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for [so] I am.”
Acts 2:36, ҦTherefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
Philippians 2:11. “And [that] every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.“
Colossians 1:16&17, “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether [they be] thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.“
Hebrews 1:1&2, “¶God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by [his] Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;“
1 Corinthian 8:7, “¶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.”
1 Corinthians 10:28, “But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth [is] the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof:”
Romans 14:1-4, “Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, [but] not to doubtful disputations. For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him. Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.” (Remembering also Acts 10:9-17 and Acts 11:9, “But the voice answered me (Apostle Peter) again from heaven, What God hath cleansed, [that] call not thou common.“)
Romans 14:14, “¶I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that [there is] nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him [it is] unclean.“
1 Corinthians 8:8, “But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse.”
Romans 14:17, “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.“
1 Corinthians 8:9, “¶But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.“
Galatians 5:13, “For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only [use] not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.“
Romans 14:13, “Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in [his] brother’s way.”
1 Corinthians 8:10, “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;“
1 Corinthians 10:28, “But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth [is] the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof:”
1 Corinthians 8:11, “And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?“
Romans 14:15, “But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.“
1 Corinthians 8:12, “But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.“
Matthew 25:40, “And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done [it] unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done [it] unto me.
1 Corinthains 8:13, “Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.
Romans 14:19-23, ¶Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but [it is] evil for that man who eateth with offence. [It is] good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor [any thing] whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak. Hast thou faith? have [it] to thyself before God. Happy [is] he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth. And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because [he eateth] not of faith: for whatsoever [is] not of faith is sin.“
2 Corinthians 11:29, “Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?“
Romans 15:1, “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.”
1 Corinthians 4:10, “We [are] fools for Christ’s sake, but ye [are] wise in Christ; we [are] weak, but ye [are] strong; ye [are] honourable, but we [are] despised.“
2 Corinthians 12:10, “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.”
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