1 Corinthians 8:12

Contextual Overview

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. ⁷ But euery man hath not that knowledge: for many hauing conscience of the idole, vntill this houre, eate as a thing sacrificed vnto the idole, and so their conscience being weake, is defiled. ⁷However, not everyone has this knowledge. Some have been so used to idolatry up until now that when they eat food sacrificed to an idol, their conscience, being weak, is defiled. ⁷ However, that knowledge isn't in all men. But some, being used until now to the idol, eat as of a thing sacrificed to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. ⁷ But knowledge [is] not in all: but some, with conscience of the idol, until now eat as of a thing sacrificed to idols; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. ⁷ But not all people know this. Some have had the habit of worshiping idols. So now when they eat meat, they still feel as if it belongs to an idol. They are not sure that it is right to eat this meat. So when they eat it, they feel guilty. ⁷However, not all [believers] have this knowledge. But some, being accustomed [throughout their lives] to [thinking of] the idol until now [as real and living], still eat food as if it were sacrificed to an idol; and because their conscience is weak, it is defiled (guilty, ashamed). ⁷ 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 conscience being weak is defiled. ⁷But not everyone has this knowledge. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that they eat such food as if it were sacrificed to an idol. And since their conscience is weak, it is defiled. ⁷ Not everyone knows these things. In fact, many people have grown up with the belief that idols have life in them. So when they eat meat offered to idols, they are bothered by a weak conscience.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

when: Genesis 20:9, Genesis 42:22, Exodus 32:21, 1 Samuel 2:25, 1 Samuel 19:4, 1 Samuel 19:5, 1 Samuel 24:11, Matthew 18:21

ye sin against: 1 Corinthians 12:12, Exodus 16:8, Matthew 12:49, Matthew 12:50, Matthew 18:10, Matthew 18:11, Matthew 25:40, Matthew 25:45, Acts 9:4, Acts 9:5

Reciprocal: Numbers 32:15 - ye shall Matthew 18:15 - if Luke 15:21 - against Luke 17:2 - one Romans 14:15 - thy brother 1 Corinthians 8:9 - weak Galatians 2:18 - General Hebrews 10:24 - consider

Cross-References

Genesis 8:2
The fountaines also of the deepe and the windowes of heauen were stopped and the raine from heauen was restrained,

Genesis 8:2
The fountains of the deep and the windows of heaven were closed, and the rain from the sky was restrained;

Genesis 8:2
The deep's fountains and the sky's windows were also stopped, and the rain from the sky was restrained.

Genesis 8:2
Rain stopped falling from the sky, and water stopped flowing from under the earth.

Genesis 8:2
The fountains of the deep and the windows of the heavens were closed, the rain from the heavens was restrained,

Genesis 8:2
the fountains also of the deep and the windows of heaven were stopped, and the rain from heaven was restrained;

Genesis 8:2
And the fountains of the deep and the windows of heaven were shut, and the rain from heaven was stopped.

Genesis 8:2
God stopped up the places where the water had been gushing out from under the earth. He also closed up the sky, and the rain stopped.

Genesis 8:2
Also the fountains of the deep and the windows of the sky were stopped, the rain from the sky was restrained,

Genesis 8:2
And the fountains of the deep and the windows of heaven were closed, and the pour of rain from heaven was stopped.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

But when ye sin so against the brethren,.... Through sitting at meat in an idol's temple, and thereby violating the new commandment of love; by which saints are obliged to love one another as brethren, and take care to do nothing that may hurt and prejudice one another's peace and comfort, it being an incumbent duty upon them by love to serve one another: and

wound their weak conscience: as before observed: it is contrary to the law of love to wound a brother; it is an aggravation of the sin to wound a weak one; what greater cruelty than to strike or beat, as the word here used signifies, a sick and infirm man? and greater still to strike and wound his conscience than any part of his body; for a wounded spirit is insupportable without divine aid and influence; and what serves most to enhance the crime and guilt is,

ye sin against Christ, who has so loved this weak brother as to die for him; and between whom there is so close an union, as between head and members; and from whence such a sympathy arises, that what is done to or against such a person, Christ takes as done to himself. The Syriac version emphatically adds, הו, "himself".

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

But when ye sin so against the brethren - This is designed further to show the evil of causing others to sin; and hence, the evil which might arise from partaking of the meat offered to idols. The word sin here is to be taken in the sense of “injuring, offending, leading into sin.” You violate the law which requires you to love your brethren, and to seek their welfare, and thus you sin against them. Sin is properly against God; but there may be a course of injury pursued against people, or doing them injustice or wrong, and this is sin against them. Christians are bound to do right toward all.

And wound their weak conscience - The word “wound” here (τύπτοντες tuptontes, “smiting, beating”) is taken in the sense of injure. Their consciences are ill-informed. They have not the knowledge which you have. And by your conduct they are led further into error, and believe that the idol is something, and is to be honored. They are thus led into sin, and their conscience is more and more perverted, and oppressed more and more with a sense of guilt.

Ye sin against Christ - Because:

(1) Christ has commanded you to love them, and seek their good, and not to lead them into sin, and,

(2) Because they are so intimately united to Christ (see the notes at John 15:1 ff) that to offend them is to offend him; to injure the members is to injure the head; to destroy their souls is to pain his heart and to injure his cause; see the note at Matthew 10:40; compare Luke 10:16.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 1 Corinthians 8:12. But when ye sin so against the brethren — Against Christians, who are called by the Gospel to abhor and detest all such abominations.

Ye sin against Christ. — By sending to perdition, through your bad example, a soul for whom he shed his blood; and so far defeating the gracious intentions of his sacrificial death. This is a farther intimation, that a person for whom Christ died may perish; and this is the drift of the apostle's argument.