1 Corinthians 8:8

Contextual Overview

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. ⁷ However, not all possess this knowledge. But some, through being hitherto accustomed to idols, eat food as really offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. ⁷ But every man hath not knowledge. For some suppose that ther is an ydoll vntyll this houre and eate as of a thinge offered vnto ye ydole and so their consciences beynge yet weake are defyled. 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 not everyone has this knowledge. Some people are so accustomed to idols that they still think they are eating food offered to an idol, and since their conscience is weak, it becomes contaminated.Romans 14:14,23; 1 Corinthians 10:28-29;">[xr] ⁷ However, not all people have this knowledge; but some, being accustomed to the idol until now, eat food as if it were sacrificed to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. ⁷ But not all people know this. Some people are still so used to idols that when they eat meat, they still think of it as being sacrificed to an idol. Because their conscience is weak, when they eat it, they feel guilty. ⁷ Nevertheless 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. ⁷ But [there is] not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol to this hour eat [it] as a thing offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. 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.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

meat: 1 Corinthians 6:13, Romans 14:17, Colossians 2:20-23, Hebrews 13:9

are we the better: or, have we the more

are we the worse: or, have we the less.

Reciprocal: Leviticus 11:8 - they are unclean Leviticus 19:14 - not curse Song of Solomon 7:13 - I have Matthew 16:27 - and then Matthew 18:10 - heed Acts 5:4 - was it not thine Romans 14:20 - For 1 Corinthians 7:19 - Circumcision 1 Timothy 4:3 - to abstain 1 Timothy 4:8 - bodily

Cross-References

Genesis 8:10
He waited another seven days, and again he sent forth the dove out of the ark.

Genesis 8:10
And he stayed yet another seven days; and again he sent forth the dove out of the ark;

Genesis 8:10
After seven days Noah again sent out the dove from the boat,

Genesis 8:10
He waited seven more days and then sent out the dove again from the ark.

Genesis 8:10
And he stayed yet other seven days, and again he sent forth the dove out of the ark;

Genesis 8:10
He stayed yet another seven days; and again he sent forth the dove out of the ark.

Genesis 8:10
He waited another seven days and again sent the dove out from the ark.

Genesis 8:10
Sotheli whanne othere seuene daies weren abedun aftirward, eft he leet out a culuer fro the schip;

Genesis 8:10
And he stayeth yet other seven days, and addeth to send forth the dove from the ark;

Genesis 8:10
Noah waited seven more days and again sent out the dove from the ark.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

But meat commendeth us not to God,.... These words are said by the apostle, either as expressing the argument of such as had knowledge in favour of themselves, that what they did was a thing indifferent, by which they were made neither better nor worse; nor did they look upon it as meritorious, or expect any favour from God on account of it, and therefore were not to be blamed for using their liberty in the manner they did: or else they are spoken by him as his own sense: and the meaning is, that eating of meat, any sort of meat, and so that which is offered to idols, or abstinence from it, neither one nor the other recommends any to the love and favour of God; לא מקרבא, "does not bring near", or give access to God, as the Syriac version renders the phrase; does not ingratiate any into his affectionate regards, or make them acceptable unto him:

for neither if we eat are we the better; or "abound", not in earthly but spiritual things, in the graces of the Spirit, and particularly in the esteem and good will of God, upon which such an action can have no influence:

neither if we eat not are we the worse; or are deficient; meaning not in temporal things, but, as before, in spiritual; true grace and piety are not a whit the less; nor are such persons less in the love and favour of God, which is not to be known and judged of by any such action, or the omission of it.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

But meat commendeth us not to God - This is to be regarded as the view presented by the Corinthian Christians, or by the advocates for partaking of the meat offered in sacrifice to idols. The sense is, “Religion is of a deeper and more spiritual nature than a mere regard to circumstances like these. God looks at the heart. He regards the motives, the thoughts, the moral actions of people. The mere circumstance of eating ‘meat,’ or abstaining from it, cannot make a man better or worse in the sight of a holy God. The acceptable worship of God is not placed in such things. It is more spiritual; more deep; more important. And therefore, the inference is, “it cannot be a matter of much importance whether a man eats the meat offered in sacrifice to idols, or abstains.” To this argument the apostle replies 1 Corinthians 8:9-13, that, although this might be true in itself, yet it might be the occasion of leading others into sin, and it would then become a matter of great importance in the sight of God, and should be in the sight of all true Christians. The word “commendeth” παράστησι parastēsi means properly to introduce to the favor of anyone, as a king or ruler; and here means to recommend to the favor of God. God does not regard this as a matter of importance. He does not make his favor depend on unimportant circumstances like this.

Neither if we eat - If we partake of the meat offered to idols.

Are we the better - Margin, “Have we the more.” Greek Do we abound περισσεύομεν perisseuomen; that is, in moral worth or excellence of character; see the note at Revelation 14:17.

Are we the worse - Margin, “Have we the less.” Greek, Do we lack or want (ὑστερούμεθα husteroumetha); that is, in moral worth or excellence.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 1 Corinthians 8:8. Meat commendeth us not to God — No such feasts as these can be a recommendation of our souls or persons to the Supreme Being. As to the thing, considered in itself, the eating gives us no spiritual advantage; and the eating not is no spiritual loss.