8:1 concerning food sacrificed to idols When meat was sacrificed to idols, the priest or worshiper burned it at the altar and then ate some of it. Merchants often sold another portion of this meat for private use.

we all have knowledge Likely another slogan used by the Corinthians (compare 6:12; 7:1). This knowledge may refer to general knowledge about idols or to knowledge given by the Spirit. They used this knowledge to justify consuming meat sacrificed to idols.

love builds up In this context, love strengthens the faith of believers rather than destroying it (compare vv. 11; 13:1–13).

8:2 If anyone thinks he knows anything Some Corinthian believers assumed that knowledge was the true sign of spirituality. They did not understand that knowledge without love indicates a lack of knowledge.

8:3 loves Paul identifies love as the true basis of knowledge. Those who love God live in relationship with Him; they are known by Him. This is also the basis for godly conduct; it does not destroy other believers but builds them up (v. 12).

8:4 of food sacrificed to idols See note on v. 1.

an idol is nothing in the world Some Corinthian believers correctly discerned that an idol was an inanimate object with no real divine power. They may have used this slogan to justify consuming meat sacrificed to idols.

The Logic of Idolatry

there is no God except one Possibly an allusion to the Shema (see note on Deut 6:4). See 1 Cor 8:6.

8:5 there are many gods and many lords Paul acknowledges that people worshiped other divine beings as gods and lords (Gal 4:8; 1 Cor 10:20). It seems that Jews in the ancient Near East affirmed the existence of other gods (Deut 32:17; Psa 82:1) but considered them inherently inferior to the God of Israel, who created everything and is greater than all false gods (compare Psa 86:8; 95:3; 96:4; 135:5).

Understanding Israelite Monotheism

New Testament Terms for Unseen Divine Beings

8:6 we are for him Refers to believers who exist to fulfill God’s purposes in the world (compare Col 1:16).

one Lord, Jesus Christ In a stunning turn of phrase, Paul boldly includes Jesus in his restatement of the great Jewish monotheistic prayer, the Shema. He then draws on this proclamation of the uniqueness of God the Father—and now the Lord Jesus Christ, as well—to deny the legitimacy of the so-called gods and lords of the pagan world.

8:7 this knowledge May refer to an emotional or inner knowledge as opposed to an intellectual knowledge (compare 1 Cor 8:1 and note).

food sacrificed to idols In the Greco-Roman world eating food sacrificed to idols was sometimes considered a means of communion with the gods. See note on v. 1.

because it is weak Describes believers who could not understand that idols are not actual divine powers (v. 4). They remained convinced that an entity existed behind these idols. To their consciences, consuming meat sacrificed to idols seemed like idolatry.

8:8 food does not bring us close to God Paul tells the Corinthian believers that what a person eats has nothing to do with his or her spiritual relationship with God (compare Acts 10:9–16). They are thus free to eat the meat in question, but the apostle issues them a warning in 1 Cor 8:9 (compare other warnings in 10:14–22; 27–30).

8:9 this right of yours Refers to consuming meat sacrificed to idols. The Corinthians who considered themselves more spiritual assumed that they had the right to do whatever they wanted without considering the effects of their actions upon other believers (see v. 12).

the weak See note on v. 7.

8:10 an idol’s temple Some Corinthian believers not only ate meat sacrificed to idols but ate within the idol’s temple. These meals caused some weak believers to return to their idolatrous practices. Paul advises these believers to choose a private venue to eat their meals.

be strengthened Paul uses this verb ironically. Some believers who participated in idol feasts may have assumed they were helping the weak believers, but they were actually hurting their relationship with God.

8:11 is destroyed Refers to hurting a believer whose conscience was weak. Paul considers it sinful behavior for a believer to exercise their rights in a way that harms a fellow member of the church (see v. 12).

8:12 if you sin in this way See note on v. 11.

wound their conscience See note on v. 7.

against Christ Implies that Christ counts what is done to His people as being done to Him (Matt 25:40; Acts 9:4). The Corinthians must realize that their actions affect the entire community of believers.

8:13 meat The poor could not afford to eat meat except at religious festivals for an idol. For such people, meat carried religious connotations.

I will never eat meat Expresses the distance that Paul is willing to go to demonstrate his love for fellow believers. Although Paul knows that it is theoretically acceptable to consume meat sacrificed to idols, he does not act on such knowledge or appeal to his right to freedom (compare 1 Cor 8:1, 9). Instead, he bases his decisions concerning ethically neutral matters on his love for believers in Christ.