1 Corinthians 8:9 KJV

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Corinthians 8:9

The knowledge that some food is all right in itself is not the only factor that should determine whether we eat it or not. Love for a brother that our participation bothers is also important. The weak brother is weak because his emotions have not caught up to his intellect. In this context, a stumbling block is any barrier to another individual’s personal relationship with God. The Corinthian Christians who had returned to the pagan temples for their feasts were disregarding how their... read more

John Darby

Darby's Synopsis of the New Testament - 1 Corinthians 8:9

8:9 right (c-7) Or 'liberty,' exousia . Title in a man's own conscience is the sense. see Note, Matthew 10:1 . read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 8:1-13

(b) Food offered to Idols(i) The Principle of SelfdenialKnowledge must be tempered by love. More enlightened Christians must respect the scruples of their weaker brethren in the matter of eating meat which had been offered to idols.1-13. Paraphrase. ’Your next question relates to meat offered in sacrifice to idols, asking whether it is permissible for a Christian to partake of it. We all know, as you remark, that such food is absolutely harmless to a man’s spiritual life; but we must have... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - 1 Corinthians 8:9

(9) But take heed.—On this very account, because the matter is one which is indifferent, because there is no right or wrong in it, you must look elsewhere for your guide as to how you ought to act. In things which are not indifferent, right or wrong is the sole test of action. In things indifferent you must look for some other guide, and you must regulate your conduct by the effect it may have on others. Your liberty, which arises from the bare fact of the indifferent nature of the thing, may... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - 1 Corinthians 8:1-13

1 Corinthians 8:1 This was a favourite text of Bacon's. Thus, in Valerius Terminus he observes: 'Evermore it must be remembered that the least part of knowledge passed to man by this so large charter from God must be subject to that use for which God hath granted it; which is the benefit and relief of the state and society of man; for otherwise all manner of knowledge becometh malign and serpentine, and therefore as carrying the quality of the serpent's sting and malice it maketh the mind of... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 8:1-13

Chapter 12LIBERTY AND LOVETHE next question which had been put to Paul by the Corinthian Church, and to which he now replies, is "touching things offered unto idols," whether a Christian had liberty to eat such things or not. This question necessarily arose in a society partly heathen and partly Christian. Every meal was in a manner dedicated to the household gods by laying some portion of it on the family altar. Where one member of a heathen family had become a Christian, he would at once be... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - 1 Corinthians 8:1-13

5. Concerning Meats Offered to Idols: Christian Liberty Governed by Love CHAPTER 8 1. Concerning things sacrificed to idols and knowledge. (1 Corinthians 8:1-6 ). 2. True knowledge and liberty governed by love. (1 Corinthians 8:7-13 ). Another question is raised concerning things offered to idols. Should Christians eat what had been offered in sacrifice to idols? These idol-offered meats were generally sold in the meat market. Would a believer be defiled by using such meats? They all had... read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 8:1-13

Chapters 1 Timothy 4:0 have given God's answer to worldly wisdom; chapters 5 to 7 have dealt with questions concerning the flesh: now chapter 8 turns to the matter of Satanic influence, and this is further discussed in chapter 10 and the beginning of chapter 12. The Corinthians were too little aware of the subtlety of all three of these evil influences, the world, the flesh, and the Devil. But they had evidently questioned Paul as to the eating of things sacrificed to idols. All Christians... read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 8:1-13

CHRISTIAN LIBERTY AND ITS ABUSE The Christian church was composed largely of Gentiles, who, when they were pagans, worshipped idols, with animal sacrifices and feasts in the idols’ temples. Having become Christians, their practices were discontinued, though pagan neighbors might occasionally invite them, in a social way, to join in such feasts. The question had arisen as to their Christian liberty to accept such invitations. A “liberal” party in the church not only favored it, but indeed... read more

Joseph Parker

The People's Bible by Joseph Parker - 1 Corinthians 8:1-13

Peculiar Questions 1 Corinthians 7-9 "I speak this by permission, and not of commandment." "I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful." "I think also that I have the Spirit of God." Let us see what kind of quality we have to deal with, apart altogether from the mystery of inspiration, when we are dealing with such a man as the Apostle Paul. What was he out of the chair? Of what quality are God's princes? Unrobed and... read more