1 Corinthians 8:9-13

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 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. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 8:13

Wherefore, etc. - Rather than give any occasion to a Christian to sin against and so to harden his conscience that he should return to idolatry and perish, I would not only abstain from all meats offered to idols, but I would eat no flesh, should I exist through the whole course of time, but live on the herbs of the field, rather than cause my brother to stumble, and thus fall into idolatry and final ruin. The following words of Origen contain a very solemn lesson and warning: "If we did... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 8:9

Verse 9 9.Take heed that your liberty He leaves their liberty untouched, but moderates the use of it thus far — that it may not give occasion of stumbling to the weak. And he expressly desires that regard be had to the weak, that is, to those who are not, yet thoroughly confirmed in the doctrine of piety, for as they are wont to be regarded with contempt, it is the will and command of the Lord, that regard should be had to them. In the meantime, he hints that strong giants, who may be desirous... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 8:10

Verse 10 10.If any one see thee. From this it appears more clearly, how much liberty the Corinthians allowed themselves; for when the wicked made a kind of sacred banquet for their idols, they did not hesitate (471) to go to it, to eat of the sacrifice along with them. Paul now shows what evil resulted from this. In the first clause, instead of the words who hast knowledge, I have rendered the expression thus — thoughthou shouldest have; and in the second clause, in the expression who is weak,... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 8:11

Verse 11 11.And thy brother perish Mark how serious an evil it is, that mankind commonly think so little of — that of venturing upon anything with a doubtful or opposing conscience. For the object to which our whole life ought to be directed, is the will of the Lord. This, therefore, is the one thing that vitiates all our actions, when we disregard it. (474) This we do, not merely by an outward action, but even by a thought of the mind, when we allow ourselves in anything in opposition to... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 8:12

Verse 12 12.When ye sin so against the brethren, etc. For if the soul of every one that is weak is the price of Christ’s blood, that man who, for the sake of a very small portion of meat, hurries back again to death the brother who has been redeemed by Christ, shows how contemptible the blood of Christ is in his view. Hence contempt of this kind is an open insult to Christ. In what way a weak conscience may be wounded has been already explained — when it is built up in what is evil (1... read more

John Calvin

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

Verse 13 13.Wherefore if meat make my brother to offend With the view of reproving more severely their disdainful liberty, he declares, that we ought not merely to refrain from a single banquet rather than injure a brother, but ought to give up the eating of meats during our whole life. Nor does he merely prescribe what ought to be done, but declares that he would himself act in this way. The expression, it is true, is hyperbolical, as it is scarcely possible that one should refrain from eating... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 8:1-11

The two guides—knowledge and love. I. THEY ARE BOTH EXCELLENT . This requires no proof. The apostle who sat at the feet of Gamaliel, would have been the last to speak slightingly of real knowledge. We are made capable of an ever increasing knowledge. How much knowledge has been the means of accomplishing in this world I Ignorance is but a "fool's paradise;" "Knowledge is power." And how excellent is love. How dull and sad this world would be without it! How much more prolific in... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 8:1-13

The relation of lore to knowledge with respect to the question of eating idol offerings. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 8:1-13

Strength and weakness; knowledge and love. The discussions contained in this chapter relate to "things offered unto idols." Bear in mind that idolatry was not then simply a religious system, but a system immensely extended and covering a corresponding surface of political, social, and business interests. At all points it touched individuals and families, and was connected with feasts, entertainments, and etiquette. "Most public entertainments and many private meals were more or less... read more

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