1 COR 8:4 Interlinear View

1. Greek word
2. Greek lemma
3. OET-LV words
4. OET-RV words
5. Strongs
6. Role/Morphology
7. OET Gloss
8. VLT Gloss
9. CAPS codes
10. Confidence
11. OET tags
12. OET word #
1. Περί
2. peri
3. Concerning
4. -
5. 40120
6. P·······
7. concerning
8. concerning
9. PS
10. Y59
11. 116048
1. τῆς
2. ho
3. the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····GFS
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y59
11. 116049
1. βρώσεως
2. brōsis
3. food
4. -
5. 10350
6. N····GFS
7. food
8. food
9. -
10. Y59
11. 116050
1. οὖν
2. oun
3. therefore
4. there's
5. 37670
6. C·······
7. therefore
8. therefore
9. -
10. Y59
11. 116051
1. τῶν
2. ho
3. of the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····GNP
7. ˱of˲ the
8. ˱of˲ the
9. -
10. Y59
11. 116052
1. εἰδωλοθύτων
2. eidōlothutos
3. idol sacrificed things
4. -
5. 14940
6. S····GNP
7. idol_sacrificed ‹things›
8. idol_sacrificed ‹things›
9. -
10. Y59
11. 116053
1. οἴδαμεν
2. eidō
3. we have known
4. we
5. 14920
6. VIEA1··P
7. ˱we˲ ˓have˒ known
8. ˱we˲ ˓have˒ known
9. -
10. Y59; R114889
11. 116054
1. ὅτι
2. hoti
3. that
4. -
5. 37540
6. C·······
7. that
8. that
9. -
10. Y59
11. 116055
1. οὐδέν
2. oudeis
3. nothing is
4. nothing
5. 37620
6. R····NNS
7. nothing ‹is›
8. nothing ‹is›
9. -
10. Y59
11. 116056
1. εἴδωλον
2. eidōlon
3. +an idol
4. -
5. 14970
6. N····NNS
7. ˓an˒ idol
8. ˓an˒ idol
9. -
10. Y59
11. 116057
1. ἐν
2. en
3. in
4. -
5. 17220
6. P·······
7. in
8. in
9. -
10. Y59
11. 116058
1. κόσμῳ
2. kosmos
3. +the world
4. worldly
5. 28890
6. N····DMS
7. ˓the˒ world
8. ˓the˒ world
9. -
10. Y59
11. 116059
1. καί
2. kai
3. and
4. and
5. 25320
6. C·······
7. and
8. and
9. -
10. Y59
11. 116060
1. ὅτι
2. hoti
3. that there is
4. -
5. 37540
6. C·······
7. that ‹there_is›
8. that ‹there_is›
9. -
10. Y59
11. 116061
1. οὐδείς
2. oudeis
3. not one
4. -
5. 37620
6. E····NMS
7. not_one
8. not_one
9. -
10. Y59
11. 116062
1. Θεός
2. theos
3. god
4. God
5. 23160
6. N····NMS
7. god
8. God
9. GN
10. Y59; Person=God
11. 116063
1. ἕτερος
2. heteros
3. -
4. -
5. 20870
6. E····NMS
7. other
8. other
9. -
10. -
11. 116064
1. εἰ
2. ei
3. except
4. -
5. 14870
6. C·······
7. except
8. except
9. -
10. Y59
11. 116065
1. μή
2. mē
3. not/lest
4. -
5. 33610
6. D·······
7. ¬not/lest
8. ¬not/lest
9. -
10. Y59
11. 116066
1. εἱς
2. heis
3. one
4. -
5. 15200
6. S····NMS
7. one
8. one
9. -
10. Y59
11. 116067

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 8:1–13: Paul answered questions about eating meat that had been offered to idols

In this section Paul wrote about something else the Corinthians had asked him in their earlier letter. They had asked him whether it was acceptable for them to eat the meat of an animal that had been sacrificed to an idol. The primary context for eating such meat was at an idol’s temple. Sometimes an animal would be offered to a false god in connection with a celebration such as a birthday or wedding to seek the god’s blessing and presence at the celebration. The animal would be butchered by a priest and a portion of the meat would be burned on an altar as an offering to the false god. Some of the remaining meat would be returned to the person who offered it and could be eaten together with family or other invited guests at a private banquet room at the temple. (Some of the remaining meat might be sent to the meat market to be sold, a situation that Paul addresses in 10:25–26.)

There were two opinions in the Corinthian church about whether this meat could be eaten by a believer in Christ. Some of the Corinthian believers, including those who wrote the letter, understood that idols were only things that people have made or imagined. They were hoping Paul would agree with them that it was acceptable to eat this meat. However, some other believers thought that it was wrong to enter a temple and eat such meat. They still believed the false gods were real and believed that eating meat offered to them in sacrifice was an act of worship or fellowship with these gods.

Paul agreed in this chapter that the idols worshiped at these temples were not real gods. But he did not give permission to eat this meat at their temple. Doing so might influence other believers to also eat the meat, even though they believed it was wrong. Paul asked the Corinthians believers to act in love toward these brothers rather than selfishly demanding the right to eat this meat.

In chapter 10, Paul will continue to answer the question about eating meat sacrificed to idols. He says that a believer can have no part in the worship of idols and also that demons are active in the sacrifices to idols. He also addresses the separate situations of buying and eating meat sold in the meat market and what to do when someone invites you to eat meat in their home. Before this, in chapter 9, he uses himself as an illustration of the principle he set down at the end of chapter 8 of giving up your rights in love. He had the right to be paid for his work as an apostle, but he gave up his right so that the good news of Jesus would be better accepted.

It is good to translate this section before you decide on a heading for it. Some other possible headings for this section are:

Paul gave instructions about eating meat of/from animals that had been sacrificed to false gods

Believers should not eat anything that causes other believers to sin

Paragraph 8:4–6

Paul began to write his answer to the Corinthians’ questions about eating food sacrificed to idols. In this paragraph he began by agreeing with them about several things.

8:4a

So about eating food sacrificed to idols:

¶ Well then, here is what I say/teach about eating meat that has been sacrificed to idols/gods.
¶ Now, I give this answer to what you^(plur) said about eating meat of/from animals that people have offered/given to false gods.

So about eating food sacrificed to idols: In this verse part Paul reintroduced the topic that the Corinthians had asked him about in their letter. He had also introduced this topic in 8:1a. Here he is more specific, mentioning eating this food. Other ways to translate this include:

So this is what I say about eating meat sacrificed to idols (NCV)

So, what about eating meat that has been offered to idols? (NLT)

So about…: The Greek conjunction that the BSB has translated as So, together with the repetition of the topic (food sacrificed to idols), indicates that Paul is returning to the topic mentioned in 8:1a. You should introduce this return to topic in a way that is natural in your language. For example:

Well then, about… (REB)

Now about… (GW)

So this is what I say about… (NCV)

eating food sacrificed to idols: The Greek word that the BSB translates as food sacrificed to idols is the same as in 8:1a. Translate it here as you did there.

8:4b-c

In these verse parts Paul stated things that he and the Corinthians who had written the letter to him all believed. He may be directly quoting two things they said in their letter. Or he may be restating what they said in their own words. Some English versions (RSV, ESV, REB, NET) use quotations marks to indicate that Paul is quoting, but most versions do not. There is no way to know for sure since we do not have a copy of the Corinthians’ letter to Paul. Some ways to translate this that indicate that Paul is agreeing with something they had said are:

we know that “an idol has no real existence,” and that “there is no God but one.” (RSV)

as you say, we know that an idol is nothing at all in the world and that there is no God but one

I agree with you that idols do not really exist and that there is only one God.

8:4b

We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world,

We^(incl) know, as you say, that none of the idols/gods in the world are real gods,
I agree with you^(plur) that false gods are not alive,

We know: The pronoun We here is inclusive. It refers to Paul himself and some of the believers in Corinth, at least the ones who wrote the letter to Paul. Paul had probably taught them that the gods represented by idols were not real. But Paul says in verse 8:7 that at least some of the believers at Corinth did not know or believe this.

an idol is nothing at all in the world: This indicates that none of the idols in the world exist as living beings. They are made of things such as gold or stone, but they do not have life. They do not represent true gods, they do not hear prayers, and they cannot help or hurt people.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

none of the idols in this world are alive (CEV)

an idol is not really a god

false/idol gods do not really exist

idol: The word idol here, as in 8:1, describes an object or statue that represents a god. In this context, when Paul agrees that “an idol is nothing,” he is referring primarily to the god that is represented by the idol. The god is nothing. The idol is nothing more than the object or statue. It is not a god. Some other ways to translate this are:

gods

false/fake gods

8:4c

and that there is no God but one.

and there is only the one God.
and that the God whom we^(incl) worship is the only true and living God.

there is no God but one: This is another thing that Paul and most of the Corinthian believers knew: there is only one true God, the living and powerful God. This truth is basic to both Jewish people and to Christians, and so was certainly something that Paul and the other teachers had taught the believers in Corinth. Another way to translate this is:

there is only one God (NLT)

there is no other god beside the true God

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases

περὶ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Περί τῆς βρώσεως οὖν τῶν εἰδωλοθύτων οἴδαμεν ὅτι οὐδέν εἴδωλον ἐν κόσμῳ καί ὅτι οὐδείς Θεός εἰ μή εἱς)

Here Paul repeats about from [8:1](../08/01.md) to let his readers know that he is going to speak directly about things sacrificed to idols again. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the repetition of the phrase from [8:1](../08/01.md) by clarifying that Paul is returning to the topic he introduced there. Alternate translation: [returning to]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

τῆς βρώσεως & τῶν εἰδωλοθύτων

the food & ˱of˲_the idol_sacrificed_‹things›

Here Paul uses the possessive form to speak about eating meat sacrificed to idols. If your language does not use this form to express that meaning, you can express the idea by using a verbal phrase. Alternate translation: [eating things sacrificed to idols]

Note 3 topic: translate-unknown

τῶν εἰδωλοθύτων

˱of˲_the idol_sacrificed_‹things›

Here, the things sacrificed to idols refers to meat that has been offered to an idol. Translate this phrase the same way you did in [8:1](../08/01.md). Alternate translation: [of meat from animals sacrificed to idols]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

τῶν εἰδωλοθύτων

˱of˲_the idol_sacrificed_‹things›

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Paul uses the passive form here to focus on what is sacrificed rather than focusing on the person doing the “sacrificing.” If you must state who does the action, you can use a vague or indefinite subject. Alternate translation: [of the things that people have sacrificed to idols]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

οἴδαμεν ὅτι οὐδὲν εἴδωλον ἐν κόσμῳ, καὶ ὅτι οὐδεὶς Θεὸς εἰ μὴ εἷς

˱we˲_˓have˒_known that (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Περί τῆς βρώσεως οὖν τῶν εἰδωλοθύτων οἴδαμεν ὅτι οὐδέν εἴδωλον ἐν κόσμῳ καί ὅτι οὐδείς Θεός εἰ μή εἱς)

Here Paul could be: (1) expressing his own view about an idol and God. Alternate translation: [We know that an idol in the world indeed is nothing and that there is indeed no God except one] (2) quoting what the Corinthians said in their letter so that he can respond to it, much like he did in [6:12–13](../06/12.md); [7:1](../07/01.md). If you chose this option in [8:1](../08/01.md), you should also choose it here. Alternate translation: [you wrote, “we know that an idol in the world is nothing” and, “there is no God except one”]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

οὐδὲν εἴδωλον ἐν κόσμῳ

Here Paul says that an idol is nothing in order to emphasize that idols are not really gods. He is not saying that images or statues do not exist. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express nothing by clarifying that Paul is speaking about how an idol does not have the power or existence of the true God. Alternate translation: [an idol in the world is not really a god]

Note 7 topic: grammar-connect-exceptions

οὐδεὶς Θεὸς εἰ μὴ εἷς

If it would appear in your language that Paul was making a statement here and then contradicting it, you could reword this to avoid using an exception clause. Alternate translation: [there is only one God]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

εἰ μὴ εἷς

except (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Περί τῆς βρώσεως οὖν τῶν εἰδωλοθύτων οἴδαμεν ὅτι οὐδέν εἴδωλον ἐν κόσμῳ καί ὅτι οὐδείς Θεός εἰ μή εἱς)

Here Paul does not directly quote from the Old Testament, but he uses words that would make any reader who is familiar with the Old Testament think about [Deuteronomy 6:4](../deu/06/04.md), where it is written that “the Lord is one.” If your readers would not make this connection, you could include a footnote or a brief reference to Deuteronomy. Alternate translation: [except one, as Moses wrote in the Scriptures]

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)

Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.

Acknowledgements: The SR Greek text, lemmas, morphology, and VLT gloss are all thanks to the CNTR.

OET interlinear 1 COR 8:4

SR Greek word order (including unused variant words in grey)

Section 8:1–13: Paul answered questions about eating meat that had been offered to idols

Paragraph 8:4–6

8:4a

8:4b-c

8:4b

8:4c

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)

OET interlinear 1 COR 8:4

SR Greek word order (including unused variant words in grey)

Section 8:1–13: Paul answered questions about eating meat that had been offered to idols

Paragraph 8:4–6

8:4a

8:4b-c

8:4b

8:4c

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)

OET interlinear 1 COR 8:4