Open Bible Data Home About News OET Key
OET OET-RV OET-LV ULT UST BSB BLB AICNT OEB WEB WMB NET LSV FBV TCNT T4T LEB BBE MOF JPS ASV DRA YLT DBY RV WBS KJB BB GNV CB TNT WYC SR-GNT UHB Related Parallel Interlinear Reference Dictionary Search
parallelVerse INT GEN EXO LEV NUM DEU JOS JDG RUTH 1SA 2SA 1KI 2KI 1CH 2CH EZRA NEH EST JOB PSA PRO ECC SNG ISA JER LAM EZE DAN HOS JOEL AMOS OBA YNA MIC NAH HAB ZEP HAG ZEC MAL YHN MARK MAT LUKE ACTs ROM 1COR 2COR GAL EPH PHP COL 1TH 2TH 1TIM 2TIM TIT PHM HEB YAC 1PET 2PET 1YHN 2YHN 3YHN YUD REV
1Cor Intro C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 C7 C8 C9 C10 C11 C12 C13 C14 C15 C16
1Cor 8 V2 V3 V4 V5 V6 V7 V8 V9 V10 V11 V12 V13
Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible. This view is only designed for doing comparisons of different translations. Click on any Bible version abbreviation to see the verse in more of its context. The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible. Please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.
OET (OET-RV) Now, concerning food that’s been sacrificed to idols: We know that we all have ‘knowledge’—knowledge breeds conceit but love gives inner strength.
OET-LV And concerning the idol_sacrificed things, we_have_known that all knowledge we_are_having.
The knowledge is_making_arrogant, but the love is_building.
SR-GNT Περὶ δὲ τῶν εἰδωλοθύτων, οἴδαμεν ὅτι πάντες γνῶσιν ἔχομεν. Ἡ γνῶσις φυσιοῖ, ἡ δὲ ἀγάπη οἰκοδομεῖ. ‡
(Peri de tōn eidōlothutōn, oidamen hoti pantes gnōsin eⱪomen. Haʸ gnōsis fusioi, haʸ de agapaʸ oikodomei.)
Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the OET-RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).
ULT Now about the things sacrificed to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.
UST I am now moving on to speak about meat that someone has offered to another god. All of us who believe do know what is true about other gods. However, knowing what is true often makes people proud. It is loving others that really helps other believers.
BSB § Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.
BLB Now concerning the things sacrificed to idols, we know indeed we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.
AICNT Now concerning food offered to idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.
OEB ¶ With reference to food that has been offered in sacrifice to idols – We are aware that all of us have knowledge! Knowledge breeds conceit, while love builds up character.
WEB Now concerning things sacrificed to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.
NET With regard to food sacrificed to idols, we know that “we all have knowledge.” Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.
LSV And concerning the things sacrificed to idols, we have known that we all have knowledge: knowledge puffs up, but love builds up;
FBV Now about “food sacrificed to idols.”[fn] So “we all have knowledge” about this subject. Knowledge makes us proud, but love strengthens us.
8:1 Paul continues answering the issues the Corinthians have raised.
TCNT Now concerning food sacrificed to idols, we know that “we all have knowledge.” Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.
T4T Now I will answer what you asked about us believers eating meat that has been sacrificed to idols. We know what some of you say, that God has enabled all of us to know the truth about things such as idols. But often we become proud because we say that we know all those things. But instead of being proud about what we know, we should show that we love our fellow believers by helping them to become spiritually mature.
LEB Now concerning food sacrificed to idols, we know that “we all have knowledge.”[fn] Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.
?:? Considered by many interpreters to be a slogan used by the Corinthians to justify their behavior
BBE Now about things offered to images: we all seem to ourselves to have knowledge. Knowledge gives pride, but love gives true strength.
MOF No MOF 1COR book available
ASV Now concerning things sacrificed to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but love edifieth.
DRA Now concerning those things that are sacrificed to idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up; but charity edifieth.
YLT And concerning the things sacrificed to idols, we have known that we all have knowledge: knowledge puffeth up, but love buildeth up;
DBY But concerning things sacrificed to idols, we know, (for we all have knowledge: knowledge puffs up, but love edifies.
RV Now concerning things sacrificed to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but love edifieth.
WBS Now as concerning things offered to idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.
KJB Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.
BB As touching thinges offred vnto idols, we are sure yt we all haue knowledge. Knowledge maketh a man swell: but loue edifieth.
(As touching things offered unto idols, we are sure it we all have knowledge. Knowledge maketh a man swell: but love edifieth.)
GNV And as touching things sacrificed vnto idols, wee knowe that wee all haue knowledge: knowledge puffeth vp, but loue edifieth.
(And as touching things sacrificed unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge: knowledge puffeth up, but love edifieth. )
CB As touchinge thinges offred vnto Idols we are sure yt we all haue knowlege. Knowlege puffeth a ma vp, but loue edifyeth.
(As touchinge things offered unto Idols we are sure it we all have knowlege. Knowlege puffeth a man up, but love edifyeth.)
TNT To speake of thinges dedicate vnto ydols we are sure that we all have knowledge. knowledge maketh a man swell: but love edifieth.
(To speak of things dedicate unto idols we are sure that we all have knowledge. knowledge maketh a man swell: but love edifieth. )
WYC But of these thingis that ben sacrified to ydols, we witen, for alle we han kunnyng. But kunnyng blowith, charite edefieth.
(But of these things that been sacrified to idols, we perceive, for all we have cunning/knowledge. But cunning/knowledge blowith, charity edefieth.)
LUT Von dem Götzenopfer aber wissen wir; denn wir haben alle das Wissen. Das Wissen bläset auf; aber die Liebe bessert.
(Von to_him Götzenopfer but wissen wir; because wir have all the Wissen. The Wissen bläset auf; but the love bessert.)
CLV De iis autem quæ idolis sacrificantur, scimus quia omnes scientiam habemus. Scientia inflat, caritas vero ædificat.[fn]
(De iis however which idolis sacrificantur, scimus because everyone scientiam habemus. Scientia inflat, caritas vero ædificat.)
8.1 De his. Quasi dicat: scitis æque ac ego, quod licet ea comedere; quia omnes scientiam habemus. Hoc de his dicit qui habentes scientiam cum offendiculo edebant. Quos primum arguit, nec sufficienter scire dicit. Alii autem ignari sub veneratione idoli comedebant. Scientia inflat. Per se inutilis est scientia, cum charitate utilis. Per se inflat in superbiam, ut dæmones qui Græco nomine a scientia sic sunt nominati. Propter elationem scientiæ reprimendam datus est Paulo stimulus. Melius est scire infirmitatem nostram, quam naturas rerum; hanc scientiam qui apponit, apponit dolorem peregrinationis ex desiderio patriæ.
8.1 De his. Quasi dicat: scitis æque ac ego, that licet ea comedere; because everyone scientiam habemus. This about his dicit who habentes scientiam when/with offendiculo edebant. Quos primum arguit, but_not sufficienter scire dicit. Alii however ignari under veneratione idoli comedebant. Scientia inflat. Per se inutilis it_is scientia, when/with charitate utilis. Per se inflat in superbiam, as dæmones who Græco nomine a scientia so are nominati. Propter elationem scientiæ reprimendam datus it_is Paulo stimulus. Melius it_is scire infirmitatem nostram, how naturas rerum; hanc scientiam who apponit, apponit dolorem peregrinationis ex desiderio patriæ.
UGNT περὶ δὲ τῶν εἰδωλοθύτων, οἴδαμεν ὅτι πάντες γνῶσιν ἔχομεν. ἡ γνῶσις φυσιοῖ, ἡ δὲ ἀγάπη οἰκοδομεῖ.
(peri de tōn eidōlothutōn, oidamen hoti pantes gnōsin eⱪomen. haʸ gnōsis fusioi, haʸ de agapaʸ oikodomei.)
SBL-GNT Περὶ δὲ τῶν εἰδωλοθύτων, οἴδαμεν ὅτι πάντες γνῶσιν ἔχομεν. ἡ γνῶσις φυσιοῖ, ἡ δὲ ἀγάπη οἰκοδομεῖ.
(Peri de tōn eidōlothutōn, oidamen hoti pantes gnōsin eⱪomen. haʸ gnōsis fusioi, haʸ de agapaʸ oikodomei. )
TC-GNT Περὶ δὲ τῶν εἰδωλοθύτων, οἴδαμεν ὅτι πάντες γνῶσιν ἔχομεν. Ἡ γνῶσις φυσιοῖ, ἡ δὲ ἀγάπη οἰκοδομεῖ.
(Peri de tōn eidōlothutōn, oidamen hoti pantes gnōsin eⱪomen. Haʸ gnōsis fusioi, haʸ de agapaʸ oikodomei. )
Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs (from our SR-GNT base).
8:1–11:1 Paul now addresses the Corinthians’ question about food that has been offered to idols: Throughout the Greco-Roman world, there were temples and shrines dedicated to pagan gods. It was common for worshipers of those gods to offer animal sacrifices, and the excess meat was then sold in the market by pagan priests. The question inevitably arose as to whether Christians were free to eat such meat. Is meat taken from an animal that has been sacrificed to a pagan god inherently defiled? Paul makes no mention here of the prohibition made by the Jewish Christian leaders in Acts 15:20, 29 but emphasizes that one’s actions must be governed, above all, by loving consideration of others. After introducing the topic (1 Cor 8:1-13), he provides several illustrations of the principle of giving up one’s rights for the sake of others (9:1-27) and then gives his advice on three specific situations in which believers faced this issue.
8:1 “We all have knowledge” was apparently a common saying of the Corinthian Christians. The knowledge in question is religious knowledge, paraded by certain Christians who might have felt their superior understanding made them unaccountable to the opinions of others.
Giving up Rights
Paul nowhere tells believers that they should defend their rights. On the contrary, he emphasizes that believers must always be willing to give up their rights for the sake of others. Believers are free from many of the rules that others feel bound by, but they must always be ready to give up their freedoms if their actions would cause someone else to sin (Rom 14:13-23; 1 Cor 8:1-13; 10:23-33). Defending one’s own personal rights is of little value to Paul.
Paul, like Jesus, sees loving others as one of the most important principles in life (Rom 13:8-10; 1 Cor 13:1-13; Gal 5:6; see Matt 5:43-44; 22:36-39). Real Christian love is always sacrificial (1 Cor 13:4-7), like Christ’s own love. Believers ought never to focus on what is best for themselves, but on what is best for others (1 Cor 10:32-33). The sacrificial death of Christ for sinners is the model that reveals the nature of true love (Rom 5:6-8; 15:1-5; 1 Jn 4:9-12). The whole of a believer’s life is to be an expression of Christ’s sacrificial love. This will never be easy, for it means people must consider themselves dead to their own desires (see Mark 8:34-35).
Passages for Further Study
Matt 5:38-48; 16:24-27; 22:37-39; Rom 5:6-8; 13:8-10; 14:15-22; 15:1-5; 1 Cor 8:1-13; 9:1-23; 10:23-24, 31-33; 13:4-7; Gal 5:6; Phil 2:3-4; 2 Tim 2:9-13; Heb 11:24-26; 1 Jn 4:9-12
Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases
περὶ δὲ
concerning and
Just as in 7:1, Now about introduces a new topic that Paul wishes to address. Likely, the topics that he introduces in this way are what the Corinthians wrote to him about. Translate Now about here as you translated “now concerning” in 7:1, 7:25. Alternate translation: “Next, about”
Note 2 topic: translate-unknown
τῶν εἰδωλοθύτων
the idol_sacrificed_‹things›
Here Paul speaks about animals that are slaughtered, offered to a god, and then eaten. For many people in Paul’s culture, this was the only meat that was available for them to eat. In many cases, people would eat this meat at a god’s temple or shrine. However, sometimes the meat could be sold to people, who would then eat it in their homes. In the next few chapters, Paul will speak about whether and how Christians should eat or not eat this meat. If your language has a specific word or phrase for meat from an animal that has been offered to a god, you could use it here. If your language does not have such a word, you can use a descriptive phrase. Alternate translation: “meat from animals sacrificed to idols”
Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive
τῶν εἰδωλοθύτων
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: “the things that people have sacrificed to idols”
Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit
οἴδαμεν ὅτι πάντες γνῶσιν ἔχομεν
˱we˲_/have/_known that all knowledge ˱we˲_/are/_having
Here Paul could be: (1) expressing his own view about knowledge. Alternate translation: “We know that we all indeed have knowledge” (2) quoting what the Corinthians said in their letter so that he can respond to it, much like he did in 6:12–13; 7:1. Alternate translation: “you wrote, ‘we know that we all have knowledge.’”
Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit
πάντες γνῶσιν ἔχομεν
all knowledge ˱we˲_/are/_having
Here Paul does not specify what the knowledge is about. It becomes clear in 8:4–6 that Paul is speaking about knowledge about other gods, specifically knowing that there is only one God and that other gods do not really exist. If possible, do not give further explanation of knowledge here, since Paul explains later in the chapter. If you must specify what the knowledge is about, you could clarify that it is about the idols or the topic of things sacrificed to idols. Alternate translation: “we all have knowledge about idols” or “we all have knowledge about this issue”
Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns
πάντες γνῶσιν ἔχομεν & ἡ γνῶσις
all knowledge ˱we˲_/are/_having & ¬the (Some words not found in SR-GNT: περὶ δὲ τῶν εἰδωλοθύτων οἴδαμεν ὅτι πάντες γνῶσιν ἔχομεν ἡ γνῶσις φυσιοῖ ἡ δὲ ἀγάπη οἰκοδομεῖ)
If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea behind knowledge, you can express the idea by using a verb such as “know.” Alternate translation: “we all know things. Knowing things”
Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns
ἡ δὲ ἀγάπη
¬The ¬the but love
If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea behind love, you can express the idea by using a verb such as “love.” Alternate translation: “but loving other believers” or “but a loving action”
Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor
ἀγάπη οἰκοδομεῖ
love /is/_building
Paul here speaks as if believers were a building that one builds up. With this metaphor, he emphasizes that love helps other believers become stronger and more mature, just like building a house makes it strong and complete. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea behind this figure of speech plainly or with a comparable metaphor. Alternate translation: “love enables other believers to grow” or “love edifies”