1 COR 8:8 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). 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.

Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) But food doesn’t bring us closer to God—what we eat makes us no better or worse off spiritually.

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, cyan:dative/indirect object, red:negative.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT But food will not bring us near to God; neither are we made to lack if we do not eat, nor do we abound if we eat.

UST Now food does not connect us with God. Those who do not eat certain foods do not miss out on anything from God. Also, those who do eat certain foods do not receive something extra from God.

BSB But food does not bring us closer to God: We are no worse if we do not eat, [and] no [better] if we do.

MSB But food does not bring us closer to God: We are no better if we do not eat, [and] no worse[fn] if we do.

8:8 CT We are no worse if we do not eat, and no better

BLB But food will not commend us to God; neither if we should eat do we come short, nor if we should not eat, do we have an advantage.

AICNT But food will not bring us closer to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.

OEB What we eat, however, will not bring us nearer to God. We lose nothing by not eating this food, and we gain nothing by eating it.

WEBBE But food will not commend us to God. For neither, if we don’t eat are we the worse, nor if we eat are we the better.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET Now food will not bring us close to God. We are no worse if we do not eat and no better if we do.

LSV But food does not commend us to God, for neither if we may eat are we in advance; nor if we may not eat, are we behind;

FBV But food doesn't gain us God's approval! If we don't eat this food, we're not bad, and if we do eat this food, we're not good.

TCNT But food [fn]does not bring us close to God. [fn]For we are no better off if we eat, and no worse off if we do not eat.

8:8 does ¦ will CT

8:8 For we are no better off if we eat, and no worse off if we do not 80.4% ¦ We are no better off if we eat, and no worse off if we do not TH 1.4% ¦ We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do NA WH 0.8%

T4T But God will not think more highly about us if we eat certain foods, or if we do not eat certain foods. That is, we are not more acceptable to God if we do not eat certain foods, nor are we more acceptable to him if we eat those foods.

LEB But food does not bring us close to God. For neither if we eat do we have more, nor if we do not eat do we lack.[fn]

8:8 Some manuscripts omit “For” and have “Neither if we do not eat do we lack, nor if we do eat do we have more”

BBE But God's approval of us is not based on the food we take: if we do not take it we are no worse for it; and if we take it we are no better.

Moff Now mere food will not bring us any nearer to God;
⇔ if we abstain we do not lose anything,
⇔ and if we eat we do not gain anything.

Wymth It is true that a particular kind of food will not bring us into God's presence; we are neither inferior to others if we abstain from it, nor superior to them if we eat it.

ASV But food will not commend us to God: neither, if we eat not, are we the worse; nor, if we eat, are we the better.

DRA But meat doth not commend us to God. For neither, if we eat, shall we have the more; nor, if we eat not, shall we have the less.

YLT But victuals do not commend us to God, for neither if we may eat are we in advance; nor if we may not eat, are we behind;

Drby But meat does not commend us to [fn]God; neither if we should not eat do we come short; nor if we should eat have we an advantage.

8.8 Elohim

RV But meat will not commend us to God: neither, if we eat not, are we the worse; nor, if we eat, are we the better.

SLT And food sets us not before God: for neither, if we eat, do we abound; neither if we eat not, do we want.

Wbstr But food commendeth us not to God: for neither if we eat, are we the better; neither if we eat not, are we the worse.

KJB-1769 But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse.

KJB-1611 But meate commendeth vs not to God: for neither if we eate, [fn]are we the better: neither if wee eate not, [fn]are we the worse.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from punctuation and footnotes)

8:8 Or, haue we the more.

8:8 Or, haue we the lesse.

Bshps But meate maketh vs not acceptable to God: For neither if we eate, haue we the more, neither if we eate not, haue we the lesse.
(But meat maketh/makes us not acceptable to God: For neither if we eat, have we the more, neither if we eat not, have we the lesse.)

Gnva But meate maketh not vs acceptable to God, for neither if we eate, haue we the more: neither if we eate not, haue we the lesse.
(But meat maketh/makes not us acceptable to God, for neither if we eat, have we the more: neither if we eat not, have we the lesse. )

Cvdl Neuertheles meate furthureth not vs vnto God. Yf we eate, we shal not therfore be the better: yf we eate not, we shal not therfore be the lesse.
(Nevertheless meat furthureth not us unto God. If we eat, we shall not therefore be the better: if we eat not, we shall not therefore be the lesse.)

TNT Meate maketh vs not acceptable to god. Nether yf we eate are we the better. Nether yf we eate not are we the worsse.
(Meate maketh/makes us not acceptable to god. Neither if we eat are we the better. Neither if we eat not are we the worse. )

Wycl Mete comendith vs not to God; for nether we schulen faile, if we eten not, nether if we eten, we schulen haue plente.
(Mete comingdith us not to God; for neither we should fail, if we eaten not, neither if we eaten, we should have plente.)

Luth Aber die Speise fördert uns nicht vor GOtt. Essen wir, so werden wir darum nicht besser sein; essen wir nicht, so werden wir darum nichts weniger sein.
(But the food promotes us/to_us/ourselves not before/in_front_of God. Essen we/us, so become we/us therefore not better be; eat we/us not, so become we/us therefore nothing fewer be.)

ClVg Esca autem nos non commendat Deo. Neque enim si manducaverimus, abundabimus: neque si non manducaverimus, deficiemus.
(Esca however us not/no recommends to_God. Neither because when/but_if manducaverimus, abundabimus: nor when/but_if not/no manducaverimus, deficiemus. )

UGNT βρῶμα δὲ ἡμᾶς οὐ παραστήσει τῷ Θεῷ; οὔτε ἐὰν μὴ φάγωμεν, ὑστερούμεθα; οὔτε ἐὰν φάγωμεν, περισσεύομεν.
(brōma de haʸmas ou parastaʸsei tōi Theōi; oute ean maʸ fagōmen, husteroumetha; oute ean fagōmen, perisseuomen.)

SBL-GNT βρῶμα δὲ ἡμᾶς οὐ ⸀παραστήσει τῷ θεῷ· οὔτε ⸂γὰρ ἐὰν φάγωμεν, περισσεύομεν, οὔτε ἐὰν μὴ φάγωμεν, ὑστερούμεθα⸃.
(brōma de haʸmas ou ⸀parastaʸsei tōi theōi; oute ⸂gar ean fagōmen, perisseuomen, oute ean maʸ fagōmen, husteroumetha⸃.)

RP-GNT Βρῶμα δὲ ἡμᾶς οὐ παρίστησιν τῷ θεῷ· οὔτε γὰρ ἐὰν φάγωμεν περισσεύομεν, οὔτε ἐὰν μὴ φάγωμεν ὑστερούμεθα.
(Brōma de haʸmas ou paristaʸsin tōi theōi; oute gar ean fagōmen perisseuomen, oute ean maʸ fagōmen husteroumetha.)

TC-GNT Βρῶμα δὲ ἡμᾶς οὐ [fn]παρίστησι τῷ Θεῷ· οὔτε [fn]γὰρ ἐὰν φάγωμεν περισσεύομεν, οὔτε ἐὰν μὴ φάγωμεν ὑστερούμεθα.
(Brōma de haʸmas ou paristaʸsi tōi Theōi; oute gar ean fagōmen perisseuomen, oute ean maʸ fagōmen husteroumetha. )

8:8 παριστησι ¦ παραστησει CT

8:8 γαρ εαν φαγωμεν περισσευομεν ουτε εαν μη φαγωμεν υστερουμεθα 80.4% ¦ εαν φαγωμεν περισσευομεν ουτε εαν μη φαγωμεν υστερουμεθα TH 1.4% ¦ εαν μη φαγωμεν υστερουμεθα ουτε εαν φαγωμεν περισσευομεν NA WH 0.8%

Key for above GNTs: red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN 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 8:7–13

In this paragraph Paul discussed a problem related to the knowledge that an idol is nothing. The problem is that not all believers have this knowledge. When those without this knowledge eat food sacrificed to idols, they think they are participating in rites to real gods. They know this is wrong, but being weak they are easily influenced to do it anyway. So believers who know that idols are nothing should not think only about what they have freedom to do, but rather should think about how what they do may influence other believers toward idolatry. They should not do anything that would cause another believer to do something he thinks is wrong.

8:8a

But food does not bring us closer to God:

But what we^(incl) eat or do not eat does not make us more acceptable to God.
I agree with you^(plur) who say that our^(incl) relationship with God is not based on whether we eat or do not eat certain foods.

But: There is a contrast here. The contrast is between the statement in verse 7 and the statement in 8:8a. In verse 7, the believer with a weak conscience thinks that eating food sacrificed to an idol can injure the relationship between him and God. Verse part 8a says that what we eat does not make any difference in our relationship with God. Although eating food sacrificed to idols causes these believers to have guilt before God, it is not the food itself that causes the problem. Some English versions, such as the RSV, do not explicitly translate this conjunction. Consider if it is natural for you to translate this conjunction here.

food does not bring us closer to God: Paul believed that what you eat does not make you right with God. Eating the right food does not cause God to approve of you. Other ways to translate this include:

food will not bring us into God’s presence (REB)

Food will not affect our relationship with God. (GW)

In saying this, Paul was probably agreeing with the position of the Corinthians who had written to him and asked the question about eating food offered to idols. Some English versions translate this in a way that expresses agreement with what the Corinthians had said, and you may want to do the same. For example:

It’s true that we can’t win God’s approval by what we eat. (NLT)

But of course food cannot make us acceptable to God (NJB)

food: The Greek word that the BSB translates as food is a general word that can refer to anything that is eaten. In this verse Paul was not speaking specifically of food that had been offered to idols, or of food that was eaten in a pagan temple.

8:8b-c

Though Paul agreed with the Corinthians who wrote the letter to him that food does not affect our relationship with God, in 8:8b-c (and the rest of the chapter) he challenges their position. They believed that not eating food offered to idols was the wrong choice. And they believed they would benefit in different ways from choosing to eat this food at the temple. Paul says the opposite. He says that people who choose not to eat this food make a good choice; they are not worse off. And people who choose to eat this food do not gain anything.

These verse parts form a complementary pair. Translate them so that they match one another. For example:

We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. (RSV)

we shall not lose anything if we do not eat, nor shall we gain anything if we do eat (GNT)

Refusing to eat does not make us less pleasing to God, and eating does not make us better in God’s sight. (NCV)

8:8b

We are no worse if we do not eat,

If we^(incl) do not eat certain foods, that does not do us any harm.
We do not displease God by not eating them,
It is actually a good thing to not eat food offered to idols.

We are no worse if we do not eat: The believers Paul mentioned in 8:7 believed that they should not eat certain foods. Paul defends them here saying that their choice was a good one. These believers did not displease God by not eating such foods. Another way to translate this is:

we will not be less pleasing to God if we do not eat

If we do not eat, that is fine. God is still pleased with us.

8:8c

and no better if we do.

And if we^(incl) do eat those foods, that does not do us any good.
and we do not please God by eating them.
And we gain no benefit when we eat idol food.

no better if we do: This is a short way of saying “We are no better if we do eat such foods.” Paul was continuing to address the believers who had written to him and who understood that idols are not real. They apparently thought they were pleasing God by eating idol food and so showing that they did not respect idols. Paul said that eating such foods does not please God or benefit them more than not eating them.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / personification

βρῶμα & ἡμᾶς οὐ παραστήσει τῷ Θεῷ

food & (Some words not found in SR-GNT: βρῶμα Δέ ἡμάς οὒ παραστήσει τῷ Θεῷ οὔτε ἐάν μή φάγωμεν περισσεύομεν οὔτε ἐάν φάγωμεν ὑστερούμεθα)

Here Paul speaks as if food were a person who could bring us near to God. By speaking in this way, Paul discusses whether food can make our relationship with God stronger or not. Just like a person who cannot bring us near to someone so that we can know that person better, so food cannot make our relationship with God any stronger. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this figure of speech with a comparable metaphor or express the idea plainly. Alternate translation: [food will not make our relationship with God any stronger]

Note 2 topic: grammar-connect-logic-contrast

οὔτε ἐὰν μὴ φάγωμεν, ὑστερούμεθα; οὔτε ἐὰν φάγωμεν, περισσεύομεν

neither nor (Some words not found in SR-GNT: βρῶμα Δέ ἡμάς οὒ παραστήσει τῷ Θεῷ οὔτε ἐάν μή φάγωμεν περισσεύομεν οὔτε ἐάν φάγωμεν ὑστερούμεθα)

Here Paul contrasts “eating” and “not eating” while negating both sides of the contrast. If your language does not use this form, you can express the idea with two negative clauses. Alternate translation: [we are not made to lack if we do not eat, and we do not abound if we eat]

Note 3 topic: grammar-connect-condition-hypothetical

οὔτε ἐὰν μὴ φάγωμεν, ὑστερούμεθα; οὔτε ἐὰν φάγωμεν, περισσεύομεν

Here Paul uses if twice to introduce true possibilities. He means that a person might not eat, or that person might eat. He specifies the result for each option. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this form by stating the if statements by introducing them with a word such as “whenever” or by using relative clauses. Alternate translation: [neither are we made to lack whenever we do not eat, nor do we abound whenever we eat]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ὑστερούμεθα & περισσεύομεν

˱we˲_˓are_being˒_deficient (Some words not found in SR-GNT: βρῶμα Δέ ἡμάς οὒ παραστήσει τῷ Θεῷ οὔτε ἐάν μή φάγωμεν περισσεύομεν οὔτε ἐάν φάγωμεν ὑστερούμεθα)

Here Paul does not specify in what we might lack or abound. If possible, do not specify this is in your translation. If you must clarify in what we might lack or abound, Paul implies that it is God’s “favor” or “grace.” Alternate translation: [are we made to lack God’s grace … we abound in God’s grace]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

μὴ φάγωμεν & φάγωμεν

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: βρῶμα Δέ ἡμάς οὒ παραστήσει τῷ Θεῷ οὔτε ἐάν μή φάγωμεν περισσεύομεν οὔτε ἐάν φάγωμεν ὑστερούμεθα)

Here Paul states a general principle, and he does not clarify what kinds of food he has in mind. If possible, do not specify what we eat in your translation. If you must clarify what we eat, you could include a vague or generic reference to “certain kinds of food.” Alternate translation: [we do not eat specific kinds of food … we eat specific kinds of food]