--- title: "1 Corinthians 8 - Study King James Bible with calvins commentary on the bible" description: "Read 1 Corinthians 8 with calvins commentary on the bible commentary. 1 Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth. 2 And if any man think that h" image: "/_app/immutable/assets/missing.C7wGMEZ6.jpg" url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/study/calvins-commentary-on-the-bible/1-corinthians/8" --- [ Read](/kjv/1-corinthians/8)[ Commentary](/study/1-corinthians/8)[ Interlinear](/interlinear/1-corinthians/8) Audio 1 Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth. 2 And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know. 3 But if any man love God, the same is known of him. 4 As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol *is* nothing in the world, and that *there is* none other God but one. 5 For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) 6 But to us *there is but* one God, the Father, of whom *are* all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom *are* all things, and we by him. 7 Howbeit *there is* not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat *it* as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled. 8 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. 9 But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak. 10 For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol’s temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols; 11 And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? 12 But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ. 13 Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend. [1 Corinthians 7](/study/1-corinthians/7) [1 Corinthians 9](/study/1-corinthians/9) ## Commentary To verse 1 He now passes on to another question, which he had merely touched upon in the sixth chapter, without fully discussing. For when he had spoken of the avarice of the Corinthians, and had drawn that discussion to a close with this statement — *Neither covetous, nor extortioners, nor fornicators, etc., shall inherit the kingdom of God*, he passed on to speak of the liberty of Christians — *All things are lawful for me*. He had taken occasion from this to speak of *fornication*, and from that, of *marriage* Now, therefore, he at length follows out what he had touched upon as to things intermediate — how we ought to restrain our liberty in intermediate things. By intermediate things, I mean those that are neither good nor bad in themselves, but indifferent, which God has put in our power, but in the use of which we ought to observe moderation, that there may be a difference between liberty and licentiousness. In the outset, he selects one instance, distinguished above all the others, as to which the Corinthians grievously offended — their having been present on occasion of the sacred banquets, which were held by idolaters in honor of their gods, and eating indiscriminately of the meats that were offered to them. As this gave much occasion of offense, the Apostle teaches them that they rashly perverted the liberty granted them by the Lord. **1.***Concerning things offered unto idols.* He begins with a concession, in which he voluntarily grants and allows to them everything that they were prepared to demand or object. “I see what your pretext is: you make Christian liberty your pretext. You hold out that *you have knowledge*, and that there is not one of you that is so ignorant as not to know that *there is but one God.* I grant all this to be true, but of what avail is that knowledge which is ruinous to the brethren?” Thus, then, he grants them what they demand, but it is in such a way as to show that their excuses are empty and of no avail. *Knowledge puffeth up* He shows, from the effects, how frivolous a thing it is to boast of *knowledge*, when *love* is wanting. “Of what avail is *knowledge*, that is of such a kind as *puffs us up* and elates us, while it is the part of *love* to *edify* ?” This passage, which otherwise is somewhat obscure, in consequence of its brevity, may easily be understood in this way — “Whatever is devoid of *love* is of no account in the sight of God; nay more, it is displeasing to him, and much more so what is openly at variance with *love* Now that, *knowledge* of which you boast, O ye Corinthians, is altogether opposed to *love*, for it *puffs up* men with pride, and leads to contempt of the brethren, while *love* is concerned for the welfare of brethren, and exhorts us to *edify* them. Accursed, then, be that *knowledge* which makes men proud, and is not regulated by a desire of *edifying*. ” Paul, however, did not mean, that this is to be reckoned as a fault attributable to *learning* — that those who are learned are often self-complacent, and have admiration of themselves, accompanied with contempt of others. Nor did he understand this to be the natural tendency of learning — to produce arrogance, but simply meant to show what effect *knowledge* has in an individual, that has not the fear of God, and love of the brethren; for the wicked abuse all the gifts of God, so as to exalt themselves. Thus riches, honors, dignities, nobility, beauty, and other things of that nature, *puff up*; because men, elated through a mistaken confidence in these things, very frequently become insolent. (458) Nor is it always so; for we see that many who are rich and beautiful, and abounding in honors, and distinguished for dignity and nobility, are, nevertheless, of a modest disposition, and not at all tainted with pride. And even when it does happen to be so, it is, nevertheless, not proper that we should put the blame upon what we know to be gifts of God; for in the *first* place that were unfair and unreasonable; and farther, by putting the blame upon things that are not blameworthy, we would exempt the persons themselves from blame, who alone are in fault. My meaning is this — “If riches *naturally tend* to make men proud, then a rich man, if proud, is free from blame, for the evil arises from riches.” We must, therefore, lay it down as a settled principle, that knowledge is good in itself; but as piety is its only foundation, (459) it becomes empty and useless in wicked men: as love is its true seasoning, where *that* is wanting it is tasteless. And truly, where there is not that thorough knowledge of God which humbles us, and teaches us to do good to the brethren, it is not so much *knowledge*, as an empty notion of it, even in those that are reckoned the most learned. At the same time, knowledge is not by any means to be blamed for this, any more than a sword, if it falls into the hands of a madman. Let this be considered as said (460) with a view to certain fanatics, who furiously declaim against all the liberal arts and sciences, as if their only use were to *puff* men *up*, and were not of the greatest advantage as helps in common life. (461) Now those very persons, who defame them in this style, are ready to burst with pride, to such an extent as to verify the old proverb — “Nothing is so arrogant as ignorance.” (458) “Et intraittables;” — “And insufferable.” (459) “La crainte de Dieu est le seul et vray fondement d’icelle;” — “The fear of God is its only true foundation.” (460) “J’ai bien voulu dire ceci;” — “I have felt prepared to say this.” (461) “Moyens et instrumens tres-vtiles, tant a la cognoissance de Dieu, qu’a la conduite de la vie commune;” — “Most useful means and instruments, both for the knowledge of God, and for the conduct of common life.” ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#website","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com","name":"Real Bible Believers","description":"RBB","publisher":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#/schema/person/e966585dde703268e7f6ae890ea98509"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/search?q={search_term_string}","query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/study/calvins-commentary-on-the-bible/1-corinthians/8#primaryimage","inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/_app/immutable/assets/missing.C7wGMEZ6.jpg","contentUrl":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/_app/immutable/assets/missing.C7wGMEZ6.jpg","width":672,"height":448,"caption":"Real Bible Believers"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/study/calvins-commentary-on-the-bible/1-corinthians/8#webpage","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/study/calvins-commentary-on-the-bible/1-corinthians/8","name":"1 Corinthians 8 - Study King James Bible with calvins commentary on the bible","isPartOf":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/study/calvins-commentary-on-the-bible/1-corinthians/8#primaryimage"},"author":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#/schema/person/e966585dde703268e7f6ae890ea98509"},"description":"Read 1 Corinthians 8 with calvins commentary on the bible commentary. 1 Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. 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