1 Corinthians 8:3
in 1 Corinthians 8But the one who loves God is known by God.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
but if any man loveth God, the same is known by him.
KJV
But if any man love God, the same is known of him.
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This verse in 1 Corinthians 8
Commentary
9 notes on this verseThese words have the following meaning: whoever loves his neighbor undoubtedly loves God as well; and whoever loves God (he did not say "has known" God, but) "has knowledge" from God, that is, has become known to God and His own. And having become known …
This site's exposition
Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth
on 1 Corinthians 8:1-3
Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge: Paul opens the question by echoing the Corinthians' own boast back to them, knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth, the same puffing word Paul has diagnosed since 4:6, the church proud of a settled answer while short on the love that should govern how the answer gets used. And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know humbles the boast further, correct information about idols being no substitute for a right disposition in using it. But if any man love God, the same is known of him turns the whole question from knowing about God to being known by him, the bench reading the reversal as Paul's answer to knowledge as status, the relationship running from God's knowledge of the believer rather than from the believer's mastery of a doctrine.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
A commentator
Desert FathersThe Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks · Written before 500.
proposed
Once some brothers came to visit Antony, and Joseph was with them. Antony, wanting to test them, began to speak about holy Scripture. He asked the younger monks first the meaning of text after text, and each of them answered as well as he could. …
"But if any man love God, the same," he doth not say, "knoweth Him," but, "is known of Him." For we have not known Him, but He hath known us. And therefore did Christ say, "Ye have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you." And Paul elsewhere, "Then shall I know fully, even as also I have been known." Observe now, I pray, by what means he brings down their high-mindedness. First, he points out that not they alone knew the things which they knew; for "we all," he saith, "have knowledge." Next, that the thing itself was hurtful so long as it was without love; for "knowledge," saith he, "puffeth up." Thirdly, that even joined with love it is not complete nor perfect. "For if any man thinketh that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing as yet as he ought to know," so he speaks. In addition to this, that they have not even this from themselves, but by gift from God. For he said not, "hath known God," but, "is known of Him." Again, that this very thing comes of love which they have not as they ought. For, "if any man," saith he, "love God, the same is known of Him."
And the apostle: "if any man," he says, "think that he knoweth anything, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know. But if any man love God, the same is known of Him." He has not said, has known Him, which is dangerous presumption, but "is known of Him." So also in another place, when he had said, "But now after that ye have known God:" immediately correcting himself, he says, "or rather are known of God." And above all in that other place, "Brethren," he says, "I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press in purpose toward the mark, for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." Perfection in this life, he tells us, is nothing else than to forget those things which are behind, and to reach forth and press in purpose toward those things which are before. For he that seeks has the safest purpose, until that is taken hold of whither we are tending, and for which we are reaching forth.
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
But if any man love God,....
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
But if any man love God - If any man is truly attached to God; if he seeks to serve him, and to promote his glory. The sense seems to be this. “There is no true and real knowledge which is not connected with love to God. This will prompt a man also to love his brethren, and will lead him to promote their happiness. A man’s course, therefore, is not to be regulated by mere knowledge, but the grand principle is love to God and love to man.
2 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
love God--the source of love to our neighbor (1Jo 4:11, 12, 20; 5:2). the same--literally, "this man"; he who loves, not he who "thinks that he knows," not having "charity" or love (1Co 8:1, 2). is known of him--is known with the knowledge of approval and is acknowledged by God as His (Ps 1:6;
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase+unbalanced-parens
But if any man love God - In that way which the commandment requires, which will necessarily beget love to his neighbor, the same is known of him - is approved of God, and acknowledged as his genuine follower.
The words behind it
10 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| εἰ | ei | If | G1487 → | 508 times |
| δέ | de | however | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| τις | tis | anyone | G5100 → | 528 times |
| ἀγαπᾷ | agapa | loves | G25 → | |
| τὸν | ton | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| θεόν, | theon | God, | G2316 → | 1312 times |
| οὗτος | houtos | he | G3778 → | 1381 times |
| ἔγνωσται | egnostai | has known | G1097 → | 221 times |
| ὑπ᾽ | hup᾽ | by | G5259 → | 219 times |
| αὐτοῦ.¶ | autou | Him. | G846 → | 5565 times |
εἰIf
eiG1487 →508 times
δέhowever
deG1161 →2765 times
τιςanyone
tisG5100 →528 times
ἀγαπᾷloves
agapaG25 →
τὸν<the>
tonG3588 →19766 times
θεόν,God,
theonG2316 →1312 times
οὗτοςhe
houtosG3778 →1381 times
ἔγνωσταιhas known
egnostaiG1097 →221 times
ὑπ᾽by
hup᾽G5259 →219 times
αὐτοῦ.¶Him.
autouG846 →5565 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
1 Corinthians 2:9Rather, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no heart has imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him.”
it leads to
- Isaiah 64:4
From ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides You, who acts on behalf of those who wait for Him.
- Psalms 31:19
How great is Your goodness which You have laid up for those who fear You, which You have bestowed before the sons of men on those who take refuge in You!
- James 1:12
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.
- Romans 8:28
And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.
- Isaiah 64:4
Through
2 Timothy 2:19Nevertheless, God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord must turn away from iniquity.”
it leads to
- John 10:14
I am the good shepherd. I know My sheep and My sheep know Me,
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Nahum 1:7
The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of distress; He cares for those who trust in Him.
- 1 John 3:7–10
Little children, let no one deceive you: The one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as Christ is righteous.
- John 10:14
Through
Nahum 1:7The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of distress; He cares for those who trust in Him.
it leads to
- 2 Timothy 2:19
Nevertheless, God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord must turn away from iniquity.”
- 2 Timothy 2:19
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About 1 Corinthians
This page draws on 10 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Augustine of Hippo, On the Trinity 9.1; Desert Fathers, The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on 1 Corinthians 20; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 1 Corinthians.