1 Corinthians 8:4 BSB

1 Corinthians 8:4

So about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world, and that there is no God but one.

BSB

Parallel translations (2) ▾

ASV

Concerning therefore the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that no idol is anything in the world, and that there is no God but one.

KJV

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.

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Commentary

4 voices

Irenaeus

Against Heresies Book III (202)

And the Apostle Paul also, saying, "For though ye have served them which are no gods; ye now know God, or rather, are known of God," has made a separation between those that were not [gods] and Him who is God. And again, speaking of Antichrist, he says, "who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped." He points out here those who are called gods, by such as know not God, that is, idols.

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

He tells them that upon supposition that it were lawful in itself to eat of things offered to idols (for that they themselves are nothing), yet regard must be had to the weakness of Christian brethren, and nothing done that would lay a stumbling block before them, and occasion their sin and destruction,

The Nineteenth Century2 voices

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible (1832)

Things that are offered in sacrifice - See on the first verse, (1Co 8:1 (note)). An idol is nothing in the world - Dr. Lightfoot translates this, We know that there is no idol in the world; which he explains thus: Ειδωλον, idol, is ὁμοιωμα, εικων, σημειον, χαρακτηριον, σκιοειδες, a likeness, an image, a sign, a character, a shadow: now ουδεν ειδωλον signifies there is no idol, no representation of God, in the world. Images there are of stone, wood and metal; but none of these is any representation of the infinite Spirit.

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

Voices on this verse

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Original language & word study

19 tagged words

Original	Transliteration	Meaning	Word study
Περὶ	Peri	Concerning	G4012 →
τῆς	tēs	the	G3588 →
βρώσεως	brōseōs	eating	G1035 →
οὖν	oun	therefore	G3767 →
τῶν	tōn	of the	G3588 →
εἰδωλοθύτων	eidōlothutōn	idol-sacrifices	G1494 →
οἴδαμεν	oidamen	we know
ὅτι	hoti	that	G3754 →
οὐδὲν	ouden	no [thing]	G3762 →
εἴδωλον	eidōlon	an idol	G1497 →
ἐν	en	[is] in	G1722 →
κόσμῳ	kosmō	[the] world	G2889 →
καὶ	kai	and	G2532 →
ὅτι	hoti	that [there is]	G3754 →
οὐδεὶς	oudeis	no	G3762 →
θεὸς	theos	God	G2316 →
εἰ	ei	only	G1487 →
μὴ	mē	except	G3361 →
εἷς.	heis	one.	G1520 →

Rare words are the text's own signal of a deliberate thread: the fewer the occurrences, the more the places it appears belong together.

The walk

The walk8

Where the connections lead

Follow this verse’s cross-references two steps out. Each card is a verse this one points to, and beneath it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several different paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it. Every stop shows its own words, and every stop is a page.

Through
Deuteronomy 6:4
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is One.
leads to
- Mark 12:29–32
  Jesus replied, “This is the most important: ‘Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One.
- Isaiah 44:6
  Thus says the LORD, the King and Redeemer of Israel, the LORD of Hosts: “I am the first and I am the last, and there is no God but Me.
- 1 Timothy 2:5
  For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
- Isaiah 45:5–6
  I am the LORD, and there is no other; there is no God but Me. I will equip you for battle, though you have not known Me,
Through
1 Timothy 2:5
For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
leads to
- 1 Corinthians 8:6
  yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we exist. And there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and…
  Reached by 2 independent paths from here.
- Galatians 3:20
  A mediator is unnecessary, however, for only one party; but God is one.
- Hebrews 9:15
  Therefore Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, now that He has died to redeem them from the transgressions committed under…
- Hebrews 7:25
  Therefore He is able to save completely those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede for them.

Featured studies on this passage

On 1 Corinthians 8:4

Food Offered to Idols, MannaFest

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Walks through 1 Corinthians 8

The Shema — Hear, O Israel — Deuteronomy 6:4–5

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Walks through 1 Corinthians 8

The Trinity

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About 1 Corinthians

The Crucifixion — 'Christ crucified' (1 Cor 2:2) — Gustave Doré (engraving, public domain)

1 Corinthians: the study guide →Read chapter 8 →The featured study →

Continue: 1 Corinthians 8 →

01Commentary

The record, by era

Voices on this verse

02Original language & word study

03The walk

Where the connections lead

04Related verses

05Featured studies on this passage

06About 1 Corinthians

The record, by era

Where the connections lead

Commentary

Original language & word study

The walk

Related verses

Featured studies on this passage

About 1 Corinthians