1 Corinthians 8:11 kjv
And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?
1 Corinthians 8:11 nkjv
And because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?
1 Corinthians 8:11 niv
So this weak brother or sister, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge.
1 Corinthians 8:11 esv
And so by your knowledge this weak person is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died.
1 Corinthians 8:11 nlt
So because of your superior knowledge, a weak believer for whom Christ died will be destroyed.
1 Corinthians 8 11 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Cor 8:9 | Take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. | Warning against misusing Christian liberty |
| Rom 14:13 | Therefore let us not pass judgment on each other any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. | Avoid causing spiritual harm to others |
| Rom 14:15 | For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you no longer walk in love. | Love is the guiding principle |
| Rom 14:20 | Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is clean, but it is wrong for anyone to place a stumbling block in another's way. | Distinction between principle and practice |
| 1 Cor 10:23 | "Everything is permissible for me"—but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible for me"—but not everything builds up. | Christian freedom has responsibilities |
| 1 Cor 10:24 | Let no one seek their own good, but the good of others. | Prioritize others' well-being |
| 1 Cor 10:32 | Do not give offense, whether to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God. | Consider all types of people |
| Gal 5:13 | For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. | Freedom used in love, not license |
| 1 John 8:7 | We are of God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not of God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error. | Distinguishing truth from error |
| 2 Peter 3:16 | ...in all his letters, some things that are hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures. | Danger of misinterpreting scripture |
| Acts 15:20 | rather only write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood. | Apostolic decree to avoid offense |
| Matt 18:6 | Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea. | Severe warning against causing sin to believers |
| Rom 14:1 | As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. | Welcoming the weak in faith |
| Rom 14:2 | One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. | Different convictions regarding food |
| Rom 14:22 | The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to judge himself regarding what he approves. | Personal convictions and self-judgment |
| Eph 4:14 | so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by that with which they scheme to deceive. | Against doctrinal instability |
| 1 Tim 4:1 | Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by giving heed to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons. | Deceptive doctrines lead to apostasy |
| Heb 5:13-14 | For everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a babe. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have good judgment honed by practice to distinguish good from evil. | Maturity involves discerning good from evil |
| Col 2:8 | See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. | Warning against human philosophies |
| Prov 2:10-11 | For wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be a delight to your soul. Discretion will watch over you, understanding will guard you. | The role of wisdom and understanding |
| Prov 3:11-12 | My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline, or be weary of his reproof, for the Lord disciplines the one he loves, as a father the son whom he approves. | God's discipline to strengthen faith |
1 Corinthians 8 verses
1 Corinthians 8 11 Meaning
This verse speaks about how a weaker brother, seeing a stronger believer eat food sacrificed to idols, can be spiritually harmed. Their weak conscience, being informed by this act, can be led to believe that what they are doing is acceptable to God, potentially causing them to participate in idolatry themselves. This destruction stems from their understanding being perverted or damaged by the actions of another.
1 Corinthians 8 11 Context
This verse is situated within a broader discussion in 1 Corinthians chapter 8 concerning the ethical implications of eating food offered to idols. The Corinthian church, newly established in a pagan environment, was grappling with how to live out their faith in Christ amidst cultural practices that were deeply intertwined with idolatry. Paul addresses the tension between "knowledge" (understanding that idols are nothing) and "love" (considering the spiritual well-being of others, especially weaker believers). He emphasizes that while believers know that such idols have no real power, their freedom should be exercised with sensitivity towards those whose consciences are not as strong or as enlightened, lest their liberty inadvertently lead a weaker brother into sin and spiritual ruin.
1 Corinthians 8 11 Word Analysis
- "And" (καὶ - kai): A common conjunction linking clauses.
- "through" (διὰ - dia): Indicates the means or cause. Here, it highlights how destruction comes about.
- "your" (σοῦ - sou): Refers back to the "brother who is weak."
- "knowledge" (γνῶσις - gnōsis): In this context, it refers to the theological understanding that idols are non-existent and food sacrificed to them is morally neutral. It can also refer to the exercise of that knowledge in action.
- "he" (αὐτὸς - autos): Emphasizes the weaker brother.
- "who" (ὅς - hos): Relative pronoun.
- "is" (ἐστιν - estin): Verb of being.
- "weak" (ἀσθενής - asthenēs): Lacking strength, power, or firm conviction. In faith, it means having scruples about certain actions that mature believers do not have.
- "perishes" (ἀπόλλυται - apollytai): Is destroyed, lost, ruined. In a spiritual sense, it refers to being led into sin and its resulting alienation from God. This is a passive voice verb, indicating that something is being done to him.
- "through" (διὰ - dia): Again, signifies the means.
- "which" (ὣν - hōn): Refers back to "knowledge."
- "your" (σοῦ - sou): Again, refers to the stronger believer.
Word Groups/Phrases:
- "through your knowledge" (διὰ τῆς γνώσεως σου - dia tēs gnōseōs sou): This phrase is pivotal. It indicates that the destruction of the weaker brother is a direct consequence of the stronger brother's exercise of his knowledge. The knowledge itself is not evil, but its application in a way that disregards the weaker conscience becomes the instrument of destruction. This highlights the relational aspect of Christian faith; our knowledge and freedoms have implications for others.
1 Corinthians 8 11 Bonus Section
This verse underscores the Pauline principle of "agape" (love) taking precedence over "gnosis" (knowledge) when there is a conflict within the community. While the Corinthians were perhaps boasting in their knowledge of freedom from pagan practices, Paul redirects them to a higher calling: mutual edification and the protection of vulnerable consciences within the body of Christ. The concept of the "weak" believer represents those still growing in their understanding and conviction. Their faith is like an infant, susceptible to injury. Therefore, the stronger believer must act as a responsible guardian, prioritizing the spiritual health of the weaker over the mere assertion of their own rights or privileges. This also speaks to the practical application of discerning truth from error, a skill honed through maturity and experience as noted in Hebrews 5:14, and something the "untaught and unstable" twist to their own ruin (2 Peter 3:16).
1 Corinthians 8 11 Commentary
The destruction of a brother is not the intention of the stronger believer but a direct, though unintended, outcome of how the stronger believer wields their freedom. The "knowledge" that idols are nothing, while theologically correct, becomes a dangerous tool when wielded without the covering of love and consideration for the weaker conscience. The weak believer, lacking the same doctrinal assurance, can be misled into believing that sin is acceptable if a more spiritually mature person practices it. This highlights the immense responsibility that comes with Christian liberty; it is never meant to be a license for self-indulgence but a platform for loving service and edification of the body of Christ. True Christian maturity is not merely possessing correct doctrine but applying it with Christ-like love, safeguarding those around us from spiritual harm.