1 Corinthians 8:2 kjv
And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.
1 Corinthians 8:2 nkjv
And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know.
1 Corinthians 8:2 niv
Those who think they know something do not yet know as they ought to know.
1 Corinthians 8:2 esv
If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know.
1 Corinthians 8:2 nlt
Anyone who claims to know all the answers doesn't really know very much.
1 Corinthians 8 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Cor 8:1 | "knowledge puffs up, but love builds up." | Focus on love's building nature |
| 2 Tim 2:19 | "the solid foundation of the Lord stands firm, bearing this inscription: 'The Lord knows those who are his'..." | Security in God's knowledge |
| Matt 7:21-23 | "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom..." | Superficial claims vs. true relationship |
| 1 John 2:4 | "Whoever says, 'I know him,' but does not do what he commands is a liar..." | Obedience as proof of knowledge |
| Gal 4:9 | "...how is it that you are turning back again to those weak and worthless elementary principles? Do you want to be enslaved by them all over again?" | Apostasy from true knowledge |
| 2 Cor 5:11 | "Since then we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade others..." | Impact of knowing God |
| Psalm 1:6 | "For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction." | God's discernment of people |
| Prov 3:5-6 | "Trust in the Lord with all your heart..." | Divine guidance and recognition |
| Jer 31:34 | "And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, 'You know the Lord,' for they shall all know me..." | Deep, internal knowledge of God |
| Heb 8:10-11 | "...‘I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.'" | Internalized law signifies knowing |
| 1 John 4:7-8 | "Let us love one another, for love comes from God..." | Love as a mark of divine connection |
| Rom 8:29-30 | "For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son..." | Predestination linked to being known |
| 2 Thess 2:13-14 | "But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you from the beginning to be saved..." | Election and knowing |
| John 10:14 | "I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me," | Reciprocal relationship |
| 1 Cor 13:2 | "If I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge..." | Knowledge without love is nothing |
| Matt 25:11-12 | "...Lord, open to us. But he replied, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’" | Exclusion due to not being known |
| Titus 1:16 | "They profess that they know God, but they deny him by their works..." | Works revealing true knowledge |
| Rev 3:5 | "The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot out his name from the book of life..." | God's active knowledge of His own |
| Amos 3:2 | "‘Only you have I known of all the families of the earth..." | Special relationship and knowing |
| Psalm 91:14-15 | "‘Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him..." | God's response to those devoted |
1 Corinthians 8 verses
1 Corinthians 8 2 Meaning
A person who boasts of knowing God or the teachings of God but does not truly embody them is not genuinely "known by God." True knowledge of God results in a transformation of character, reflecting obedience and love, not mere intellectual assent or boastful claims.
1 Corinthians 8 2 Context
This verse appears in 1 Corinthians chapter 8, which deals with the issue of eating food sacrificed to idols. Paul is addressing a conflict within the Corinthian church. Some believers, having recently come from pagan backgrounds, understood that idols were actually nothing. This led them to believe they could freely eat meat offered to idols without sin. However, other believers, perhaps with a weaker conscience, were disturbed by this practice, fearing it implied some participation in idol worship or spiritual communion with demons. Paul's teaching aims to guide the church towards unity and spiritual maturity, emphasizing that true knowledge of God's power over idols should be balanced with love for one's fellow believers. This specific verse underscores that genuine spiritual insight is not merely intellectual; it involves a profound relationship with God.
1 Corinthians 8 2 Word Analysis
- εἴ τις (ei tis): "if anyone." This conditional particle introduces a hypothetical statement.
- δοκεῖ (dokei): "thinks," "supposes," "seems." It refers to a subjective opinion or belief, not necessarily objective truth.
- εἰδέναι (eidenai): "to know." From the Greek verb oida, signifying a deep, experiential, and relational knowledge, not just factual information.
- τι (ti): "something," "anything."
- οἶδεν (oiden): "he knows," "has known." Again, the perfect tense of oida, implying a state of knowing that is established and continuous.
- ὡς (hōs): "as," "like." Introduces a comparison or manner.
- δῖ (dei): "ought," "must." Indicates what is fitting or necessary according to God's standard.
Words group analysis:
- "εἴ τις δοκεῖ εἰδέναι τι, οἶδεν ὡς δεῖ οὐδέν" (ei tis dokei eidenai ti, oiden hōs dei ouden): "If anyone thinks he knows something, he does not know as he ought to know." The structure highlights the contrast between the perceived knowledge of "something" and the correct, God-honoring knowledge, which is described as knowing "as he ought," or in its absence, knowing "nothing" in the truly significant sense. The emphasis is on the proper manner and object of knowledge.
1 Corinthians 8 2 Bonus Section
The concept of God "knowing" someone, as seen in "The Lord knows those who are His" (2 Tim 2:19), implies more than just recognition. It speaks of intimate familiarity, acceptance, and active care. It's the assurance of belonging to Him. Conversely, not being "known" by God signifies separation and lack of divine favor or relationship. This verse subtly warns against spiritual arrogance, suggesting that those who rely on their superior understanding risk an alarming disconnection from the very God they claim to know. This understanding aligns with the broader biblical theme that faith is both cognitive and volitional, a holistic engagement with God.
1 Corinthians 8 2 Commentary
This verse serves as a crucial corrective. Intellectual knowledge about God, or even understanding spiritual matters, if it doesn't lead to humility and love, is essentially valueless. True spiritual knowledge is transformative; it's about a relationship where God is sovereign and we are subject to His will. Such knowledge results in actions and attitudes that edify others. The "knowledge" here refers not just to correct doctrine, but to an understanding of God that shapes one's entire life and relationships, making them mindful of those who are weaker in faith. Without this discernment and care for others, what a person believes they know is actually a profound ignorance.