1 Corinthians 8:4

2 And ^aif anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know.

3 But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him.

4 Therefore concerning the eating of things offered to idols, we know that ^aan idol is nothing in the world, ^band that there is no other God but one.

5 For even if there are ^aso-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords),

6 yet ^afor us there is one God, the Father, ^bof whom are all things, and we for Him; and ^cone Lord Jesus Christ, ^dthrough whom are all things, and ^ethrough whom we live.

7 However, there is not in everyone that knowledge; for some, ^awith consciousness of the idol, until now eat it as a thing offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is ^bdefiled.

Commentaries:

Forerunner Commentary
What is the Forerunner Commentary?

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What Does 1 Corinthians 8:4 Mean?

1 Corinthians 8:4-5

God wants us to worship Him directly—not through an idol. When we set up an idol, we are in fact sacrificing to one or more demons! God wants us to worship Him humbly rather than the way the world worships idols. It is degrading to worship an idol. Conversely, God calls us into His own spiritual presence to worship Him directly. Whenever we stop short of our face-to-face relationship and worship of our sovereign God by placing a visible entity before Him, we break the second commandment. God looks to those who worship Him in humility and respectful fear and despises those who choose their own ways.

Martin G. Collins
The Second Commandment

1 Corinthians 8:1-13

Notice that no mention is made of clean or unclean. Paul is speaking of clean meats offered to idols, for some of the pagan deities were offered bullocks, sheep, goats, chickens, doves, and other clean animals, the remainder of which would be offered for sale in the market. His main subject is not clean and unclean, but being sensitive to a brother's conscience.

Richard T. Ritenbaugh
Clean and Unclean Meats

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What Does 1 Corinthians 8:4 Mean?

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