1 Corinthians 8:10
New International Version
For if someone with a weak conscience sees you, with all your knowledge, eating in an idol’s temple, won’t that person be emboldened to eat what is sacrificed to idols?

New Living Translation
For if others see you—with your “superior knowledge”—eating in the temple of an idol, won’t they be encouraged to violate their conscience by eating food that has been offered to an idol?

English Standard Version
For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols?

Berean Standard Bible
For if someone with a weak conscience sees you who are well informed eating in an idol’s temple, will he not be encouraged to eat food sacrificed to idols?

Berean Literal Bible
For if anyone sees you, having knowledge, eating in an idol's temple, will not his conscience, being weak, be built up so as to eat the things sacrificed to idols?

King James Bible
For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols;

New King James Version
For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things offered to idols?

New American Standard Bible
For if someone sees you, the one who has knowledge, dining in an idol’s temple, will his conscience, if he is weak, not be strengthened to eat things sacrificed to idols?

NASB 1995
For if someone sees you, who have knowledge, dining in an idol’s temple, will not his conscience, if he is weak, be strengthened to eat things sacrificed to idols?

NASB 1977
For if someone sees you, who have knowledge, dining in an idol’s temple, will not his conscience, if he is weak, be strengthened to eat things sacrificed to idols?

Legacy Standard Bible
For if someone sees you, who have knowledge, dining in an idol’s temple, will not his conscience, if he is weak, be built up to eat things sacrificed to idols?

Amplified Bible
For if someone sees you, a person having knowledge, eating in an idol’s temple, then if he is weak, will he not be encouraged to eat things sacrificed to idols [and violate his own convictions]?

Christian Standard Bible
For if someone sees you, the one who has knowledge, dining in an idol’s temple, won’t his weak conscience be encouraged to eat food offered to idols?

Holman Christian Standard Bible
For if someone sees you, the one who has this knowledge, dining in an idol’s temple, won’t his weak conscience be encouraged to eat food offered to idols?

American Standard Version
For if a man see thee who hast knowledge sitting at meat in an idol's temple, will not his conscience, if he is weak, be emboldened to eat things sacrificed to idols?

Contemporary English Version
You know all this, and so it doesn't bother you to eat in the temple of an idol. But suppose a person with a weak conscience sees you and decides to eat food that has been offered to idols.

English Revised Version
For if a man see thee which hast knowledge sitting at meat in an idol's temple, will not his conscience, if he is weak, be emboldened to eat things sacrificed to idols?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
For example, suppose someone with a weak conscience sees you, who have this knowledge, eating in the temple of a false god. Won't you be encouraging that person to eat food offered to a false god?

Good News Translation
Suppose a person whose conscience is weak in this matter sees you, who have so-called "knowledge," eating in the temple of an idol; will not this encourage him to eat food offered to idols?

International Standard Version
For if anyone with a weak conscience sees you, who know better, eating in an idol's temple, he will be encouraged to eat what has been offered to idols, won't he?

Majority Standard Bible
For if someone with a weak conscience sees you who are well informed eating in an idol’s temple, will he not be encouraged to eat food sacrificed to idols?

NET Bible
For if someone weak sees you who possess knowledge dining in an idol's temple, will not his conscience be "strengthened" to eat food offered to idols?

New Heart English Bible
For if someone sees you who have knowledge sitting in an idol's temple, won't his conscience, if he is weak, be emboldened to eat things sacrificed to idols?

Webster's Bible Translation
For if any man shall see thee, who hast knowledge, sit eating in the idol's temple, will not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols;

Weymouth New Testament
For if any one were to see you, who know the real truth of this matter, reclining at table in an idol's temple, would not his conscience (supposing him to be a weak believer)

World English Bible
For if a man sees you who have knowledge sitting in an idol’s temple, won’t his conscience, if he is weak, be emboldened to eat things sacrificed to idols?
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
for if anyone may see you that have knowledge in an idol’s temple reclining to eat, will not his conscience—he being weak—be emboldened to eat the things sacrificed to idols?

Berean Literal Bible
For if anyone sees you, having knowledge, eating in an idol's temple, will not his conscience, being weak, be built up so as to eat the things sacrificed to idols?

Young's Literal Translation
for if any one may see thee that hast knowledge in an idol's temple reclining at meat -- shall not his conscience -- he being infirm -- be emboldened to eat the things sacrificed to idols,

Smith's Literal Translation
For if any one see thee having knowledge reclining in the idol's temple, shall not his consciousness, being weak, be built up to eat the sacrifices to idols;
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
For if a man see him that hath knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not his conscience, being weak, be emboldened to eat those things which are sacrificed to idols ?

Catholic Public Domain Version
For if anyone sees someone with knowledge sitting down to eat in idolatry, will not his own conscience, being infirm, be emboldened to eat what has been sacrificed to idols?

New American Bible
If someone sees you, with your knowledge, reclining at table in the temple of an idol, may not his conscience too, weak as it is, be “built up” to eat the meat sacrificed to idols?

New Revised Standard Version
For if others see you, who possess knowledge, eating in the temple of an idol, might they not, since their conscience is weak, be encouraged to the point of eating food sacrificed to idols?
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
For if any one should see you, who has knowledge, at table in the temple of idols, shall not the conscience of him who is weak encourage him to eat that which is sacrificed to idols?

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
For if a man should see you who have knowledge in you, reclining in the house of idols, behold, will he not be encouraged to eat what is sacrificed because his conscience is weak?
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
For, if any one see you, who have knowledge, reclining at table in an idol's temple, will not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened, so that he will eat meats offered to idols?

Godbey New Testament
For if any one may see you having knowledge sitting at the table in the idol temple, will not the conscience of him, being weak, be encouraged to eat things sacrificed to the idols?

Haweis New Testament
For if any man see thee that hast knowledge, sitting in an idol’s temple, shall not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat what is sacrificed to idols?

Mace New Testament
for if any man see you who have a just notion of idols, sitting at table in their temple, will not the person who is wrong in his notions be incouraged to eat what is offered to idols, tho' contrary to his own opinion?

Weymouth New Testament
For if any one were to see you, who know the real truth of this matter, reclining at table in an idol's temple, would not his conscience (supposing him to be a weak believer)

Worrell New Testament
For, if anyone sees you, who have knowledge, reclining at table in an idol's temple, will not his conscience, if he is weak, be emboldened to eat the idol-sacrifices?

Worsley New Testament
For if any one see thee, who hast knowledge, at table in an idol's temple, will not the conscience of him that is weak be encouraged to eat of the things sacrificed to idols?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Food Sacrificed to Idols
9Be careful, however, that your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak. 10For if someone with a weak conscience sees you who are well informed eating in an idol’s temple, will he not be encouraged to eat food sacrificed to idols? 11So this weak brother, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge.…

Cross References
Romans 14:13-23
Therefore let us stop judging one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s way. / I am convinced and fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean. / If your brother is distressed by what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy your brother, for whom Christ died. ...

1 Corinthians 10:23-33
“Everything is permissible,” but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible,” but not everything is edifying. / No one should seek his own good, but the good of others. / Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience, ...

Matthew 18:6-9
But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. / Woe to the world for the causes of sin. These stumbling blocks must come, but woe to the man through whom they come! / If your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than to have two hands and two feet and be thrown into the eternal fire. ...

Romans 14:1-4
Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on his opinions. / For one person has faith to eat all things, while another, who is weak, eats only vegetables. / The one who eats everything must not belittle the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted him. ...

Galatians 5:13
For you, brothers, were called to freedom; but do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh. Rather, serve one another in love.

1 Corinthians 6:12
“Everything is permissible for me,” but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible for me,” but I will not be mastered by anything.

1 Corinthians 9:19-22
Though I am free of obligation to anyone, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. / To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), to win those under the law. / To those without the law I became like one without the law (though I am not outside the law of God but am under the law of Christ), to win those without the law. ...

1 Corinthians 10:14-22
Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. / I speak to reasonable people; judge for yourselves what I say. / Is not the cup of blessing that we bless a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? ...

1 Thessalonians 5:22
Abstain from every form of evil.

1 Peter 2:16
Live in freedom, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.

Acts 15:19-21
It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not cause trouble for the Gentiles who are turning to God. / Instead, we should write and tell them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals, and from blood. / For Moses has been proclaimed in every city from ancient times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.”

Romans 15:1-2
We who are strong ought to bear with the shortcomings of the weak and not to please ourselves. / Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.

2 Corinthians 6:14-18
Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership can righteousness have with wickedness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness? / What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? / What agreement can exist between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people.” ...

Leviticus 19:14
You must not curse the deaf or place a stumbling block before the blind, but you shall fear your God. I am the LORD.

Deuteronomy 32:21
They have provoked My jealousy by that which is not God; they have enraged Me with their worthless idols. So I will make them jealous by those who are not a people; I will make them angry by a nation without understanding.


Treasury of Scripture

For if any man see you which have knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols;

which hast.

1 Corinthians 8:1,2
Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth…

sit.

1 Corinthians 10:20,21
But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils…

Numbers 25:2
And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods: and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods.

Judges 9:27
And they went out into the fields, and gathered their vineyards, and trode the grapes, and made merry, and went into the house of their god, and did eat and drink, and cursed Abimelech.

shall not.

1 Corinthians 10:28,29,32
But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof: …

Romans 14:14,23
I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean…

emboldened.

1 Corinthians 8:1
Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.

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Conscience Dining Eat Eating Emboldened Feeble Guest House Idea Idols Image Matter Meat Offered Real Reclining Sacrificed Sit Sitting Table Temple Truth Weak Won't
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1 Corinthians 8
1. To abstain from food offered to idols.
8. We must not abuse our Christian liberty, to the offense of our brothers;
11. but must bridle our knowledge with charity.














For if someone with a weak conscience
The phrase "weak conscience" refers to a believer whose understanding of Christian liberty is not fully developed. In the Greek, "asthenēs syneidēsis" suggests a conscience that is fragile or lacking strength. Historically, the early church was composed of individuals from diverse backgrounds, including those who had recently converted from paganism. These new believers might still struggle with the remnants of their past beliefs, making them vulnerable to actions that could lead them back into old practices. The Apostle Paul is addressing the need for mature Christians to be sensitive to the spiritual maturity of others.

sees you who are well informed
The term "well informed" translates from the Greek "gnōsis," meaning knowledge. This knowledge is not merely intellectual but is rooted in a deep understanding of Christian freedom and the truth that idols have no real existence. Paul acknowledges that some believers possess a mature understanding of their liberty in Christ, which allows them to partake in activities that others might find questionable. However, this knowledge comes with the responsibility to act in love and consideration for those who do not share the same level of understanding.

eating in an idol’s temple
The act of "eating in an idol’s temple" was a common practice in Corinth, where social and religious life often intertwined. Archaeological findings reveal that temples were not only places of worship but also venues for communal meals and gatherings. For a believer with a strong conscience, eating in such a setting might be seen as an exercise of freedom, recognizing that idols are powerless. However, for those with a weak conscience, this action could be perceived as endorsing idol worship, thus leading them into spiritual confusion or sin.

will he not be encouraged
The word "encouraged" comes from the Greek "oikodomeō," which typically means to build up or edify. Ironically, in this context, it implies being led astray or emboldened to act against one's conscience. Paul is highlighting the paradox that what is intended as a demonstration of freedom can inadvertently become a stumbling block, causing spiritual harm rather than growth.

to eat food sacrificed to idols?
Eating "food sacrificed to idols" was a contentious issue in the early church. The Jerusalem Council in Acts 15 had addressed this, advising Gentile converts to abstain from such practices to maintain unity and avoid offending Jewish believers. Theologically, Paul argues elsewhere that food itself is neutral (1 Corinthians 8:8), but the act of eating it in a context that could be misconstrued as idol worship is problematic. The historical context underscores the tension between exercising Christian liberty and maintaining a clear witness to the transformative power of the Gospel.

(10) For if any man (i.e., any of the weak brethren) see thee which hast knowledge.--The fact of your being avowedly advanced in the knowledge of the faith will make your example the more dangerous, because more effective.

Sit at meat in the idol's temple.--Some went so far as to not only eat, but eat in the precincts of the heathen temple. The Apostle being concerned now only with the point of the eating, does not rebuke this practice here, but he does so fully in 1Corinthians 10:14-22. He probably mentions the fact here as an instance in which there could be no salving of his conscience by the heathen convert thinking that it was not certain whence the meat had come.

Be emboldened.--Better, be built up. The people addressed had probably argued that the force of their example would build up others. Yes, says St. Paul, with irony, it will build him up--to do what, being weak, he cannot do without sin.

Verse 10. - Sit at meat in the [an] idol's temple. To recline at a banquet in the temple of Poseidon or Aphrodite, especially in such a place as Corinth, was certainly an extravagant assertion of their right to Christian liberty. It was indeed a "bowing in the house of Rimmon" which could hardly fail to be misunderstood. The very word "idoleum" should have warned them. It was a word not used by Gentiles, and invented by believers in the one God, to avoid the use of "temple" (ναὸς) in connection with idols. The Greeks spoke of the "Athenaeum," or "Apolloneum," or "Posideum;" but Jews only of an "idoleum" - a word which (like other Jewish designations of heathen forms of worship) involved a bitter taunt. For the very word eidolon meant a shadowy, fleeting, unreal image. Perhaps the Corinthian Christians might excuse their boldness by pleading that all the most important feasts and social gatherings of the ancients were held in temples (comp. 1 Macc. 1:47 1 Macc. 10:83). Be emboldened; rather, be edified. The expression is a very bold paronomasia. This "edification of ruin" would be all the more likely to ensue because self interest would plead powerfully in the same direction. A little compromise and complicity, a little suppression of opinion and avoidance of antagonism to things evil, a little immoral acquiescence, would have gone very far in those days to save Christians from incessant persecution. Yet no Christian could be "edified" into a more dangerous course than that of defying and defiling his own tender conscience.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
For
γάρ (gar)
Conjunction
Strong's 1063: For. A primary particle; properly, assigning a reason.

if
ἐὰν (ean)
Conjunction
Strong's 1437: If. From ei and an; a conditional particle; in case that, provided, etc.

someone
τις (tis)
Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5100: Any one, some one, a certain one or thing. An enclitic indefinite pronoun; some or any person or object.

[with]
αὐτοῦ (autou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

a weak
ἀσθενοῦς (asthenous)
Adjective - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 772: (lit: not strong), (a) weak (physically, or morally), (b) infirm, sick. Strengthless.

conscience
συνείδησις (syneidēsis)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 4893: The conscience, a persisting notion. From a prolonged form of suneido; co-perception, i.e. Moral consciousness.

sees
ἴδῃ (idē)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 3708: Properly, to stare at, i.e. to discern clearly; by extension, to attend to; by Hebraism, to experience; passively, to appear.

you
σὲ (se)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

who
τὸν (ton)
Article - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

are well informed
γνῶσιν (gnōsin)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1108: Knowledge, doctrine, wisdom. From ginosko; knowing, i.e. knowledge.

eating
κατακείμενον (katakeimenon)
Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2621: From kata and keimai; to lie down, i.e. be sick; specially, to recline at a meal.

in
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

an idol’s temple,
εἰδωλείῳ (eidōleiō)
Noun - Dative Neuter Singular
Strong's 1493: A temple for (containing) an image (an idol). Neuter of a presumed derivative of eidolon; an image-fane.

{will he} not
οὐχὶ (ouchi)
IntPrtcl
Strong's 3780: By no means, not at all. Intensive of ou; not indeed.

be
ὄντος (ontos)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

encouraged
οἰκοδομηθήσεται (oikodomēthēsetai)
Verb - Future Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 3618: From the same as oikodome; to be a house-builder, i.e. Construct or confirm.

to
εἰς (eis)
Preposition
Strong's 1519: A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases.

eat
ἐσθίειν (esthiein)
Verb - Present Infinitive Active
Strong's 2068: Strengthened for a primary edo; used only in certain tenses, the rest being supplied by phago; to eat.

[food]
τὰ (ta)
Article - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

sacrificed to idols?
εἰδωλόθυτα (eidōlothyta)
Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 1494: Neuter of a compound of eidolon and a presumed derivative of thuo; an image-sacrifice, i.e. Part of an idolatrous offering.


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NT Letters: 1 Corinthians 8:10 For if a man sees you who (1 Cor. 1C iC 1Cor i cor icor)
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