What is the meaning of 1 Corinthians 8:3? But Paul has just addressed believers who prided themselves on having “knowledge” about food offered to idols (1 Corinthians 8:1–2). With the little word “But,” he shifts the spotlight: human knowledge may puff up, “but” something far more important governs life in Christ—love for God. This gentle pivot echoes Proverbs 3:5–6, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart…,” reminding us that reliance on God outweighs reliance on self-assurance. the one who loves God • Love for God is not an abstract feeling; it shows up in obedience (John 14:15, “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments”) and in putting others ahead of our rights, as Paul is urging in the food-idle debate. • Deuteronomy 6:5 commands, “Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength,” tying love to wholehearted devotion. • 1 John 4:20 warns that professed love for God is false if we refuse to love our brother—exactly the issue in Corinth, where the “knowledgeable” risked wounding weaker consciences. is known • “Known” describes a personal, relational acknowledgment, not mere awareness. In Galatians 4:9 Paul speaks of “knowing God—or rather being known by God,” stressing God’s initiative. • Being “known” conveys acceptance and intimacy, like the Good Shepherd who “calls His own sheep by name” (John 10:3). • It also carries the idea of divine approval; Nahum 1:7 says, “He knows those who take refuge in Him.” Love for God signals we belong to Him, and He publicly owns us. by God • The ultimate evaluator of our lives is the Lord Himself. 2 Timothy 2:19 declares, “The Lord knows those who are His,” reassuring believers that God’s recognition is secure even when human opinion wavers. • This phrase flips the cultural script: status in the church is not conferred by superior knowledge but by the God who sees hearts (1 Samuel 16:7). • To be “known by God” also anticipates eternal fellowship; Jesus will one day say, “Well done” (Matthew 25:21) to those marked by genuine love. summary 1 Corinthians 8:3 contrasts prideful knowledge with humble, obedient love. Loving God—demonstrated through consideration for fellow believers—marks us as God’s own, drawing the divine acknowledgment every heart longs for. When love leads, God Himself affirms, “I know you,” anchoring our identity now and forever. |
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