What does 1 Corinthians 8:6 mean?
What is the meaning of 1 Corinthians 8:6?

Yet for us there is but one God, the Father

Paul begins by anchoring believers in the exclusive reality of God as Father. This echoes Deuteronomy 6:4—“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is One”—and reinforces Isaiah 45:5 where God declares, “I am the LORD, and there is no other.”

• The phrase “for us” personalizes the truth: Christians are distinct from the surrounding culture of many gods (Acts 17:22–23).

• Calling Him “Father” highlights intimacy and care (Matthew 6:9; Psalm 103:13), while still affirming His sovereign authority (Malachi 1:6).


From whom all things came

Everything originates with the Father. Romans 11:36 states, “For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things.”

• Creation: Genesis 1:1 testifies to God’s initiating act.

• Providence: He not only started creation but sustains it (Psalm 104:24–30).

• Purpose: History unfolds according to His design (Ephesians 1:11).


And for whom we exist

We were made to bring God pleasure and glory (Revelation 4:11).

• Identity: Our worth flows from being crafted for His purpose (Psalm 139:13–16).

• Calling: Daily life is re-oriented toward His honor (1 Peter 2:9).

• Hope: Our future is secured in Him (John 14:1–3).


And there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ

While affirming one God, Paul proclaims one Lord—Jesus—uniting Father and Son without dividing the divine nature (John 10:30).

• “Lord” (Kyrios) in the New Testament frequently carries the Old Testament title for God (Psalm 110:1; Philippians 2:11).

• This confession sets believers apart from Caesar-worship in Corinth and today’s competing allegiances (Acts 4:12).


Through whom all things came

Jesus is the divine agent of creation. John 1:3 reads, “Through Him all things were made, and without Him nothing was made that has been made.”

Colossians 1:16 affirms that “all things were created…through Him and for Him.”

Hebrews 1:2 says God “made the universe through Him,” presenting Jesus as co-creator, not a created being.


And through whom we exist

Our very life—physical and spiritual—is mediated by Christ.

• Sustaining power: “In Him all things hold together” (Colossians 1:17).

• Redemption: We are new creations in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17).

• Access to the Father: “No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6).


summary

1 Corinthians 8:6 sets forth a clear confession: one God, the Father, and one Lord, Jesus Christ. The Father is the source and goal of everything, while the Son is the agent through whom creation and our salvation come. Together, they call us to worship, obedience, and a life centered on God’s glory, confident that our existence—now and forever—rests securely in Their sovereign, saving hands.

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