1 Corinthians 8:2 - Printer Friendly

ESV: If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know.

NIV: Those who think they know something do not yet know as they ought to know.

NASB: If anyone thinks that he knows anything, he has not yet known as he ought to know;

CSB: If anyone thinks he knows anything, he does not yet know it as he ought to know it.

NLT: Anyone who claims to know all the answers doesn’t really know very much.

KJV: And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.

NKJV: And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know.

Paul seems to have quoted the Corinthians as saying "all of us possess knowledge." This might have been part of an earlier letter (1 Corinthians 7:1), and possibly a rebuttal to Paul's own instructions. Paul has responded that knowledge on its own merely leads to pride. He refers to it using the term phuisoo, meaning "inflated." On the other hand, love—from the Greek agapē—truly builds people up (1 Corinthians 8:1).

Now Paul warns that someone can imagine they know something and be wrong. The old saying goes that a little knowledge is dangerous. Modern culture has even given this a fancy-sounding name: the Dunning-Kruger Effect. The idea is that those who gain a small amount of knowledge on a subject tend to become overconfident about how much they really know. That's what Paul seems to be saying about those in Corinth: they are challenging his teaching about eating food offered to idols based on limited knowledge and an "inflated" view of their own wisdom.

Paul's references to "knowing" here all come from the same basic word: ginosko, which implies perception, understanding, and knowledge.

First Corinthians 8:1–13 begins Paul's longer response to the question of attending functions in idol temples or eating food offered to idols. This appears to blend Paul's own statements with references to the Corinthians' own remarks. It seems the Corinthians had previously written to Paul saying they are not ''worshiping'' the idols. They know idols don't really exist and that only God is real. Paul replies that the problem here is not lack of knowledge but lack of love. Some brothers and sisters in Christ cannot eat idol food with clear consciences. Those who are stronger risk leading those who are weaker into sin and, in that way, sinning themselves.

Paul responds to Corinthian objections about restrictions on eating in idol temples, or eating food offered to idols. Those were activities deeply integrated into everyday Corinthian society. Paul agrees that idols are nothing and food is only food. The problem is that some Christians from idol-worshiping backgrounds cannot eat idol food with a clear conscience. To do so is sin, for them. If those with stronger consciences—those who understand the truth better—lead their weaker brothers into sin, they themselves will also be guilty of sinning against their brothers and against Christ.

First Corinthians 8 begins Paul's response to another issue raised by the Corinthians. Earlier passages dealt with sexuality; this section discusses idolatry and food. Paul agrees that idols don't truly exist and only God is real. The problem is that some of the less-developed Christians aren't convinced of that. For those believers, they violate their consciences by eating idol food. Even if it's misguided, violating one's conscience is a sin (Romans 14:23). If those with stronger consciences lead these weaker brothers and sisters into sin, they will be guilty of sin themselves. Paul continues to balance liberty with care for others over the next chapters.

First Corinthians is one of the more practical books of the New Testament. Paul writes to a church immersed in a city associated with trade, but also with corruption and immorality. These believers are struggling to properly apply spiritual gifts and to resist the ungodly practices of the surrounding culture. Paul's letter gives instructions for real-life concerns such as marriage and spirituality. He also deals with the importance of unity and gives one of the Bible's more well-known descriptions of love in chapter 13.