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1 Corinthians 8:11

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And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?

And {G2532} through {G1909} thy {G4674} knowledge {G1108} shall {G622} the weak {G770} brother {G80} perish {G622}, for {G1223} whom {G3739} Christ {G5547} died {G599}?

Thus by your “knowledge” this weak person is destroyed, this brother for whom the Messiah died;

So this weak brother, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge.

For through thy knowledge he that is weak perisheth, the brother for whose sake Christ died.

Commentary

1 Corinthians 8:11 is a powerful rhetorical question posed by the Apostle Paul, serving as the climax of his argument regarding Christian liberty and responsibility towards fellow believers.

Context

This verse is situated within Paul's extensive discussion (chapters 8-10) concerning the issue of eating meat that had been sacrificed to idols in the Corinthian church. Some believers, whom Paul refers to as having "knowledge" (γνῶσις - gnōsis), understood that idols were nothing and therefore eating such meat was spiritually insignificant to them. However, others, the "weak brother," had a sensitive or underdeveloped conscience, possibly due to a past involvement with idolatry. For these individuals, seeing a "strong" believer eat idol-meat could cause them to stumble, believe they too were permitted, and thereby violate their own conscience, leading to spiritual harm.

Key Themes

  • Love Over Liberty: The core message is that personal freedom and "knowledge" must always be subordinate to love for others. While "all things are lawful" (1 Corinthians 10:23), not all things are beneficial, especially if they cause a brother to stumble.
  • Responsibility for Others: Paul emphasizes that believers have a profound responsibility for the spiritual well-being of their fellow Christians. Our actions have consequences that extend beyond ourselves.
  • The Value of a Soul: The phrase "for whom Christ died" highlights the immense value God places on every individual believer. To cause a brother, for whom Christ made the ultimate sacrifice, to "perish" (ἀπόλλυται - apollytai, meaning to be ruined, destroyed, or lost spiritually) is a grave offense.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word for "perish" here is apollytai (ἀπόλλυται), which signifies being ruined, destroyed, or lost. In this context, it refers not necessarily to eternal damnation but to a severe spiritual detriment, causing someone to fall away from faith, regress spiritually, or violate their conscience in a way that leads to spiritual destruction. It underscores the seriousness of causing a fellow believer to stumble.

Practical Application

This verse challenges believers today to consider the impact of their actions on others, particularly those who may be younger in faith, less mature, or have a more sensitive conscience. It calls for empathy and self-restraint. Modern applications might include choices in entertainment, social media content, lifestyle habits, or even political stances. The principle remains: prioritize the spiritual health and unity of the body of Christ over the assertion of personal rights or freedoms. This aligns with Paul's call to serve one another through love in Galatians 5:13, ensuring our liberty does not become a stumbling block for others, as further elaborated in Romans 14:13.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Romans 14:15 (8 votes)

    But if thy brother be grieved with [thy] meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.

  • Romans 15:1 (7 votes)

    ¶ We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.

  • Romans 15:3 (7 votes)

    For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.

  • 1 Corinthians 8:13 (5 votes)

    Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.

  • Romans 14:20 (3 votes)

    For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed [are] pure; but [it is] evil for that man who eateth with offence.

  • Romans 14:21 (3 votes)

    [It is] good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor [any thing] whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.

  • 1 Corinthians 10:33 (3 votes)

    Even as I please all [men] in all [things], not seeking mine own profit, but the [profit] of many, that they may be saved.