1 Corinthians 8:4

An Understandable Version (2005 edition)

Now concerning [the matter of] eating foods [once] offered as sacrifices to idols, we know that an idol is [really] nothing in the world [at all], and that there is only one God.

Cross References

Mark 12:29

And Jesus answered, “The foremost one is this [Deut. 6:4-5], ‘Hear this, you Israelites, the Lord our God is the only Lord,

Acts 14:15

“Gentlemen, why are you doing these things? [Do you not know that] we are also human beings with the same kind of feelings that you have? And we are just bringing you the good news that you should turn away from these useless things [i.e., idol worship] and [turn] to the living God, who created the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them.

Acts 15:20

but to write [urging] them to avoid [eating] what is contaminated by [its association with] idol worship, from sexual immorality, from [eating] strangled animals and from [drinking] blood.

Acts 19:26

And now you have seen and heard, not only here in Ephesus, but throughout almost the entire [province of] Asia, that this Paul has been convincing people, [even] to the point of turning many away [from idol worship]. [He is] saying that hand-made gods [like we make] are not real [gods at all].

1 Corinthians 8:1

I now want to reply to the matter of idolatrous sacrifices [which you wrote to me about]. We know that we all possess knowledge. [Note: This may be a statement posed to Paul by the Corinthians, who seemed quite preoccupied with “knowledge”]. Knowledge [only] makes people arrogant, while love builds them up [spiritually].

1 Corinthians 8:10

For if someone with a weak conscience sees you, who have [correct] knowledge [in this matter], eating in an idol’s temple, will he not be encouraged to eat food sacrificed to idols?

1 Corinthians 8:11

So, this weak brother, for whose sake Christ died, becomes [spiritually] destroyed, [and all] because of your “knowledge” [i.e., you know that such eating is harmless, but your weak brother does not know this, so he is led into sin by your unloving example].

Galatians 4:8

At that time, when you did not know God [as your Father], you were in bondage to those who were, by nature, not really gods at all.

Ephesians 4:6

and one God and Father of all, who is over all and [works] through all and is in all [obedient believers].

1 Timothy 1:17

Now, may there be honor and praise forever and ever to the eternal King, the immortal, invisible, only God. May it be so.

1 Timothy 2:5

For there is one God and one Mediator between God and mankind --- the man Christ Jesus,

Jude 1:25

[May these qualities be attributed] to the only God and our Savior, through [the person and work of] Jesus Christ our Lord, before [the beginning of] time [as well as] now and forever. May it be so.