1 Corinthians 8:1-3 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Now As to the next question you proposed, namely, touching things offered Meats sacrificed, and so consecrated; unto idols When the heathen offered sacrifices of such animals as were fit for food, a part of the carcass was burned on the altar, a part was given to the priest or priests, and on the remainder the offerers feasted with their friends, either in the idol's temple or at home. Sometimes also a part was sent as a present to such as they wished to oblige, and if the sacrifice was large, a part of it was sold in the public market. To these idolatrous feasts the heathen often invited the Christians of their acquaintance in Corinth, and some of the brethren there, desirous of preserving the friendship of their neighbours, accepted these invitations. They knew an idol was nothing in the world: and therefore they judged that their partaking of the sacrifice, given in the idol's temple, could not be reckoned a worshipping of the idol. Besides, such a feast was considered, by enlightened Christians, as a common meal, which under the gospel they were at liberty to eat; especially if they did it to show their belief that idols had no existence as gods. These arguments, indeed, are not explicitly stated by the apostle; but the things he hath written in this and in chap. 10. being direct confutations of them, we may believe they were mentioned by the Corinthian brethren, in their letter referred to 1 Corinthians 7:1. The apostle here, and in 1 Corinthians 10:20-21, treats of the meats which, having been sacrificed to idols, were afterward eaten in the idol's temple, and in honour of the idol: of that which was sold in the shambles, or eaten in private houses, he speaks 1 Corinthians 10:25-33. We all have knowledge That is, the generality, for some had not, 1 Corinthians 8:7: we are well instructed in the nature of Christian liberty, concerning meats, and the nature of idols. Knowledge That is, mere knowledge, knowledge without grace; puffeth up Often has that tendency, and is the occasion of self-conceit and arrogance; a gentle reproof this of the self-conceit of the Corinthians. But charity Love to God and our brethren; edifieth Builds people up in holiness. If any man think he knoweth any thing aright Unless so far as he is taught by God, and has love in proportion to his knowledge; he knoweth nothing To any good purpose; yet, as he ought to know Namely, to answer the proper ends of knowledge, or to make him humble in himself, and useful to others. If any man love God In deed and in truth, in consequence of a persuasion of God's love to him, 1 John 4:19; if any man, being justified by faith, and having peace with God, hath also the love of God shed abroad in his heart, Romans 5:1; Romans 5:5; the same is known of him That is, approved by him, Psalms 1:6. Or, if ουτος, he, refers to God, the immediate antecedent, as some think the sense is, he, God, is known of him; namely, in a proper manner. See an example of the same phraseology, Acts 10:36.