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1 Corinthians

About this book
Chapter 8

1 With regard to food sacrificed to idols, we know that “we all have knowledge.” Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.⁠ 2 If someone thinks he knows something, he does not yet know to the degree that he needs to know. 3 But if someone loves God, he is known by God. 4 With regard then to eating food sacrificed to idols, we know that “an idol in this world is nothing,” and that “there is no God but one.”⁠ 5 If after all there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords), 6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we live, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things⁠ and through whom we live.⁠ 7 But this knowledge is not shared by all. And some, by being accustomed to idols in former times, eat this food as an idol sacrifice, and their conscience, because it is weak, is defiled. 8 Now food will not bring us close to God. We are no worse if we do not eat and no better if we do. 9 But be careful that this liberty of yours does not become a hindrance to the weak. 10 For if someone weak sees you who possess knowledge dining in an idol’s temple, will not his conscience be “strengthened” to eat food offered to idols?⁠ 11 So by your knowledge the weak brother or sister, for whom Christ died, is destroyed. 12 If you sin against your brothers or sisters in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. 13 For this reason, if food causes my brother or sister to sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I may not cause one of them to sin.

Texts in conversation

Compare 1 Corinthians 8:1 and Gospel of Philip 11:4

New Testament · Nag Hammadi

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Summary

The Gospel of Philip reworks 1 Corinthians' contrast between knowledge and love. Knowledge can lift a person above the world, yet love makes them serve those without knowledge, turning a warning about pride into a demand to help others become free.

Passages

1 Corinthians 8:1

New Testament
1 With regard to food sacrificed to idols, we know that “we all have knowledge.” Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. 2 If someone thinks he knows something, he does not yet know to the degree that he needs to know. 3 But if someone loves God, he is known by God. 4 With regard then to eating food sacrificed to idols, we know that “an idol in this world is nothing,” and that “there is no God but one.” 5 If after all there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords), 6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we live, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we live.
55–57 CE (scholarly estimate) Read in 1 Corinthians

Gospel of Philip 11:4

Nag Hammadi
He who has knowledge of the truth is free, and a free man sins not, because “he who sins is a slave to sin.” Truth is the Mother, but knowledge is the ‹Father›. Those who do not let themselves sin, the world calls them “free.” The knowledge of the truth makes those who do not let themselves sin to be lifted up, which means that they are made free, and it lifts them up above all things, but love builds up, and he who has been made free by means of knowledge is a slave because (he has) love for those who have not yet been able to obtain [the] freedom of knowledge. [However], it is knowledge that makes them able [to] become free.
180–250 CE (scholarly estimate) Read in the Gospel of Philip

References

“... Similar to §23b above, §110a combines passages from the FG and 1 Cor. The author appears to conflate passages in §110 to elucidate the connection between knowledge and freedom, slavery and love. ‘Knowledge’ of the truth (John 8:32a) is correlated with ‘knowledge’ (1 Cor 8:1a); the promise of freedom (John 8:32b) is correlated with being ‘arrogant’ (1 Cor 8:1b); ‘slavery’ is applied to ‘love’ (1 Cor 8:1c) and contrasted with the ‘slave of sin’ (John 8:34) so that those without ‘knowledge’ may obtain ‘freedom’ (John 8:32b). [...] The second unique feature of this interpretation is the comparison of a ‘slave of sin’ (John 8:34) with a ‘slave because of love.’ The contrast of the ‘slave of sin’ with a slave to something wholesome is not unique (Rom 6:16–18), but its contrast with love for others does appear to be a novel interpretation and application of John 8:32, 34.26 The initial parallel with John 8:32, 34 (77.15–19) is then joined with 1 Cor 8:1 by the catchword ‘knowledge’, and these three passages are used to interpret one another (77.22–24), which produces a unique exegesis that links knowledge of the truth and freedom with an exhortation to love others. Irenaeus condemns the Valentinian converts who become exceptionally arrogant because of their knowledge (Haer. 3.15.2), but the exhortation in the Gos. Phil. to use this knowledge and freedom to love others is not uncommon in Valentinian literature. ...”
Lorne R. Zelyck, John among the Other Gospels: The Reception of the Fourth Gospel in the Extra-Canonical Gospels (Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2013), 110–111.

References are not endorsements of their contents. Read each reference in full to understand its author's intentions in using these texts.

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