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1 Corinthians 8 · a question people ask

"We know that we all have knowledge." (8:1). Whose words are these?

In the text

The verse runs, "Now concerning things sacrificed to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up." (8:1). The WEB prints no quotation marks in this verse; in this chapter it prints them only around gods and lords (8:5). The letter doesn't say whose words they are. Christians read them in more than one way, and these notes don't settle it.

The verses

“Now concerning things sacrificed to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.”
1 Corinthians 8:1 · World English Bible
“For though there are things that are called “gods”, whether in the heavens or on earth—as there are many “gods” and many “lords”—”
1 Corinthians 8:5 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of 1 Corinthians 8

1 Corinthians 8: Love builds up

1 Corinthians 8 says, "Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up." (8:1), and in the Greek builds up is the same verb as emboldened in 8:10. It says, "But anyone who loves God is known by him." (8:3), and calls the one who is weak "the brother for whose sake Christ died" (8:11).

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Last reviewed October 8, 2026. Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions