The Meaning of 1 Corinthians 8:6 Explained

1 Corinthians 8:6

KJV: But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

YLT: yet to us is one God, the Father, of whom are the all things, and we to Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are the all things, and we through Him;

Darby: yet to us there is one God, the Father, of whom all things, and we for him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

ASV: yet to us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we unto him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and we through him.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

But  to us  [there is but] one  God,  the Father,  of  whom  [are] all things,  and  we  in  him;  and  one  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  by  whom  [are] all things,  and  we  by  him. 

What does 1 Corinthians 8:6 Mean?

Verse Meaning

For instructed Christians there is only one God and one Lord. Paul did not mean that there are two separate beings, God and Lord. These are two names for the one true God who exists as Father and Son. The Scriptures establish the deity of Jesus Christ elsewhere (e.g, John 1:1; John 1:14; John 10:30; Colossians 1:15-19; et al.). Paul did not argue that point here but simply stated the Son"s equality with the Father within the Godhead.
The point of difference is this. The Father is the source and goal of all things whereas the Son is the agent though whom all things have come from God and will return to God. Since Paul"s point was the unity of the Godhead, there was no need to complicate matters by referring to the Holy Spirit here.

Context Summary

1 Corinthians 8:1-13 - Consideration For Others' Weakness
It was the heathen custom of the time to present for blessing in the idol temples the food that was sold and bought in public marketplaces. A grave question arose, therefore, as to whether the Christian convert might partake of such food without blame. Paul took a broad and common-sense view of the situation. He declared there is only one God and that an idol is an absolute nonentity. Therefore it was a matter of perfect indifference what the heathen butchers might have done before they exposed their meat for sale. At the same time if some weaker brother were really thrown back in his Christian life by seeing his fellow-believer eating in a heathen temple, that in itself would at once be a sufficient reason why the stronger should abstain for the weaker brother's sake. There are many things which, so far as we personally are concerned, we might feel free to do or permit, but which we must avoid if they threaten to hinder the practice or divert the course of some fellow-Christian. [source]

Chapter Summary: 1 Corinthians 8

1  To abstain from food offered to idols
8  We must not abuse our Christian liberty, to the offense of our brothers;
11  but must bridle our knowledge with charity

Greek Commentary for 1 Corinthians 8:6

Yet to us there is one God, the Father [αλλ ημιν εις τεος ο πατηρ]
B omits αλλ — all' here, but the sense calls for it anyhow in this apodosis, a strong antithesis to the protasis (even if at least, και ειπερ — kai eiper). [source]
Of whom [εχ ου]
As the source (εχ — ex) of the universe (τα παντα — ta panta as in Romans 11:36; Colossians 1:16.) and also our goal is God (εις αυτον — eis auton) as in Romans 11:36 where δι αυτου — di' autou is added whereas here δι ου — di' hou (through whom) and δι αυτου — di' autou (through him) point to Jesus Christ as the intermediate agent in creation as in Colossians 1:15-20; John 1:3. Here Paul calls Jesus Lord (Κυριος — Kurios) and not God (τεος — theos), though he does apply that word to him in Romans 9:5; Titus 2:13; Colossians 2:9; Acts 20:28. [source]
Lord [Κυριος]
(Κυριος — Kurios) and not [source]
God [τεος]
(τεος — theos), though he does apply that word to him in Romans 9:5; Titus 2:13; Colossians 2:9; Acts 20:28. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 1 Corinthians 8:6

Matthew 21:3 The Lord [ὁ κύριος]
From κῦρος , supreme power, authority. Hence κύριος , one having authority, lord, owner, ruler. In classical Greek, used of the gods, and in inscriptions applied to different gods, as Hermes, Zeus, etc.; also of the head of the family, who is lord ( κύριος ) of the wife and children (1 Timothy 6:1, 1 Timothy 6:2; Titus 2:9; 1 Peter 2:18), and κύριος (Ephesians 6:9; Colossians 4:1). In the Septuagint it is used by Sarah of her husband (Genesis 3:6). Joseph is called lord of the country (Genesis 18:27; Exodus 4:10). In the New Testament it is a name for God (Matthew 1:20, Matthew 1:22, Matthew 1:24; Matthew 2:15; Acts 11:16; Acts 12:11, Acts 12:17; Revelation 1:8). As applied to Christ, it does not express his divine nature and power. These are indicated by some accompanying word or phrase, as my God (John 20:28); of all (Acts 10:36); to the glory of God the Father (Philemon 2:11); of glory (1 Corinthians 2:8); so that, as a title of Christ, Lord is used in the sense of Master or Ruler, or in address, Sir (Matthew 22:43, Matthew 22:45; Luke 2:11; Luke 6:46; John 13:13, John 13:14; 1 Corinthians 8:6). Ὁ κύριος , the Lord, is used of Christ by Matthew only once (Matthew 21:3) until after the resurrection (Matthew 28:6). In the other gospels and in the Acts it occurs far oftener. Nevertheless, in the progress of Christian thought in the New Testament, the meaning develops toward a specific designation of the divine Saviour, as may be seen in the phrases Jesus, Christ our Lord, Our Lord Jesus Christ, Our Lord, Jesus our Lord. -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
[source]

John 1:3 By Him [δἰ αὐτοῦ]
Literally, through him. The preposition διά is generally used to denote the working of God through some secondary agency, as διὰ τοῦ προφήτου , through the prophet (Matthew 1:22, on which see note). It is the preposition by which the relation of Christ to creation is usually expressed (see 1 Corinthians 8:6; Colossians 1:16; Hebrews 1:2), though it is occasionally used of the Father (Hebrews 2:10; Romans 11:36, and Galatians 1:1, where it is used of both). Hence, as Godet remarks, it “does not lower the Word to the rank of a simple instrument,” but merely implies a different relation to creation on the part of the Father and the Son. [source]
John 1:3 All things [παντα]
The philosophical phrase was τα παντα — ta panta (the all things) as we have it in 1 Corinthians 8:6; Romans 11:36; Colossians 1:16. In John 1:10 John uses ο κοσμος — ho kosmos (the orderly universe) for the whole. Were made (egeneto). Second aorist middle indicative of γινομαι — ginomai the constative aorist covering the creative activity looked at as one event in contrast with the continuous existence of ην — ēn in John 1:1 and John 1:2. All things “came into being.” Creation is thus presented as a becoming By him By means of him as the intermediate agent in the work of creation. The Logos is John‘s explanation of the creation of the universe. The author of Hebrews (Hebrews 1:2) names God‘s Son as the one “through whom he made the ages.” Paul pointedly asserts that “the all things were created in him” (Christ) and “the all things stand created through him and unto him” (Colossians 1:16). Hence it is not a peculiar doctrine that John here enunciates. In 1 Corinthians 8:6, Paul distinguishes between the Father as the primary source Without him Old adverbial preposition with the ablative as in Philemon 2:14, “apart from.” John adds the negative statement for completion, another note of his style as in John 1:20; 1 John 1:5. Thus John excludes two heresies (Bernard) that matter is eternal and that angels or aeons had a share in creation. Not anything “Not even one thing.” Bernard thinks the entire Prologue is a hymn and divides it into strophes. That is by no means certain. It is doubtful also whether the relative clause “that hath been made” (ο γεγονεν — ho gegonen) is a part of this sentence or begins a new one as Westcott and Hort print it. The verb is second perfect active indicative of γινομαι — ginomai Westcott observes that the ancient scholars before Chrysostom all began a new sentence with ο γεγονεν — ho gegonen The early uncials had no punctuation. [source]
1 Corinthians 8:11 Perisheth [απολλυται]
Present middle indicative of the common verb απολλυμι — apollumi to destroy. Ruin follows in the wake of such daredevil knowledge. For whose sake Christ died (δι ον Χριστος απετανεν — di' hon Christos apethanen). Just as much as for the enlightened brother with his selfish pride. The accusative (ον — hon) with δι — di' gives the reason, not the agent as with the genitive in 1 Corinthians 8:6 (δι ου — di' hou). The appeal to the death (απετανεν — apethanen second aorist active indicative of αποτνησκω — apothnēskō) of Christ is the central fact that clinches Paul‘s argument. [source]
1 Corinthians 9:2 Yet at least I am to you [αλλα γε υμιν ειμι]
An argumentum ad hominem and a pointed appeal for their support. Note use of αλλα γε — alla ge in the apodosis (cf. 1 Corinthians 8:6). [source]
Philippians 2:11 Lord [Κυριος]
Peter (Acts 2:36) claimed that God made Christ “Lord.” See also 1 Corinthians 8:6; 1 Corinthians 12:3; Romans 10:9. Kennedy laments that the term Lord has become one of the most lifeless in the Christian vocabulary, whereas it really declares the true character and dignity of Jesus Christ and “is the basis and the object of worship.” [source]
Colossians 1:16 By Him and for Him [δι ' αὐτοῦ καὶ εἰς αὐτὸν]
Rev., better, through Him and unto Him. See on Romans 11:36. Compare in Him at the beginning of the verse. There Christ was represented as the conditional cause of all things. All things came to pass within the sphere of His personality and as dependent upon it. Here He appears as the mediating cause; through Him, as 1 Corinthians 8:6. Unto Him. All things, as they had their beginning in Him, tend to Him as their consummation, to depend on and serve Him. Compare Revelation 22:13; and Hebrews 2:10; “for whose sake ( δι ' ὃν ) and through whose agency ( δι ' οὗ ) are all things” Rev., “for whom and through whom.” See also Ephesians 1:10, Ephesians 1:23; Ephesians 4:10; Philemon 2:9-11; 1 Corinthians 15:28. The false teachers maintained that the universe proceeded from God indirectly, through a succession of emanations. Christ, at best, was only one of these. As such, the universe could not find its consummation in Him. [source]
Colossians 1:16 In him were created [εν αυτωι εκτιστη]
Paul now gives the reason It is the constative aorist passive indicative εκτιστη — ektisthē (from κτιζω — ktizō old verb, to found, to create (Romans 1:25). This central activity of Christ in the work of creation is presented also in John 1:3; Hebrews 1:2 and is a complete denial of the Gnostic philosophy. The whole of creative activity is summed up in Christ including the angels in heaven and everything on earth. God wrought through “the Son of his love.” All earthly dignities are included. Have been created (εκτισται — ektistai). Perfect passive indicative of κτιζω — ktizō “stand created,” “remain created.” The permanence of the universe rests, then, on Christ far more than on gravity. It is a Christo-centric universe. Through him As the intermediate and sustaining agent. He had already used εν αυτωι — en autōi (in him) as the sphere of activity. And unto him (και εις αυτον — kai eis auton). This is the only remaining step to take and Paul takes it (1 Corinthians 15:28) See note on Ephesians 1:10 for similar use of εν αυτωι — en autōi of Christ and in Colossians 1:19, Colossians 1:20 again we have εν αυτωι δι αυτου εις αυτον — en autōiclass="normal greek">δι ον — di' autouclass="normal greek">δι ου — eis auton used of Christ. See note on Hebrews 2:10 for τα παντα — di' hon (because of whom) and εχ αυτου και δι αυτου και εις αυτον τα παντα — di' hou (by means of whom) applied to God concerning the universe (εχ — ta panta). In Romans 11:35 we find εν — ex autou kai di' autou kai eis auton ta panta referring to God. But Paul does not use δια — ex in this connection of Christ, but only εις — en εχ — dia and δια — eis See the same distinction preserved in 1 Corinthians 8:6 (ex of God, dia of Christ). [source]
Colossians 1:16 Through him [δι αυτου]
As the intermediate and sustaining agent. He had already used εν αυτωι — en autōi (in him) as the sphere of activity. And unto him (και εις αυτον — kai eis auton). This is the only remaining step to take and Paul takes it (1 Corinthians 15:28) See note on Ephesians 1:10 for similar use of εν αυτωι — en autōi of Christ and in Colossians 1:19, Colossians 1:20 again we have εν αυτωι δι αυτου εις αυτον — en autōiclass="normal greek">δι ον — di' autouclass="normal greek">δι ου — eis auton used of Christ. See note on Hebrews 2:10 for τα παντα — di' hon (because of whom) and εχ αυτου και δι αυτου και εις αυτον τα παντα — di' hou (by means of whom) applied to God concerning the universe (εχ — ta panta). In Romans 11:35 we find εν — ex autou kai di' autou kai eis auton ta panta referring to God. But Paul does not use δια — ex in this connection of Christ, but only εις — en εχ — dia and δια — eis See the same distinction preserved in 1 Corinthians 8:6 (ex of God, dia of Christ). [source]
Colossians 1:16 And unto him [και εις αυτον]
This is the only remaining step to take and Paul takes it (1 Corinthians 15:28) See note on Ephesians 1:10 for similar use of εν αυτωι — en autōi of Christ and in Colossians 1:19, Colossians 1:20 again we have εν αυτωι δι αυτου εις αυτον — en autōiclass="normal greek">δι ον — di' autouclass="normal greek">δι ου — eis auton used of Christ. See note on Hebrews 2:10 for τα παντα — di' hon (because of whom) and εχ αυτου και δι αυτου και εις αυτον τα παντα — di' hou (by means of whom) applied to God concerning the universe In Romans 11:35 we find εν — ex autou kai di' autou kai eis auton ta panta referring to God. But Paul does not use δια — ex in this connection of Christ, but only εις — en εχ — dia and δια — eis See the same distinction preserved in 1 Corinthians 8:6 (ex of God, dia of Christ). [source]
Hebrews 1:3 And upholding all things [φέρων τε τὰ πάντα]
Rend. maintaining. Upholding conveys too much the idea of the passive support of a burden. “The Son is not an Atlas, sustaining the dead weight of the world” (quoted by Westcott). Neither is the sense that of ruling or guiding, as Philo (De Cherub. § 11), who describes the divine word as “the steersman and pilot of the all.” It implies sustaining, but also movement. It deals with a burden, not as a dead weight, but as in continual movement; as Weiss puts it, “with the all in all its changes and transformations throughout the aeons.” It is concerned, not only with sustaining the weight of the universe, but also with maintaining its coherence and carrying on its development. What is said of God, Colossians 1:17, is here said or implied of Christ: τὰ πάντα ἐν αὐτῷ συνέστηκεν allthings (collectively, the universe) consist or maintain their coherence in him. So the Logos is called by Philo the bond ( δεσμὸς ) of the universe; but the maintenance of the coherence implies the guidance and propulsion of all the parts to a definite end. All things ( τὰ πάντα ) collectively considered; the universe; all things in their unity. See Hebrews 2:10; Romans 8:32; Romans 11:36; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Ephesians 1:10; Colossians 1:16. [source]
Hebrews 1:2 By whom also he made the worlds [δι ' οὗ καὶ ἐποίησεν τοὺς αἰῶνας]
Διὰ commonly expresses secondary agency, but, in some instances, it is used of God's direct agency. See 1 Corinthians 1:1; 2 Corinthians 1:1; Galatians 4:7. Christ is here represented as a mediate agency in creation. The phrase is, clearly, colored by the Alexandrian conception, but differs from it in that Christ is not represented as a mere instrument, a passive tool, but rather as a cooperating agent. “Every being, to reach existence, must have passed through the thought and will of the Logos” (Godet); yet “the Son can do nothing of himself but what he seeth the Father doing” (John 5:19). With this passage Colossians 1:16should be studied. There it is said that all things, collectively ( τὰ πάντα ), were created in him ( ἐν αὐτῷ ) and through him ( δι ' αὐτοῦ as here). The former expression enlarges and completes the latter. Δι ' αὐτοῦ represents Christ as the mediate instrument. Ἐν αὐτῷ indicates that “all the laws and purposes which guide the creation and government of the universe reside in him, the Eternal Word, as their meeting-point.” Comp. John 1:3; 1 Corinthians 8:6. For τοῦς αἰῶνας theworlds, see additional note on 2 Thessalonians 1:9. Rend. for by whom also he made, by whom he also made. The emphasis is on made, not on worlds: on the fact of creation, not on what was created. In the writer's thought heirship goes with creation. Christ is heir of what he made, and because he made it. As πάντων, in the preceding clause, regards all things taken singly, αἰῶνας regards them in cycles. Ἀιῶνας does not mean times, as if representing the Son as the creator of all time and times, but creation unfolded in time through successive aeons. All that, in successive periods of time, has come to pass, has come to pass through him. Comp. 1 Corinthians 10:11; Ephesians 3:21; Hebrews 9:26; 1 Timothy 1:17; lxx, Ecclesiastes href="/desk/?q=ec+3:11&sr=1">Ecclesiastes 3:11. See also Clement of Rome, Ad Corinth. xxxv, ὁ δημιουργὸς καὶ πατὴρ τῶν αἰώνων theCreator and Father of the ages. Besides this expression, the writer speaks of the world as κόσμος (Hebrews 4:3; Hebrews 10:5); ἡ οἰκουμένη (Hebrews 1:6), and τὰ πάντα (Hebrews 1:3). [source]
1 John 1:2 The Father []
See on John 12:26. The title “the Father” occurs rarely in the Synoptists, and always with reference to the Son. In Paul only thrice (Romans 6:4; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Ephesians 2:18). Nowhere in Peter, James, Jude, or Revelation. Frequent in John's Gospel and Epistles, and in the latter, uniformly. [source]
Revelation 4:11 Thou didst create [συ εκτισας]
Emphasis on συ — su (thou), first aorist active indicative of κτιζω — ktizō the verb used about the act of creation by Paul in Colossians 1:16 Reason for creation of the universe as in Hebrews 2:10 (ησαν — di' hon).They were Imperfect tense with a cursory glance at the universe as a fact, possibly a potential existence in God‘s purpose in the eternal past before the actual creation in time.And were created (κτιζω — kai ektisthēsan). First aorist passive indicative of the same verb, εκτιστη — ktizō just used and in the plural, while Paul (Colossians 1:16) uses the singular ektisthē See 1 Corinthians 8:6. God‘s will wrought through the Logos (Christ). [source]
Revelation 4:11 They were [και εκτιστησαν]
Imperfect tense with a cursory glance at the universe as a fact, possibly a potential existence in God‘s purpose in the eternal past before the actual creation in time.And were created (κτιζω — kai ektisthēsan). First aorist passive indicative of the same verb, εκτιστη — ktizō just used and in the plural, while Paul (Colossians 1:16) uses the singular ektisthē See 1 Corinthians 8:6. God‘s will wrought through the Logos (Christ). [source]
Revelation 4:11 And were created [κτιζω]
First aorist passive indicative of the same verb, εκτιστη — ktizō just used and in the plural, while Paul (Colossians 1:16) uses the singular ektisthē See 1 Corinthians 8:6. God‘s will wrought through the Logos (Christ). [source]
Revelation 4:11 To receive [λαβειν]
Epexegetic second aorist active infinitive of λαμβανω — lambanō with αχιος — axios (worthy).The glory (την δοχαν — tēn doxan). The article referring to δοχαν — doxan in Revelation 4:9 and so with την τιμην — tēn timēn (the honour), though την δυναμιν — tēn dunamin (the power) is not in Revelation 4:9, but is the power due to be ascribed to God.Thou didst create Emphasis on συ — su (thou), first aorist active indicative of κτιζω — ktizō the verb used about the act of creation by Paul in Colossians 1:16 Reason for creation of the universe as in Hebrews 2:10 (ησαν — di' hon).They were Imperfect tense with a cursory glance at the universe as a fact, possibly a potential existence in God‘s purpose in the eternal past before the actual creation in time.And were created (κτιζω — kai ektisthēsan). First aorist passive indicative of the same verb, εκτιστη — ktizō just used and in the plural, while Paul (Colossians 1:16) uses the singular ektisthē See 1 Corinthians 8:6. God‘s will wrought through the Logos (Christ). [source]

What do the individual words in 1 Corinthians 8:6 mean?

yet to us [there is] one God the Father of whom [are] the things all and we for Him one Lord Jesus Christ by through Him
ἀλλ’ ἡμῖν εἷς Θεὸς Πατήρ ἐξ οὗ τὰ πάντα καὶ ἡμεῖς εἰς αὐτόν εἷς Κύριος Ἰησοῦς Χριστός δι’ δι’ αὐτοῦ

ἀλλ’  yet 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ἀλλά  
Sense: but.
ἡμῖν  to  us 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative 1st Person Plural
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.
εἷς  [there  is]  one 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: εἷς  
Sense: one.
Θεὸς  God 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: θεός  
Sense: a god or goddess, a general name of deities or divinities.
Πατήρ  Father 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: προπάτωρ 
Sense: generator or male ancestor.
οὗ  whom  [are] 
Parse: Personal / Relative Pronoun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: ὅς 
Sense: who, which, what, that.
τὰ  the  things 
Parse: Article, Nominative Neuter Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
εἷς  one 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: εἷς  
Sense: one.
Κύριος  Lord 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: κύριος  
Sense: he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master, lord.
Ἰησοῦς  Jesus 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: Ἰησοῦς  
Sense: Joshua was the famous captain of the Israelites, Moses’ successor.
Χριστός  Christ 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: Χριστός  
Sense: Christ was the Messiah, the Son of God.
δι’  through 
Parse: Preposition
Root: διά  
Sense: through.