KJV: But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse.
YLT: But victuals do not commend us to God, for neither if we may eat are we in advance; nor if we may not eat, are we behind;
Darby: But meat does not commend us to God; neither if we should not eat do we come short; nor if we should eat have we an advantage.
ASV: But food will not commend us to God: neither, if we eat not, are we the worse; nor, if we eat, are we the better.
| βρῶμα | Food |
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Parse: Noun, Nominative Neuter Singular Root: βρῶμα Sense: that which is eaten, food. |
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| δὲ | however |
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Parse: Conjunction Root: δέ Sense: but, moreover, and, etc. |
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| ἡμᾶς | us |
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Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Accusative 1st Person Plural Root: ἐγώ Sense: I, me, my. |
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| παραστήσει | will commend |
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Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular Root: παριστάνω Sense: to place beside or near. |
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| Θεῷ | God |
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Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Singular Root: θεός Sense: a god or goddess, a general name of deities or divinities. |
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| οὔτε | neither |
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Parse: Conjunction Root: οὔτε Sense: neither, and not. |
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| φάγωμεν | we should eat |
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Parse: Verb, Aorist Subjunctive Active, 1st Person Plural Root: ἐσθίω Sense: to eat. |
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| ὑστερούμεθα | do we come short |
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Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Middle or Passive, 1st Person Plural Root: ὑστερέω Sense: behind. |
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| οὔτε | nor |
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Parse: Conjunction Root: οὔτε Sense: neither, and not. |
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| περισσεύομεν | have we an advantage |
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Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 1st Person Plural Root: περισσεύω Sense: to exceed a fixed number of measure, to be left over and above a certain number or measure. |
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Greek Commentary for 1 Corinthians 8:8
Future active indicative of παριστημι paristēmi old word to present as in Acts 1:3; Luke 2:22; Colossians 1:28. Food (βρωμα brōma) will not give us an entree to God for commendation or condemnation, whether meat-eaters or vegetarians. [source]
Are we left behind, do we fall short. Both conditions are of the third class Do we overflow, do we have excess of credit. Paul here disposes of the pride of knowledge (the enlightened ones) and the pride of prejudice (the unenlightened). Each was disposed to look down upon the other, the one in scorn of the other‘s ignorance, the other in horror of the other‘s heresy and daring. [source]
Do we overflow, do we have excess of credit. Paul here disposes of the pride of knowledge (the enlightened ones) and the pride of prejudice (the unenlightened). Each was disposed to look down upon the other, the one in scorn of the other‘s ignorance, the other in horror of the other‘s heresy and daring. [source]
Lit., present. Rev., more correctly, will not commend. See on shewed himself, Acts 1:3. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 1 Corinthians 8:8
Properly, eating, drinking, as 1 Corinthians 8:4; but the nouns are also used for that which is eaten or drunk, as John 4:32(see note); John 6:27, John 6:55; Romans 14:17. For the subject-matter compare Romans 14:17; 1 Corinthians 8:8; Hebrews 9:10, and note on Mark 7:19. The Mosaic law contained very few provisions concerning drinks. See Leviticus 10:9; Leviticus 11:34, Leviticus 11:36; Numbers 6:3. Hence it is probable that the false teachers had extended the prohibitions as to the use of wine to all Christians. The Essenes abjured both wine and animal food. [source]
Comp. 1 Timothy 3:12; Titus 1:6. Is the injunction aimed (a) at immoralities respecting marriage - concubinage, etc., or (b) at polygamy, or (c) at remarriage after death or divorce? The last is probably meant. Much of the difficulty arises from the assumption that the Pastorals were written by Paul. In that case his views seem to conflict. See Romans 7:2, Romans 7:3; 1 Corinthians 7:39; 1 Corinthians 8:8, 1 Corinthians 8:9, where Paul declares that widows are free to marry again, and puts widows and virgins on the same level; and comp. 1 Timothy 5:9, according to which a widow is to be enrolled only on the condition of having been the wife of but one man. The Pauline view is modified in detail by the writer of the Pastorals. Paul, while asserting that marriage is right and honorable, regards celibacy as the higher state (1 Corinthians 7:1, 1 Corinthians 7:7, 1 Corinthians 7:26, 1 Corinthians 7:34, 1 Corinthians 7:37, 1 Corinthians 7:38). In this the Pastoral writer does not follow him (see 1 Timothy 2:15; 1 Timothy 3:4, 1 Timothy 3:12; 1 Timothy 4:3; 1 Timothy 5:10, 1 Timothy 5:14). The motive for marriage, namely, protection against incontinency, which is adduced by Paul in 1 Corinthians 7:2, 1 Corinthians 7:9, is given in 1 Timothy 5:11-14. As in Paul, the married state is honorable, for Bishops, Deacons, and Presbyters are married (1 Timothy 3:2, 1 Timothy 3:12; Titus 1:6), and the honor of childbearing conferred upon the mother of our Lord is reflected in the Christian woman of later times (1 Timothy 2:15). While Paul advises against second marriages (1 Corinthians 7:8, 1 Corinthians 7:9, 1 Corinthians 7:27, 1 Corinthians 7:39, 1 Corinthians 7:40), in the Pastorals emphasis is laid only on the remarriage of church-officers and church-widows. In the Pastorals we see a reflection of the conditions of the earlier post-apostolic age, when a non-Pauline asceticism was showing itself (see 1 Timothy 4:3, 1 Timothy 4:4, 1 Timothy 4:8; Titus 1:15). The opposition to second marriage became very strong in the latter part of the second century. It was elevated into an article of faith by the Montanists, and was emphasized by Tertullian, and by Athenagoras, who called second marriage “a specious adultery” ( εὐπρεπής μοιχεία )|Vigilant ( νηφάλιον )|Only in the Pastorals. See 1 Timothy 3:11, and Titus 2:2. olxx. The kindred verb νήφειν means to be sober with reference to drink, and, in a metaphorical sense, to be sober and wary; cool and unimpassioned. Thus Epicharmus, νᾶφε καὶ μέμνας ἀπιστεῖν bewary and remember not to be credulous. See on 1 Thessalonians 5:6. In N.T. the meaning of the verb is always metaphorical, to be calm, dispassionate, and circumspect. The A.V. vigilant is too limited. Wise caution may be included; but it is better to render sober, as A.V. in 1 Timothy 3:11and Titus 2:2, in the metaphorical sense as opposed to youthful levity.|Of good behavior ( κόσμιον )|oP. Only here and 1 Timothy 2:9, see note. Rend. orderly.|Given to hospitality ( φιλόξενον )|oP. Comp. Titus 1:8; 1 Peter 4:9. See note on pursuing hospitality, Romans 12:13.|Apt to teach ( διδακτικόν )|oP. Only here and 2 Timothy 2:24. olxx, oClass. In the Pastorals the function of teaching pertains to both Bishops and Elders (see 1 Timothy 5:17; Titus 1:9). It is at this point that the tendency to confound and identify the two reveals itself. Bishops and Presbyters are not identical. Earlier, the teaching function does not seem to have attached to the position of ἐπίσκοπος. The office acquired a different character when it assumed that function, which is not assigned to it in Clement's Epistle to the Corinthians. In the Didache or Teaching of the Twelve Apostles (about 100 a.d.) the ministry of teaching is to be assumed by the Bishops only in the absence of the Prophets and Teachers (xiii., xv).| [source]
According to this rendering, the meaning is that one must avoid the appearance of having failed to enter into the rest; the perfect tense ( ὑστερηκέναι ) placing the reader at the parousia, when judgment will be pronounced. This is forced, tame, and irrelevant to the previous discussion. Rend. lest any one of you think he has come too late for it. This accords with the previous admonitions against unbelief. For one to think that he has come too late to inherit the promise is to disbelieve an immutable promise of God. Hence the writer may well say, “Since this promise remains, let us fear to distrust it.” Ὑστερεῖν is to be behind; to come late; to come short; hence, to suffer need, as Philemon 4:12; of material deficiency, Luke 15:14; John 2:3; of moral and spiritual shortcoming, Romans 3:23; 1 Corinthians 8:8; Hebrews 12:15. [source]