1 Corinthians 8:12 Meaning and Explanation
“But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →To sin against fellow believers by wounding their weak conscience is to sin against Christ Himself.
What Does 1 Corinthians 8:12 Mean?
Paul now names the act plainly as sin. To injure a brother's tender conscience by a careless exercise of freedom is not a small social misstep but a genuine wrong against another person.
More than that, it is a wrong against Christ. Because the Lord so identifies with His people, an offense against the least of them reaches Him directly. This lifts the whole matter from the level of mere etiquette to the level of the sacred. The believer who would never knowingly wound Christ must see that wounding a fellow believer does exactly that. Love for Christ and love for His people cannot be separated.
1 Corinthians 8:12 in the Original Language
hamartano (ἁμαρτάνω), 'sin' -- to miss the mark, to do wrong against God or another.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Corinthians 8:12
What does 1 Corinthians 8:12 mean?
To sin against fellow believers by wounding their weak conscience is to sin against Christ Himself.