1 Corinthians 8:13 Meaning and Explanation
“Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Paul resolves that, rather than cause a brother to stumble, he would gladly give up meat altogether for as long as the world stands.
What Does 1 Corinthians 8:13 Mean?
Paul closes the chapter by turning the principle on himself. If eating meat would cause his brother to fall, then he will forgo meat entirely, not for a season but for as long as the world endures.
This is love willing to surrender a real right for the sake of another. Paul does not merely instruct the strong; he models the self-denial he calls for, placing a brother's soul above his own freedom and appetite. In this he walks the way of Christ, who emptied Himself for others. The chapter ends not with a rule about food but with a heart shaped by the cross, ready to give up anything rather than wound the one Christ died to save.
1 Corinthians 8:13 in the Original Language
skandalizo (σκανδαλίζω), 'offend' -- to cause someone to stumble into sin.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Corinthians 8:13
What does 1 Corinthians 8:13 mean?
Paul resolves that, rather than cause a brother to stumble, he would gladly give up meat altogether for as long as the world stands.