Devine Scripture

1 Corinthians 8:12

What does 1 Corinthians 8:12 mean?

A plain-English look at 1 Corinthians 8:12 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What 1 Corinthians 8:12 means

To injure a fellow believer’s conscience is to sin not only against that person but against Christ. Because believers belong to Christ and are members of His body, what we do to them we, in effect, do to Him. Wounding a weak conscience means pushing someone to act against their sense of right, training them to ignore God’s voice. This is a serious offense. Christian freedom must therefore be governed by reverence for Christ present in His people. The pathway of love is to protect, not pressure; to strengthen consciences, not sear them; and to treat the least in the church as dear to the Lord Himself.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And thus, sinning against the brethren, and wounding their conscience when it is weak, ye sin against Christ.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And thus, sinning against the brethren, and wounding their conscience when it is weak, ye sin against Christ.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And in this way, doing evil to the brothers, and causing trouble to those whose faith is feeble, you are sinning against Christ.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and thus sinning in regard to the brethren, and smiting their weak conscience--in regard to Christ ye sin;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Now when you sin thus against the brethren and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

Now, thus sinning against the brethren, and wounding their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.

Context

This statement interprets the harm described in vv. 10–11. It clarifies that the issue is not neutral personal preference but real sin when we disregard the weak. With the theological seriousness laid bare—sinning against Christ—Paul is ready to state his personal determination in v. 13. That resolution models the principle he has been teaching: when love and liberty seem to pull apart, the Christian chooses love, even at significant personal cost.

v.11For through thy knowledge he that is weak perisheth, the brother for whose sake Christ died.

v.12This passage

v.13Wherefore, if meat causeth my brother to stumble, I will eat no flesh for evermore, that I cause not my brother to stumble.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Matthew 12:49

    And he stretched forth his hand towards his disciples, and said, Behold, my mother and my brethren!

  • Matthew 25:45

    Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not unto one of these least, ye did it not unto me.

  • Exodus 16:8

    And Moses said, This shall be, when Jehovah shall give you in the evening flesh to eat, and in the morning bread to the full; for that Jehovah heareth your murmurings which ye murmur against him: and what are we? your murmurings are not against us, but against Jehovah.

  • Exodus 32:21

    And Moses said unto Aaron, What did this people unto thee, that thou hast brought a great sin upon them?

  • Matthew 18:10

    See that ye despise not one of these little ones: for I say unto you, that in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven.

  • 1 Samuel 19:4

    And Jonathan spake good of David unto Saul his father, and said unto him, Let not the king sin against his servant, against David; because he hath not sinned against thee, and because his works have been to thee-ward very good:

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