Fathers

1 Corinthians 8

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Now concerning things sacrificed to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. But if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he doesn’t yet know as he ought to know. But if anyone loves God, the same is known by him. Therefore concerning the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that no idol is anything in the world, and that there is no other God but one. For though there are things that are called “gods”, whether in the heavens or on earth; as there are many “gods” and many “lords”; yet to us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and we live through him. However, that knowledge isn’t in all men. But some, with consciousness of the idol until now, eat as of a thing sacrificed to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. But food will not commend us to God. For neither, if we don’t eat, are we the worse; nor, if we eat, are we the better. But be careful that by no means does this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to the weak. For if a man sees you who have knowledge sitting in an idol’s temple, won’t his conscience, if he is weak, be emboldened to eat things sacrificed to idols? And through your knowledge, he who is weak perishes, the brother for whose sake Christ died. Thus, sinning against the brothers, and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore if food causes my brother to stumble, I will eat no meat forever more, that I don’t cause my brother to stumble.

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What the Fathers say

1 Corinthians 8:1

Eastern Fathers

John Chrysostom

"Now concerning things sacrificed to idols, we know that we all have knowledge." Leaving alone the weak, which he always doth, he discourses with the strong first. And this is what he did also in the Epistle to the Romans, saying, "But thou, why dost thou judge thy brother?" for this is the sort of person that is able to receive rebuke also with readiness. Exactly the same then he doth here also. …

Homily on 1 Corinthians 20 ↗

Theophylact of Ohrid

Some of the Corinthians were perfect, and knowing that what enters the mouth does not defile a person (Matt. 15:11) and that idols are wood and stone and cannot cause harm, they indiscriminately entered idol-temples and ate food sacrificed to idols. Others, less perfect, seeing such people, themselves also entered idol-temples and offered sacrifices to idols, but not with the same thought as the first group, but thinking that the idols were worthy of honor and capable of receiving sacrifices. …

Commentary on 1 Corinthians ↗

Irenaeus

It is therefore better and more profitable to belong to the simple and unlettered class, and by means of love to attain to nearness to God, than, by imagining ourselves learned and skilful, to be found [among those who are] blasphemous against their own God, inasmuch as they conjure up another God as the Father. …

Against Heresies Book II ↗

Western Saints

Augustine of Hippo

Paul means that knowledge only does good in company with love. Otherwise it merely puffs a man into pride.

City of God 9.20 ↗

Bonaventure

"Knowledge puffs up, but charity edifies"; therefore it is necessary to join charity with knowledge, so that a man may have knowledge and charity together, so that what the Apostle says may be fulfilled: "Rooted and founded in charity, that you may be able to comprehend with all the Saints what is the length, and breadth, and height, and depth, and to know also the charity of Christ which surpasseth knowledge." This is the knowledge which is a gift of the Holy Spirit.

Collationes de Septem Donis, Collation 4 ↗