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Selected Verse: 1 Corinthians 8:3 - King James
Verse |
Translation |
Text |
1Co 8:3 |
King James |
But if any man love God, the same is known of him. |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
love God--the source of love to our neighbor (Jo1 4:11-12, Jo1 4:20; Jo1 5:2).
the same--literally, "this man"; he who loves, not he who "thinks that he knows," not having "charity" or love (Co1 8:1-2).
is known of him--is known with the knowledge of approval and is acknowledged by God as His (Psa 1:6; Gal 4:9; Ti2 2:19). Contrast, "I never knew you" (Mat 7:23). To love God is to know God; and he who thus knows God has been first known by God (compare Co1 13:12; Pe1 1:2). |
Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
But if any man love God - If any man is truly attached to God; if he seeks to serve him, and to promote his glory. The sense seems to be this. "There is no true and real knowledge which is not connected with love to God. This will prompt a man also to love his brethren, and will lead him to promote their happiness. A man's course, therefore, is not to be regulated by mere knowledge, but the grand principle is love to God and love to man. Love edifies; love promotes happiness; love will prompt to what is right; and love will secure the approbation of God." Thus, explained. this difficult verse accords with the whole scope of the parenthesis, which is to show that a man should not be guided in his contact with others by mere knowledge, however great that may be; but that a safer and better principle was "love, charity" (ἀγάπη agapē), whether exercised toward God or man. Under the guidance of this, man would be in little danger of error, Under the direction of mere knowledge he would never be sure of a safe guide; see Co1 13:1-13.
The same is known of him - The words "is known" (ἔγνωσται egnōstai) I suppose to be taken here in the sense of "is approved by God; is loved by him; meets with his favor, etc." In this sense the word "known" is often used in the Scriptures. See the note at Mat 7:23. The sense is, "If any man acts under the influence of sacred charity, or love to God, and consequent love to man, he will meet with the approbation of God. He will seek his glory, and the good of his brethren; he will be likely to do right; and God will approve of his intentions and desires, and will regard him as his child. Little distinguished, therefore, as he may be for human knowledge, for that science which puffs up with vain self-confidence, yet he will have a more truly elevated rank, and will meet with the approbation and praise of God. This is of more value than mere knowledge, and this love is a far safer guide than any mere intellectual attainments." So the world would have found it to be if they had acted on it; and so Christians would always find it. |
Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886] |
The same is known of Him (οὗτος ἔγνωσται ὑπ' αὐτοῦ)
The same, i.e., this same man who loves God. He does not say knows God, but implies this in the larger truth, is known by God. Compare Gal 4:9; Jo1 4:7, Jo1 4:8, Jo1 4:16; Ti2 2:19. Γινώσκω in New-Testament Greek often denotes a personal relation between the knower and the known, so that the knowledge of an object implies the influence of that object upon the knower. So Joh 2:24, Joh 2:25; Co1 2:8; Jo1 4:8. In John the relation itself is expressed by the verb. Joh 17:3, Joh 17:25; Jo1 5:20; Jo1 4:6; Jo1 2:3, Jo1 2:4, Jo1 2:5.
An idol is nothing in the world (οὐδὲν εἴδωλον ἐν κόσμῳ)
Rev., no idol is anything. An idol is a nonentity. The emphasis is on the nothingness of the idol, hence the emphatic position of οὐδὲν nothing. It is a mere stock or stone, having no real significance in heaven or on earth. One of the Old Testament names for heathen gods is elilim nothings. Idol (εἴδωλον) is primarily an image or likeness. In Greek writers it is sometimes used of the shades of the dead, or the fantasies of the mind. In the Old Testament, the number and variety of the words representing the objects of heathen worship, are a striking commentary upon the general prevalence of idolatry. Εἴδωλον image stands in the Septuagint for several of the different Hebrew terms for idols; as, elilim things of nought; gillulim things rolled about, as logs or masses of stone; chammanium sun-pillars, etc. Other words are also used to translate the same Hebrew terms, but in all cases the idea is that of the material object as shaped by mechanical processes, or as being in itself an object of terror, or a vain or abominable thing, a mere device of man. |
Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
He is known - That is, approved, by him. Psa 1:6. |
Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
But if any man love God - In that way which the commandment requires, which will necessarily beget love to his neighbor, the same is known of him - is approved of God, and acknowledged as his genuine follower. |
2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
9 But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?
6 For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
1 Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.
2 And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.
2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
25 O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me.
3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
25 And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.
24 But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men,
19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
9 But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?
6 For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.