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1 Corinthians 1 1 2 Now in regard to meat sacrificed to idols: we realize that ＂all of us have knowledge＂; knowledge inflates with pride, but love builds up. 至论祭邪神的肉，我们知道＂我们都有知识。＂但知识只会使人傲慢自大，爱德才能立人。 2 If anyone supposes he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. 若有人自以为知道什么，这是他还不知道他该怎样知道。 3 But if one loves God, one is known by him. 然而，谁若爱天主，这人才为天主所认识。 4 So about the eating of meat sacrificed to idols: we know that ＂there is no idol in the world,＂ and that ＂there is no God but one.＂ 至论吃祭邪神的肉，我们知道：世上并没有什么邪神；也知道：除了一个天主外，没有什么神。 5 Indeed, even though there are so-called gods in heaven and on earth (there are, to be sure, many ＂gods＂ and many ＂lords＂), 因为虽然有称为神的，或在天上，或在地下，就如那许多＂神＂和许多＂主＂， 6 3 yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom all things are and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things are and through whom we exist. 可是为我们只有一个天主，就是圣父，万物都出于他，而我们也归于他；也只有一个主，就是耶稣基督，万物借他而有，我们也借他而有。 7 But not all have this knowledge. There are some who have been so used to idolatry up until now that, when they eat meat sacrificed to idols, their conscience, which is weak, is defiled. 不过这种知识不是人人都有的；有些人直到如今因拜惯了邪神，以为所吃的是祭邪神的肉，因为他们的良心软弱，就受了玷污。 8 4 Now food will not bring us closer to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, nor are we better off if we do. 其实，食物不能使我们取悦于天主：我们不吃也无损，吃也无益。 9 But make sure that this liberty of yours in no way becomes a stumbling block to the weak. 但你们要慬慎，免得你们这自由的抉择，成了软弱人的绊脚石。 10 If someone sees you, with your knowledge, reclining at table in the temple of an idol, may not his conscience too, weak as it is, be ＂built up＂ to eat the meat sacrificed to idols? 因为，如果有人看见你这有知识的，在邪神庙里坐席，他的良心若是软弱，岂不受到鼓励而去吃祭邪神的肉吗？ 11 Thus through your knowledge, the weak person is brought to destruction, the brother for whom Christ died. 那么，这软弱的人，基督为他而死的弟兄，也就因了你的知识而丧亡！ 12 When you sin in this way against your brothers and wound their consciences, weak as they are, you are sinning against Christ. 你们这样得罪了弟兄们，伤了他们软弱的良心，就是得罪基督。 13 5 Therefore, if food causes my brother to sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I may not cause my brother to sin. 为此，倘若食物使我的弟兄跌倒，我就永远不吃肉，免得叫我的弟兄跌倒。 Footnotes(注解) 1 [8:1-11:1] The Corinthians' second question concerns meat that has been sacrificed to idols; in this area they were exhibiting a disordered sense of liberation that Paul here tries to rectify. These chapters contain a sustained and unified argument that illustrates Paul's method of theological reflection on a moral dilemma. Although the problem with which he is dealing is dated, the guidelines for moral decisions that he offers are of lasting validity. Essentially Paul urges them to take a communitarian rather than an individualistic view of their Christian freedom. Many decisions that they consider pertinent only to their private relationship with God have, in fact, social consequences. Nor can moral decisions be determined by merely theoretical considerations; they must be based on concrete circumstances, specifically on the value and needs of other individuals and on mutual responsibility within the community. Paul here introduces the theme of ＂building up＂ (oikodome), i.e., of contributing by individual action to the welfare and growth of the community. This theme will be further developed in 1 Cor 14; see the note on 1 Cor 14:3b-5. Several years later Paul would again deal with the problem of meat sacrificed to idols in Romans 14:1-15:6. 2 [1a] Meat sacrificed to idols: much of the food consumed in the city could have passed through pagan religious ceremonies before finding its way into markets and homes. ＂All of us have knowledge＂: a slogan, similar to 1 Cor 6:12, which reveals the self-image of the Corinthians. 1 Cor 8:4 will specify the content of this knowledge. 3 [6] This verse rephrases the monotheistic confession of v 4 in such a way as to contrast it with polytheism (1 Cor 8:5) and to express our relationship with the one God in concrete, i.e., in personal and Christian terms. And for whom we exist: since the Greek contains no verb here and the action intended must be inferred from the preposition eis, another translation is equally possible: ＂toward whom we return.＂ Through whom all things: the earliest reference in the New Testament to Jesus' role in creation. 4 [8-9] Although the food in itself is morally neutral, extrinsic circumstances may make the eating of it harmful. A stumbling block: the image is that of tripping or causing someone to fall (cf 1 Cor 8:13; 9:12; 10:12, 32; 2 Cor 6:3; Romans 14:13, 20-1). This is a basic moral imperative for Paul, a counterpart to the positive imperative to ＂build one another up＂; compare the expression ＂giving offense＂ as opposed to ＂pleasing＂ in 1 Cor 10:32-33. 5 [13] His own course is clear: he will avoid any action that might harm another Christian. This statement prepares for the paradigmatic development in 1 Cor 9. |
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