1 Corinthians 8:7

Howbeit in all men there is not that knowledge (all ouk en pasin h gnwsi). The knowledge (h gnwsi) of which Paul is speaking. Knowledge has to overcome inheritance and environment, prejudice, fear, and many other hindrances. Being used until now to the idol (th sunhqeiai ew arti tou eidwlou). Old word sunhqeia from sunhqh (sun, hqo), accustomed to, like Latin consuetudo, intimacy. In N.T. only here and John 18:39 ; 1 Corinthians 11:16 . It is the force of habit that still grips them when they eat such meat. They eat it "as an idol sacrifice" (w eidwloquton), though they no longer believe in idols. The idol-taint clings in their minds to this meat. Being weak (asqenh ousa). "It is defiled, not by the partaking of polluted food, for food cannot pollute ( Mark 7:18 ; Luke 11:41 ), but by the doing of something which the unenlightened conscience does not allow" (Robertson and Plummer). For this great word suneidhsi (conscientia, knowing together, conscience) see on Acts 23:1 . It is important in Paul's Epistles, Peter's First Epistle, and Hebrews. Even if unenlightened, one must act according to his conscience, a sensitive gauge to one's spiritual condition. Knowledge breaks down as a guide with the weak or unenlightened conscience. For asqenh, weak (lack of strength) see on "Mt 26:41". Defiled (molunetai). Old word molunw, to stain, pollute, rare in N.T. ( 1 Timothy 3:9 ; Revelation 3:4 ).