1 Corinthians 8:7

συνηθείᾳ אAB. Rec. συνειδήσει DEFG Vetus Lat. Vulg. Peshito, Tertullian (De Pudicitia c. 14). It is very difficult here to tell which is likely to be the original reading and which the gloss. The early authority of Tertullian will weigh with many in favour of the rec. text, and the fact that the citation is not verbal proves that his text has not been corrected to agree with the copies of the N. T. συνήθεια, however, only occurs once again in St Paul’s writings (ch. 1 Corinthians 11:16) and then in a slightly different sense.

7. ἡ γνῶσις. The knowledge of which we have just spoken, 1 Corinthians 8:4-6. It cannot be knowledge in the abstract, for St Paul, however ironically, has said (1 Corinthians 8:1) that ‘all’ had that. It must therefore mean the knowledge regarding the true nature of an idol spoken of in 1 Corinthians 8:4.

συνηθείᾳ. See Critical Note. συνήθεια means (1) intimacy, (2) custom (as in ch. 1 Corinthians 11:16). The meaning here is the familiarity with the idea of the idol as the representative of a certain deity, an ideal from which the worshipper, from long habit, could not shake himself free. It was very difficult for Gentile converts to shake off their heathen notions. Many of the heresies of early times were due to these invincible prepossessions, as is also the belief in magic and witchcraft, which in all nations has long survived their conversion to Christianity. If, on the other hand, we read συνειδήσει it means either (1) conscientious dread of becoming in any way connected with the idol, or (2) conscientious apprehension of his personality, as though the meat were in some sense his property, and the eating of it an act of worship.

καὶ ἡ συνείδησις αὐτῶν�. He is mistaken in his idea that the idol, or rather the being it represents, has a real existence, but as long as he entertains that idea, he is bound to act up to it. Cf. Romans 14:14, ‘To him that esteemeth anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean.’ See also Romans 8:20; Romans 8:23 of the same chapter.

μολύνεται. The conscience may be said to be defiled when it conveys to the man the feeling that he has incurred defilement by his conduct.