1 Corinthians 8:8

παραστήσει אAB. παρίστησι rec. with DE Vetus Lat. Vulg. Orig.

οὔτε ἐὰν φάγωμεν. This is the order of אDEFG Vetus Lat. Vulg. (authorized ed.) and Peshito, and many of the earlier Fathers. Lachmann, Tregelles, and Tischendorf in his earlier editions, transpose the order, placing ἐὰν μὴ φάγωμεν first with AB and some MSS. of Vulg. Internal evidence would favour the connection between μὴ φάγωμεν and ὑστερούμεθα. Tregelles and Westcott and Hort, however, retain this connection, but invert the order of the two sentences ending with περισσεύομεν and ὑστερούμεθα.

8. οὐ παραστήσει. Will not present us. Cf. 2 Corinthians 4:14; Colossians 1:22; Colossians 1:28. The same word is used in Romans 14:10. Cf. ch. 1 Corinthians 6:13. It is not Christ’s creature, doomed to perish, but Christ Himself that shall present us to God. The use of meats, like that of all outward things (cf. Colossians 2:22), is a matter of absolute insignificance in itself. They are of no real advantage to us, if we use them; to abstain for the sake of abstaining is a matter of equal indifference in God’s sight. The only question of real importance is, what effect will our conduct have on others?

περισσεύομεν … ὑστερούμεθα. The idea seems to be that of having more or less of what is of value in the eyes of God by eating or refraining from eating. Hence the translation in the A.V., though not literal, gives the sense of the passage exactly. If, however, we take the words in the inverted order (see Critical Note), the whole character of the passage is altered. Then it becomes a reproof to those—a numerous class—who think themselves better men because they have more scrupulous consciences, and think of those who indulge freely yet rationally in what more scrupulous persons refuse, as having lowered their spiritual condition thereby. The lesson is a valuable one in all ages, and by no means alien to the mind of St Paul. But the reading is doubtful. If we accept it, we must translate the verse thus (the γὰρ of the rec. text being struck out), But meat will not present us to God: nor (on the other hand) if we do not eat, are we the better, neither, if we do eat, are we the worse.