1 Corinthians 8 · Verse 2

1 Corinthians 8:2

And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.
1 Corinthians 8:2, King James Version

1 Corinthians 8:2 in other translations

BSBThe one who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know.
WEBBut if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he doesn’t yet know as he ought to know.
ASVIf any man thinketh that he knoweth anything, he knoweth not yet as he ought to know;
YLTand if any one doth think to know anything, he hath not yet known anything according as it behoveth him to know;
DARBYIf any one think he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know it.
BBEIf anyone seems to himself to have knowledge, so far he has not the right sort of knowledge about anything;
WebsterAnd if any man thinketh that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.

What does 1 Corinthians 8:2 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
2. And--omitted in the oldest manuscripts The absence of the connecting particle gives an emphatical sententiousness to the style, suitable to the subject. The first step to knowledge is to know our own ignorance. Without love there is only the appearance of knowledge. knoweth--The oldest manuscripts read a Greek word implying personal experimental acquaintance, not merely knowledge of a fact, which the Greek of "we know" or are aware (1Co 8:1) means. as he ought to know--experimentally and in the way of "love."

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 2. And if any man think, etc. The connexion and the scope of this passage require us to understand this as designed to condemn that vain conceit of knowledge, or self-confidence, which would lead us to despise others, or to disregard their interests. "If any one is any one is conceited of his knowledge, is so vain, and proud, and self-confident, that he is led to despise others, and to disregard their true interests, he has not yet learned the very first elements of true knowledge as he ought to learn them. True knowledge will make us humble, modest, and kind to others. It will not puff us up, and it will not lead us to overlook the real happiness of others." See Rom 11:25.

Any thing. Any matter pertaining to science, morals, philosophy, or religion. This is a general maxim pertaining to all pretenders to knowledge.

He knoweth nothing yet, etc. He has not known what is most necessary to be known on tile subject; nor has he known the true use and design of knowledge, which is to edify and promote the happiness of others. If a man has not so learned anything as to make it contribute to the happiness of others, it is a proof that he has never learned the true design of the first elements of knowledge. Paul's design is to induce them to seek the welfare of their brethren. Knowledge, rightly applied, will promote the happiness of all. And it is true now as it was then, that if a man is a miser in knowledge, as in wealth; if he lives to accumulate, never to impart; if he is filled with a vain conceit of his wisdom, and seeks not to benefit others by enlightening their ignorance, and guiding them in the way of truth, he has never learned the true use of science, any more than the man has of wealth who always hoards, never gives. It is valueless unless it is diffused, as the light of heaven would be valueless unless diffused all over the world, and the waters would be valueless if always preserved in lakes and reservoirs, and never diffused over hills and vales to refresh the earth.

(e) "man think" Rom 11:25, Gal 6:3, 1Timm 6:3,4

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 2 He knoweth nothing yet, etc. - The person who acts in this rash, unfeeling way, from the general knowledge which he has of the vanity of idolatry and the liberty which the Gospel affords from Jewish rites, with all his knowledge does not know this, that though the first and greatest commandment says, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, etc., yet the second is like unto it: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. He, then, that can torment his neighbour's weak or tender conscience with his food or his conduct, does not love him as himself, and therefore knows nothing as he ought to know.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Corinthians 8:1-6

There is no proof of ignorance more common than conceit of knowledge. Much may be known, when nothing is known to good purpose. And those who think they know any thing, and grow vain thereon, are the least likely to make good use of their knowledge. Satan hurts some as much by tempting them to be proud of mental powers, as others, by alluring to sensuality. Knowledge which puffs up the possessor, and renders him…

Read the full comment on 1 Corinthians 8:1-6 →

1 Corinthians 8:2 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

εἴeiIfG1487
τιςtisanyoneG5100
δοκεῖdokeithinksG1380
ἐγνωκέναιegnōkenaito have knownG1097
τι,tianything,G5100
οὔπωoupōnot yetG3768
ἔγνωegnōhe knewG1097
καθὼςkathōseven asG2531
δεῖdeiit is necessaryG1163
γνῶναι·gnōnaito know;G1097

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 1 Corinthians 8:2

  • 1 Corinthians 13:12

    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.

  • 1 Corinthians 3:18

    Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.

  • Galatians 6:3

    For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.

  • Proverbs 26:12

    Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.

  • 1 Timothy 6:3-4

    If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,

  • 1 Corinthians 13:8-9

    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. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.

  • Proverbs 30:2-4

    Surely I am more brutish than any man, and have not the understanding of a man. I neither learned wisdom, nor have the knowledge of the holy. Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son’s name, if thou canst tell?

  • 1 Timothy 1:5-7

    Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned: From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling; Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.

  • Romans 11:25

    For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
if.
Pr 26:12; 30:2-4; Ro 11:25; Ga 6:3; 1Ti 1:5-7; 6:3,4

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 1 Corinthians 8:1

    Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.

  • 1 Corinthians 8:2

    And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.

  • 1 Corinthians 8:3

    But if any man love God, the same is known of him.

Read all of 1 Corinthians 8

1 Corinthians 8:2 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y si alguno se imagina que sabe algo, aun no sabe nada como debe saber.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Si quelqu’un pense savoir quelque chose, il ne connaît rien encore comme il faut connaître;
German
Elberfelder 1871		Wenn jemand sich dünkt, er erkenne etwas, so hat er noch nicht erkannt, wie man erkennen soll;
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Si quis autem se existimat scire aliquid, nondum cognovit quemadmodum oporteat eum scire.