I Corinthians 8:7

Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled (KJV)

Then: Internalized basic knowledge forms the conscience of man. It directs the division and recognition of good and evil, right and wrong. Paul recognizes where these new followers are coming from. Everything and anything connected with idol worship brings back a mind set of activities which dishonored the Lord. They were unable to sort out which prior actions were acceptable and which were not acceptable to the Lord (Wright). Their consciences were weak. Paul believed that able followers with strong consciences needed to choose to place more emphasis on loving the Corinthians with weaker consciences and not eating meat given to idols. Loving one another is the second greatest command. Following that command often requires temporarily or even permanently giving up personal understandings of the rights of an individual conscience.

Now: The principle applies yet today. The measuring line is a question, "Will my action lead another person into sin?" Today's culture is filled with poor choice options. Whereby I may read a book with "vengeance" as a theme, someone emerging from a gang culture would have his or her mind drop immediately back into a cesspool of dishonoring God.

1 Corinthians 8:6

But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him (KJV)

Then: Paul straightens out the meaning of "There is one God." It cannot mean that any respect is given to other Gods. God is the creator. God is Messiah. (Wright). Knowledge comes from this basic and cannot be confused with imaginary descriptions of any other god.

Now: God, Father, Son, and Spirit, endures the same, yesterday, today and tomorrow. Today's believers must know this same truth.

1 Corinthians 8:3

But if any man love God, the same is known of him (KJV)

Then: The verse is simple to understand, but not accept and apply day by day - Those who love him have his love. In context, the verse is a prelude to specific problems, but not the capstone. N T Wright sees a slow build-up to the main point in chapter ten. Believers have to know the principles first.

Now: Wright emphasizes that daily, every Christian, individually, needs to recognize and have the knowledge of the Lord's love. Thereby, they know God. In our Corinthian twenty-first century culture, nothing will change without first establishing a basic love connection with God.