1 ¶ Now concerning things offered unto idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifies.
2 And if any man think that he knoweth anything, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.
3 But if any man love God, the same is known by Him.
4 ¶ Concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God but One.
5 For though there be what are called "gods," whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many "gods" and many "lords"),
6 yet to us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we in Him, and one Lord Jesus Christ by whom are all things, and we by Him.
7 ¶ However that be, such knowledge is not possessed by every man. For some with conscience of the idol until this hour, eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled.
8 But meat commendeth us not to God, for neither are we the better if we eat, nor are we the worse if we eat not.
9 But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak.
10 For if any man see thee, who hast knowledge, sitting at meat in the idol’s temple, shall not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols,
11 and through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?
12 For when ye sin so against the brethren and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.
13 Therefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend. |
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Christian freedom.
The next question for Paul was "can Christians eat food which has been sacrificed to idols?" Food which had been offered in the temples to idols was often sold in the markets, often cheaper than the meat which had not been offered, should a Christian eat this? The church members who were strong in faith realized that idols could not contaminate the food in any way, so were saving money by buying this food. This action was causing a problem for the ‘weaker’ Christians, they had been saved from the worship of idols and could not understand why people did not avoid anything to do with idols. See Romans 14-15 where they had similar problems.
8:1-13 Love is the answer.
The Corinthian church was full of ‘knowledge,’’ they understood much of the Bible’s teaching but this was making some of them proud v1. V2 reminds us that a ‘know it all’ attitude can actually show a lack of knowledge. It is possible to ‘know doctrine’ but still not know God, v3.
The ‘strong believers’ in the church were not using their knowledge to build up the weaker believers. Love builds up and puts others first.
Paul now talks about the actual problem, there is only one God so how can an idol, made by man, have any affect on what it comes in contact with. Man has made many ‘gods’ and ‘lords’ in his world, but there is only one God, one Lord Jesus Christ.
V7-11 But this knowledge is not understood by all, some still are afraid of the idol and therefore if they eat food which has been offered feel it is wrong. Paul reminds them that food will not help us get closer to God but a ‘strong‘ Christian, eating this food, could drive people away from God.
V11-13 Paul tells them that this action could affect a weak Christian so much that it could drive them away from Christ, this is a sin against Christ, who had bought the person with His blood.
a) v7 be defiled, (corrupt, make dirty).
b) v12 be wounded, (hurt).
c) v13 be offend, (make angry).
d) v10 copy a stronger brother and so fail.
So make sure your actions do not hurt anyone.
Paul returns to this subject in Chapter 10. |
