1 Corinthians Chapter 8.

1 Corinthians Chapter 8.

Paul replies to another question sent to him.  This concerned the eating of food that had been sacrificed to idols.  A real problem, for it was difficult to live in Corinth and not eat food that had been sacrificed to some idol.  The circumstances which created this problem were:-

           

1/ When a pagan brought his sacrifice to the temple of a god, only part was offered on the altar and the remainder was eaten by the offerer and his friends.

           

2/ A pagan might hold a banquet or feast in his home but the meat to be eaten may have previously been offered to a god in the temple before it was sold at the market.

           

3/ When one purchases meat from the butcher it was impossible to be certain that it had not been offered to an idol.

           

These circumstances created many difficulties for Christians.  There would be weddings, banquets and other social events among relatives, friends and neighbours.  Christians desire to be friendly and sociable, since they could not win their friends for Christ if they broke off all social contacts.   Some Christians felt they had great liberty in respect to food sacrificed to idols. They prided themselves in the knowledge that an idol was nothing.  Therefore, they boasted of the liberty this knowledge gave them.  A Jewish believer would know that the Hebrew word for "idols" means nothingness, but as a devout Jew he would shudder to eat food offered to idols.

           

Many Christians from paganism had still superstitious fears and idolatry was a peril to them.  Pagan worship had many fascinating features and they could not avoid coming under its influence.  Such associations would bring inward fears and conflict.  Paul fears that the strong by their example may embolden the weak to do something they could not do without inward conflict and spiritual injury. 

           

The supreme consideration must always be the welfare of our brethren.  Liberty is good, but love is greater.  Liberty may be selfishly enjoyed, but the true use of liberty is to give loving service to others.  Paul upholds and elucidates the principle of mutual love among brethren.  It is the elucidation of this principle that gives abiding value to these chapters.  Mutual love was corrective for most of the problems at Corinth.  Paul's reply to the question as to idols extends from chapter 8:1-11:1, (three chapters, and one verse).

           

Love must govern the use of freedom.  8:1-9:23. 

a/ Our knowledge may stumble our brother unless controlled by love.      8:1-13.

b/  Paul could write of his own example in this matter.                 9:1-23.

The peril of failure through lack of self-discipline.                                    9:24-10:13.

a/  Paul the spiritual athlete.                                                       9:24-27. 

b/  The failure of Israel.                                                              10:1-13.

           

The incompatibility of the table of the Lord and the table of demons.      10:14-22. 

           

Summary of argument and concluding words of counsel.                        10:23-11:1.

           

The supremacy of love.  8:1-3. (see 16:14).  Some Corinthians were priding themselves in their knowledge that idols represent gods that have no real existence.  They glorified in the liberty this knowledge gave them, but Paul reminds them that such knowledge inflates the individual whilst love edifies the community.  The man who is conceited about his knowledge knows nothing as he ought to know, for to know rightly and as one ought, is to know humbly.  Humility is a mark of knowing rightly.  We begin to learn rightly when we walk in humility and love.  Paul rightly insists that the essence of religion is not pride producing knowledge, but love for God, and that includes love for His children.  Their knowledge failed to provide the best course of conduct, but brother-love is a sure and safe guide, especially when it springs from love to God.

The Christian faith in a nutshell.  8:4-6.  Verse 6 is not a denial of the Deity of the Lord Jesus, for the Supreme Lordship is here ascribed to Him. 

The word Lord or `kurios' was often used to designate master or owner, but it was also used to designate the pagan deities or great leaders who claimed deity.

           

In the Old Testament `kurios' was used to translate `yahweh' (Jehovah).  Paul would not have associated the Lord Jesus Christ with God the Father, in the manner he does in this verse, unless he believed in the deity of Christ.  The context sets forth the Godhead of the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ in contrast to the many false gods and lords that pagans worshipped.  Such lords had no right to human worship but the Lord Jesus is rightfully worshipped.  Paul does not develop a systematic theology of the Trinity such as the Fathers developed at a later time.  But such a development was bound to come, a necessary intellectual formulation of what the New Testament taught.

           

8:7-13. Do not to let your knowledge and your liberty become a cause of stumbling to the brother for whom Christ died.  Compare 8:1 and 8:7.   Pagans had no such knowledge of the nothingness of idolatry, and though all Christians knew that idols were nothing in the world, yet not all had such an enthusiastic knowledge that their conscience would escape all feelings of guilt if they ate food sacrificed to idols.  A brother's conscience may be tender, sensitive and prone to feelings of guilt should he eat. It is true that meat does not commend us to God for it has no religious value.  We are neither better nor worse for eating or for not eating.  Christians can rejoice in their freedom from taboos about food, but they must be careful lest the liberty they enjoy becomes a stumbling block to the more sensitive brother.

           

Some had thought their daring use of liberty would strengthen the sensitive brother to become bold and enjoy the full experience of Christian liberty.  However, it does not usually work out that way.  The brother encouraged by your bold use of liberty, may feel ashamed of his timidity and become emboldened to follow your example, but because his conscience is tender and fear complexes formed in days gone by still linger in his mind, he develops feelings of guilt, and is defiled.  He loses the liberty of a clear conscience before God and his faith is disturbed.  It is better to have a tender regard for your brother's feelings than to use liberty selfishly.

           

How tenderly Paul pleads in verses 8-11, putting his appeal in the form of a personal resolve.  There is a tender reproach in the words, "for through thy knowledge he that is weak perisheth, the brother for whose sake Christ died."  This is true of the most weak, hesitant and timid brother, that he is "the brother for whom Christ died."

           

The sacrifice of Christ marks the way for all our thinking, feeling and doing.  This is love's more excellent way, the sentiment and resolve to promote the good of others.  Knowledge or conceit of knowledge provokes men to despise the weak and unenlightened.  Knowledge here is probably a profession of an ability to know God's will in a special situation, but love is a surer guide than the charisma of knowledge.  Paul saw in Christ's death for his people the answer to the question, was it right to eat meat in the temple of an idol?  When we sin against those who are dear to Christ, we sin against Christ.  Paul was fully resolved to walk in the love that was willing to sacrifice the most prized personal rights and liberties, if such cause his brother to stumble.

           

Note the use of the word, "brother" in verses 11-13, "the brother", "the brethren", "my brother".  The repetition of the word "brother" gives to Paul's plea a tenderness that makes it irresistible.