seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
1 Corinthians 8:1 Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that “We all possess knowledge.” But knowledge puffs up while love builds up. 2 Those who think they know something do not yet know as they ought to know. 3 But whoever loves God is known by God.[a]
4 So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that “An idol is nothing at all in the world” and that “There is no God but one.” 5 For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”), 6 yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.
7 But not everyone possesses this knowledge. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat sacrificial food they think of it as having been sacrificed to a god, and since their conscience is weak, it is defiled. 8 But food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.
9 Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak. 10 For if someone with a weak conscience sees you, with all your knowledge, eating in an idol’s temple, won’t that person be emboldened to eat what is sacrificed to idols? 11 So this weak brother or sister, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. 12 When you sin against them in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause them to fall.
a. 1 Corinthians 8:3 An early manuscript and another ancient witness think they have knowledge do not yet know as they ought to know. 3 But whoever loves truly knows.
Once again... the commentary is longer than the chapter. This is from the easy English site.
The Christians at Corinth had asked Paul about this problem. Meat was expensive. But it became available when Jews or pagans offered sacrifices. The priests burnt a small part of the meat on the altar. Then the priests kept some. They gave the rest back to the person who offered it. He would often make a feast for his friends. This would be a pleasant social occasion. Sometimes it was a public sacrifice by the state. Then they sold the rest of the meat cheaply in the market. So it was difficult to get meat that did not involve worship. There was no problem in Jerusalem because the meat was a sacrifice to God. But in other cities, the meat had been offered to a pagan god. Christians were not sure if it was right to eat that meat. Some people in Corinth worried about it. Other people were proud of their superior knowledge. They thought that there was no problem. They thought that they could eat such meat. Paul’s answer was especially for those people.
Some Christians at Corinth did believe that idols are not alive. But they could not completely forget their belief that the pagan gods had power over their lives. They had believed in them for a long time. So it worried them to eat this meat. It worried them because someone had offered it to an idol. So, they thought that it would be better not to eat it. Some new Christians find it hard to stop worshipping their ancestors.
These may be the words of the Christians at Corinth, with which Paul would agree. To eat or not to eat food makes no difference to God. They are like Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 7:19 that circumcision or lack of circumcision was not important.
To eat food that pagans had offered to idols might, however, cause a problem for someone with a troubled conscience. The ‘weak’ Christian may copy the ‘strong’ Christian if he sees him eat in a pagan temple.
Paul was willing to limit his own freedom. He would never make it difficult for another Christian. His action might be good in itself. But it would be wrong if it caused another believer to sin.
This is from the blueletterbible.org site.The meat offered on pagan altars was usually divided up into three portions: one portion was burnt in honor of the god; one portion was given to the worshipper to take home and eat; and the third portion was given to the priest. If the priest didn't want to eat his portion, he sold it at the temple restaurant or meat market.
The meat served and sold at the temple was generally cheaper; and then, as well as now, people loved a bargain (including Christians!).
The issue raises many questions: can we eat meat purchased at the temple meat market? What if we are served meat purchased at the temple meat market when we are guests in someone's home? Can a Christian eat at the restaurant at the pagan temple?
Food does not commend us to God: You aren't more spiritual if you know idols are nothing, and feel a personal freedom to eat meat sacrificed to idols (neither if we eat are we the better).
In Acts 15:29, the Jerusalem Council sent a letter commanding some churches to (among other things) abstain from things offered to idols. But Paul's discussion of the issue here does not contradict what the Jerusalem council decided in Acts 15. Instead, it shows that the council's decision was not intended to be normative for all the church all the time; it was a temporary expediency, meant to advance the cause of the gospel among Jews.
On the other hand, nor if we do not eat are we the worse. No one is less spiritual for abstaining from meat sacrificed to idols.
This is the very point where most stumble in issues relevant to Christian liberty (such as movies, drinking, music, or television): assuming that one stance or another is evidence of greater or lesser spirituality.
Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat: Paul makes the principle clear. Our actions can never be based just on what we know to be right for ourselves; we also need to consider what is right in regard to our brothers and sisters in Jesus.
When I opened this chapter.... I thought... oh good.... burnt offerings... charred meat.... carcinogens. Recently I read an article claiming burnt or over charred meat was full of carcinogens and should be avoided. But..... my son in law is really into smoking his own meats..... and those burnt ends are delicious..... so I figured I would mention that.... and that would be it....
Then I read the chapter again.... and the commentary.... and I realized it's about Christian Liberties.
So now I need to know exactly what Christian Liberty is. According to a google search I did....
Christian liberty is a doctrine that says no to legalism, and that is the traditions of men and the notion that law-keeping is what saves us, that law-keeping keeps us safe or that law-keeping positions us so that God can save us
Clear as mud???IMHO... what this is saying is.... Christians follow whatever path that will lead them to God without injuring others..... it comes from the two commandments that Jesus said were the most important. Jesus said we are to Love God with our heart, mind, and soul.... and were are to Love one Another.
Now If I saw a man that I know is dealing with an addiction to alcohol.... should I drink one for him in front of him? If drinking doesn't bother me.... it's no skin off my nose.... no matter how much I drink...... but if it's a problem for that guy.... if it makes his mouth water so much he's ready to knock someone over the head to get a drink..... then it's wrong.
Now... I need to remember.... this is the church that is meeting in Corinth. The church in Corinth met in the Temple of Aphrodite.... where male and female prostitutes were part of the temple worship before the Christians staked out their room. The people that worshiped in that temple were pagans as well as Christians..... and the pagans had their own rituals for sacrifice to Aphrodite.... and it's that meat that was in question. Some of the new Christians had an issue with it being sacrificed to a fake god.... was it safe to eat?
Paul said.... if it makes someone else sick to watch you eat your meat.... then you shouldn't eat your meat in front of them......
So.... everyone has a right to burn their meat..... some will just char it slightly..... leaving it bloody raw.... which would make the goody two shoes squeamish.... or if it's burnt to a crisp so it's like shoe leather.... well that would make just about everyone squeamish.....That's Liberty..... but they also have the right to save the meat for another meal so they show love for their vegan guest..... that's Christian Liberty.
So I figure this chapter is more about the second commandment that Jesus discussed... that we love one another...... If I love someone.... I'm going to consider their thoughts, needs, and worries.... instead of my own..... because they are as important to me as I am.... and I am a Christian at Liberty to choose the path that encourages my brother or sister.
It's about charred meat and Christian Liberty..... cool.
