The One Year Bible Club with Teaching
Commentary by Nick Boork
August 13
1 Corinthians 8:1-13
Commentary by Nick Boork
August 13
1 Corinthians 8:1-13
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August 13 – 1 Corinthians 8:1-13
Now concerning things offered to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. 2 And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know. 3 But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him. 4 Therefore concerning the eating of things offered to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God but one. 5 For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords), 6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live. 7 However, there is not in everyone that knowledge; for some, with consciousness of the idol, until now eat it as a thing offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. 8 But food does not commend us to God; for neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we do not eat are we the worse.
9 But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak. 10 For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things offered to idols? 11 And because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? 12 But when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.
OKAY, HERE’S MY TEACHING COMMENTARY
Most of the Corinthians grew up as total Pagans. The society was given over to the worship of idols. They would sacrifice animals to their gods then eat the meat as an act of worship. Additionally some temples would provide prostitutes and the whole ceremony would frequently degenerate into a sexually immoral party. What happened was many of these Corinthians got saved after hearing the gospel Paul was preaching. Some had the understanding now that they knew the Lord that all those pagan deities were totally false and they actually did not exist except in the images made by men’s hands and in the imaginations of people. They thought they could eat the meat sacrificed to these deities because they knew all those pagan gods were pure fantasy.
However, there were others that also were saved but their conscious convicted them about eating this type of meat. They felt it wasn’t right because it had been sacrificed to a pagan god and the practice of eating the meat was in their minds worshiping the idol the meat was sacrificed to. So when they saw some of their fellow believers eating meat sacrificed to idols they were encouraged to participate. However, they were doing something they still felt was sinful and for them it was because the Bible teaches that whatever is not of faith is sin. Paul dealt with this same issue in Rome and wrote that if you have faith to do something that may cause others to sin then you want to keep that to yourself and not be a bad example by exercising your freedom in an area that some consider sin. Romans 14:22-23 Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.
What would be a modern example? I mean, most of us did not grow up sacrificing to idols. What area could we apply these same principles in our society today? How about the issue of Christians drinking alcohol. Some believe that it’s ok to drink a beer or cocktail in moderation while for others it’s totally unacceptable. If you really care for others and want to walk in love then you never want to drink any alcohol in front of another brother of sister that either does not approve or has an issue drinking or has even worse has been a former alcoholic because if they observe you drinking they may just say to themselves, hey if they can drink alcohol as a Christian then I guess I can too. In that case you would be doing exactly the same thing Paul instructed the Corinthian believers that had knowledge and personal liberty to eat meats sacrificed to idols. You would become a stumbling block influencing a weak believer to sin against their conscious in the area of drinking alcohol.
WHAT’S THE BOTTOM LINE?
1) There is only one true and living God and Lord Jesus Christ.
2) The idols and gods of pagans are powerless except in the minds of those that worship them.
3) Meat sacrificed to an idol is not defiled because it was created by God and the idol is a myth.
4) If you have freedom and a pure conscious there are plenty of things you can do that are not specifically forbidden in the word of God but that does not mean you should do them.
5) Be careful not to allow your liberty to enjoy a pleasure of this life become a stumbling block for a weak believer.
Now concerning things offered to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. 2 And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know. 3 But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him. 4 Therefore concerning the eating of things offered to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God but one. 5 For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords), 6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live. 7 However, there is not in everyone that knowledge; for some, with consciousness of the idol, until now eat it as a thing offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. 8 But food does not commend us to God; for neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we do not eat are we the worse.
9 But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak. 10 For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things offered to idols? 11 And because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? 12 But when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.
OKAY, HERE’S MY TEACHING COMMENTARY
Most of the Corinthians grew up as total Pagans. The society was given over to the worship of idols. They would sacrifice animals to their gods then eat the meat as an act of worship. Additionally some temples would provide prostitutes and the whole ceremony would frequently degenerate into a sexually immoral party. What happened was many of these Corinthians got saved after hearing the gospel Paul was preaching. Some had the understanding now that they knew the Lord that all those pagan deities were totally false and they actually did not exist except in the images made by men’s hands and in the imaginations of people. They thought they could eat the meat sacrificed to these deities because they knew all those pagan gods were pure fantasy.
However, there were others that also were saved but their conscious convicted them about eating this type of meat. They felt it wasn’t right because it had been sacrificed to a pagan god and the practice of eating the meat was in their minds worshiping the idol the meat was sacrificed to. So when they saw some of their fellow believers eating meat sacrificed to idols they were encouraged to participate. However, they were doing something they still felt was sinful and for them it was because the Bible teaches that whatever is not of faith is sin. Paul dealt with this same issue in Rome and wrote that if you have faith to do something that may cause others to sin then you want to keep that to yourself and not be a bad example by exercising your freedom in an area that some consider sin. Romans 14:22-23 Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.
What would be a modern example? I mean, most of us did not grow up sacrificing to idols. What area could we apply these same principles in our society today? How about the issue of Christians drinking alcohol. Some believe that it’s ok to drink a beer or cocktail in moderation while for others it’s totally unacceptable. If you really care for others and want to walk in love then you never want to drink any alcohol in front of another brother of sister that either does not approve or has an issue drinking or has even worse has been a former alcoholic because if they observe you drinking they may just say to themselves, hey if they can drink alcohol as a Christian then I guess I can too. In that case you would be doing exactly the same thing Paul instructed the Corinthian believers that had knowledge and personal liberty to eat meats sacrificed to idols. You would become a stumbling block influencing a weak believer to sin against their conscious in the area of drinking alcohol.
WHAT’S THE BOTTOM LINE?
1) There is only one true and living God and Lord Jesus Christ.
2) The idols and gods of pagans are powerless except in the minds of those that worship them.
3) Meat sacrificed to an idol is not defiled because it was created by God and the idol is a myth.
4) If you have freedom and a pure conscious there are plenty of things you can do that are not specifically forbidden in the word of God but that does not mean you should do them.
5) Be careful not to allow your liberty to enjoy a pleasure of this life become a stumbling block for a weak believer.
ORDINATION
Remember, if you’re looking for Ministry Credentials and Ordination visit our website Diamond Institute to apply! http://www.diamondinstitute.org/ordination
ONLINE COURSES
For more Bible courses and ministry resources see our online school Diamond Institute. Enroll free today and get access to our free and pay as you go courses. http://www.diamondinstitute.org/enroll
Remember, if you’re looking for Ministry Credentials and Ordination visit our website Diamond Institute to apply! http://www.diamondinstitute.org/ordination
ONLINE COURSES
For more Bible courses and ministry resources see our online school Diamond Institute. Enroll free today and get access to our free and pay as you go courses. http://www.diamondinstitute.org/enroll