1 Corinthians 8
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About food sacrificed to idols
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Text
Comments
.1 ¶ Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.
 2  And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.
.3  But if any man love God, the same is known of him.
  1 - Things offered to idols Compare ac1519,20.
  3 - Known of Him A close relationship. jn1014, ga0409. Compare those who do not love Him mt0723. See 1co1312.
.4 ¶ As 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 none other God but one.
 5  For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,)
.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.
  4 - God but one A basic principle is4310, mal0210, mr1229, ep0406, v6.
  6 - One Lord This does not imply that Christ is not also God. The term God may be used as it is here to mean the Father or it can be used to mean the three who are, together, God, as in v4. Compare the declaration of Thomas jn2028.
 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.
 8  But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse.
  7 - Some ... eat ... as ... offered Not everyone understood. It's also easier to have head knowledge than to change deeply ingrained perceptions.
  7 - Being weak We might say that they worried about it.
  8 - Meat [ food] commendeth us not In this same letter Paul explains that we must eat to God's glory 1co1031 and that we are not to defile our bodies 1co0316f. So he would not have been saying that what we eat doesn't matter. It's that we don't earn God's favor by eating certain foods.
  8 - Are we the better Literally "do we abound." We aren't better in God's sight.
 9  But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.
 10  For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols;
  9 - Take heed ... stumblingblock Good advice. It applies to working with people of a different culture. We may need to help them understand more but we need to be very tactful and sensitive.
  10 - Sit at meat Participate in a dinner.
  10 - In an idol's temple This seems to be an extreme example. Perhaps the temples were used for meetings unrelated to idols. Compare Paul's advice about avoiding sinful places 2co0615ff, 2ti0222.
  10 - Emboldened From oikodomeo. The word means "to build up." Instead of building up, they were tearing down.
 11  And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?   Through thy knowledge Those who know that something which deceives many is unreal may, by association, seem to support it thus leading those who are sensitive to it to fall.
 12  But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.
.13  Wherefore, if meat [food] make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.
  13 - Make my brother to offend Paul's resolve to avoid behaviors not sinful for him in order to keep others from falling into a sinful relationship to them.
  13 - No flesh The food particularly in question was the meat of animal sacrifices.
  13 - While the world standeth Literally "forever." And from Paul's perspective, during his lifetime. See on re2010bco and mt2541ff.
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