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| Marshall Member Joined Feb 7, 2002 1191 posts Location: Langley, BC |
 1 Corinthians 8: on food offered to idols |
Posted Apr 19, 2006; 11:16 am |
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1 Corinthians 8 (ESV):
Food Offered to Idols
1 Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that "all of us possess knowledge." This "knowledge" puffs up, but love builds up. 2 If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. 3 But if anyone loves God, he is known by God.
4 Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that "an idol has no real existence," and that "there is no God but one." 5 For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth -- as indeed there are many "gods" and many "lords" -- 6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.
7 However, not all possess this knowledge. But some, through former association with idols, eat food as really offered to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. 8 Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. 9 But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. 10 For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol's temple, will he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? 11 And so by your knowledge this weak person is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. 12 Thus, sinning against your brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.
Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Introductory questions
These are just to spur thinking on this chapter; feel free to ask your own questions or post comments unrelated to these.
- How was food offered to idols in Paul's day, and how could a Corinthian believer be in a position to eat that food?
- How does this chapter accord with Acts 15:28-29, 21:25 and (getting ahead a bit) 1 Corinthians 10:18-22?
- How should love operate (verses 1-3) in the situation Paul addresses in this chapter?
- Do all idols, past and present, have "no real existence" (verse 4)?
- Specifically, what is the sin of those who eat in verse 7?
- How does the liberty of others cause the weak to stumble and be destroyed (verses 9-11)?
- Paul says he will never eat meat if it causes his brother to stumble (verse 13). Should we all abstain from meat?
Last edited by Marshall on Oct 7, 2006; 6:29 pm; edited 1 time in total. |
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| Marshall Member Joined Feb 7, 2002 1191 posts Location: Langley, BC |
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Posted May 9, 2006; 9:09 am |
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My understanding had always been that this passage showed that it was okay for the Corinthians to eat food sacrificed to idols, as long as they didn't do it in idolatry (due to believing the idols were real). However, there's those other passages in Acts and later in 1 Corinthians that seem to be quite clear that this was never acceptable.
Does anyone have any insight on this issue? |
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| vanislandwoman |
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Posted May 18, 2006; 10:16 pm |
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Several days ago I did some quick research to understand a bit more about the culture of Corinth, and then wrote something for the Forum. But somehow, I lost it between the preview and the submit.
I'm trying to remember what I said... 
- found out that Corinth of Paul's time was a relatively new Roman colony built in the area where the ancient city had been demolished. It had many cultures. (I'm sure I 'knew' this already from Bible introductions to the letter. But it sticks better when I have to go to a bit of trouble to find it out myself.
-found out that there were a few things about eating the foods offered to idols:
sometimes there were great civic feasts in the temples or courtyards. A lot of political and business networking may have happened there- sort of the Corinthian equivalent of the old boys network at the golf club, I think. If one chose not to participate, one was also possible effecting one's success in those areas. (Which should be OK with Christians)
But being involved would also mean Christians could speak to or influence those they met in such places.
Sounds familiar for our day and age, doesn't it? People who have a strong faith and a strong sense of mission may often find themselves in places that are shunned by other Christians-loving the street people, helping those caught up in the justice system, talking to sex-trade people, etc. I dunno- should a Christian attend the big Hallowe'en party put on by an atheist organization? To me, it would be the same kind of ethical dilemma. |
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| Marshall Member Joined Feb 7, 2002 1191 posts Location: Langley, BC |
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Posted Oct 7, 2006; 6:07 pm |
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Thanks for that context, vanislandwoman, and also that application. It's been a few months, but I still find myself just as confused about this issue, and with the expansion of the principle to "places that are shunned by other Christians", it becomes more applicable to us today, and so more important to understand.
I'll take a swing at some of the less complex questions I posed.
 4. Do all idols, past and present, have "no real existence" (verse 4)?
In themselves, yes. Physical objects may be used by a spiritual force (such as the bronze serpent being used by God) but in general I think idols only have whatever power we as humans ascribe to them.
5. Specifically, what is the sin of those who eat in verse 7?
Idolatry. When these people eat the food, they think they are worshiping another god.
6. How does the liberty of others cause the weak to stumble and be destroyed (verses 9-11)?
By causing them to think worshiping another god is okay, leading them to idolatry and polytheism.
7. Paul says he will never eat meat if it causes his brother to stumble (verse 13). Should we all abstain from meat?
No! No more than we should all abstain from wine.  |
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