Monday, August 15, 2016

1 Corinthians Chapter 8

1 Corinthians
Above image from https://www.insight.org/resources/bible/the-pauline-epistles/first-corinthians

The question of Gentiles eating meat offered to idols was discussed at the Jerusalem Council: Acts 15:28-29, 21:25: “For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay no greater burden on you than these few requirements: You must abstain from eating food offered to idols, from consuming blood or the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality. If you do this, you will do well. Farewell.” ... “As for the Gentile believers, they should do what we already told them in a letter: They should abstain from eating food offered to idols, from consuming blood or the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality.”

Hampton Keathley IV: "Some of the Corinthians thought that it was wrong to eat meat sacrificed to idols. They were certain that the pagan gods had somehow contaminated the meat and this would offend God. Others knew it didn’t matter as there was only one God. They may even have been proud of their knowledge and were flaunting their freedom. Paul’s point is that the one with Knowledge must practice Love and abstain. Because, just like one cannot reason logically to alleviate a child’s fear of the dark, in the same way some of these Christians were too immature to understand the logic of grace and Christian liberty. ... Paul concludes this section by warning them that, although it is permissible to eat the meat sacrificed to idols (unless it offends your brother), it is not permissible to partake in the religious feasts given in that deity’s honor (10:14-22). And he urges them to only partake in those things which edify and glorify God (10:23-33)."

"Becoming Closer" by John Hendershot: "Remember, please, two facts: First, the Corinthians live in a society in which animals are sacrificed to idols. Second, there are no refrigerators at this time. Combine those two and you will find that the best place to buy a good steak is right next to the temple of some idol. So it wouldn’t be uncommon for a Christian to sit down to enjoy a good meal at the restaurant next door – which might even be connected with that temple. Two factions grew up:
· The first faction knew that this was outrageously immoral. It gives the appearance of a Christian somehow approving of idol worship, and therefore (when in doubt, don’t) is to be banned.
· The second faction just can’t see the point. They are, after all, intellectually mature Christians; they know there’s nothing to this idol worship stuff. What’s wrong with a good steak – bless it in God’s name and pass the barbecue sauce."

What's behind Your Influence? by Ray Stedman: "Then they wrote to him about three things that were troubling them; largely in the church at Corinth. First, they were worried about offending God, and about offending the conscience of the weaker brother, in the matter of eating meat that was offered to idols. Although we are no longer troubled by the problem of whether we ought to eat meat offered to idols or not, nevertheless in this section, we are confronting in principle this whole thorny issue of Christian taboos -- smoking, drinking, dancing, everything that has ever been brought up as a problem within the church that is not specifically identified as an evil in the Scriptures."

Theologically, chapter 8 is parallel to Romans 14:1-15:2: Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don’t argue with them about what they think is right or wrong. For instance, one person believes it’s all right to eat anything. But another believer with a sensitive conscience will eat only vegetables. Those who feel free to eat anything must not look down on those who don’t. And those who don’t eat certain foods must not condemn those who do, for God has accepted them. Who are you to condemn someone else’s servants? Their own master will judge whether they stand or fall. And with the Lord’s help, they will stand and receive his approval. In the same way, some think one day is more holy than another day, while others think every day is alike. You should each be fully convinced that whichever day you choose is acceptable. Those who worship the Lord on a special day do it to honor him. Those who eat any kind of food do so to honor the Lord, since they give thanks to God before eating. And those who refuse to eat certain foods also want to please the Lord and give thanks to God. For we don’t live for ourselves or die for ourselves. If we live, it’s to honor the Lord. And if we die, it’s to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. Christ died and rose again for this very purpose - to be Lord both of the living and of the dead. So why do you condemn another believer? Why do you look down on another believer? Remember, we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. For the Scriptures say, “‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bend to me, and every tongue will declare allegiance to God.’” Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God. So let’s stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall. I know and am convinced on the authority of the Lord Jesus that no food, in and of itself, is wrong to eat. But if someone believes it is wrong, then for that person it is wrong. And if another believer is distressed by what you eat, you are not acting in love if you eat it. Don’t let your eating ruin someone for whom Christ died. Then you will not be criticized for doing something you believe is good. For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God, and others will approve of you, too. So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up. Don’t tear apart the work of God over what you eat. Remember, all foods are acceptable, but it is wrong to eat something if it makes another person stumble. It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything else if it might cause another believer to stumble. You may believe there’s nothing wrong with what you are doing, but keep it between yourself and God. Blessed are those who don’t feel guilty for doing something they have decided is right. But if you have doubts about whether or not you should eat something, you are sinning if you go ahead and do it. For you are not following your convictions. If you do anything you believe is not right, you are sinning. We who are strong must be considerate of those who are sensitive about things like this. We must not just please ourselves. We should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord.

(1) NOW regarding your question about food that has been offered to idols. Yes, we know that “we all have knowledge” about this issue. But while knowledge makes us feel important, it is love that strengthens the church.

  • We know:
    • Probably, the statement “we all have knowledge” is a quotation from the letter the Corinthians sent Paul. Some of the Corinthian Christians believed it was be right and proper to partake of this food anywhere and everywhere, even in the idol temples themselves - but some others disagreed.
    • Paul Van Gorder, The Church Stands Corrected: “God’s judgment came upon Israel, as recorded in Numbers 25, not only because they ate meat sacrificed to idols, but also because they had engaged in idolatry. Even the twelve apostles had forbidden the eating of such meat (Acts 15). But fuller revelation given to Paul had brought a new liberty to him and to those who heard his teaching. They knew an idol had no substance or being. Therefore, meat was not profaned if offered to an idol, and, for the stronger brother, it remained the God’s pure gift.”
  • Knowledge makes us feel important (puffs us up):
    • The Great Divorce—Separating “Truth From Love” by Bob Deffinbaugh: "Here is an example of the kind of “wisdom” that was prized and practiced by the would-be elite in the Corinthian church. Their reasoning went like this: There is but one God, and no others. Thus, idols, which represent other gods, are really nothing. Therefore meats sacrificed to idols can hardly be contaminated, so I am free to eat these meats."
  • Love:
    • Love was Paul’s underlying theme regarding Christian liberty: 1 Corinthians 13:13: Three things will last forever - faith, hope, and love - and the greatest of these is love.
  • Strengthens the church:
    • “Strengthens” is the word “oikodomei” and is used to refer to building a building. In 1 Thessalonians 5:11, “oikodomei” is used to refer to building each other up: Thessalonians 5:11: So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.

(2-3) Anyone who claims to know all the answers doesn’t really know very much. BUT the person who loves God is the one whom God recognizes

  • Loves God:
    • Ray Stedman: "Paul knows that Christians must learn to deal with what he calls "the law of liberty." ... But with this law, he links two other laws. One he calls the "law of love;" that is the law that says, "I may be free to do it, but if I am really putting a stumbling block in somebody else's path, I won't do it" -- that is the law of love. The limitation is imposed not by my conscience, but by another's conscience. The other is the "law of expediency;" that is, everything is legal, is lawful, but not everything is helpful."

(4) So, what about eating meat that has been offered to idols? Well, we all know that an idol is not really a god and that there is only one God.

  • Eating meat ... offered to idols:
    • 1 Corinthians 10:14-33: What am I trying to say? Am I saying that food offered to idols has some significance, or that idols are real gods? No, not at all. I am saying that these sacrifices are offered to demons, not to God. And I don’t want you to participate with demons. You cannot drink from the cup of the Lord and from the cup of demons, too. You cannot eat at the Lord’s Table and at the table of demons, too. What? Do we dare to rouse the Lord’s jealousy? Do you think we are stronger than he is? You say, “I am allowed to do anything” - but not everything is good for you. You say, “I am allowed to do anything” - but not everything is beneficial. Don’t be concerned for your own good but for the good of others. So you may eat any meat that is sold in the marketplace without raising questions of conscience. For “the earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.” If someone who isn’t a believer asks you home for dinner, accept the invitation if you want to. Eat whatever is offered to you without raising questions of conscience. (But suppose someone tells you, “This meat was offered to an idol.” Don’t eat it, out of consideration for the conscience of the one who told you. It might not be a matter of conscience for you, but it is for the other person.) For why should my freedom be limited by what someone else thinks? If I can thank God for the food and enjoy it, why should I be condemned for eating it? So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Don’t give offense to Jews or Gentiles or the church of God. I, too, try to please everyone in everything I do. I don’t just do what is best for me; I do what is best for others so that many may be saved.
    • Revelation 2:14: “But I have a few complaints against you. You tolerate some among you whose teaching is like that of Balaam, who showed Balak how to trip up the people of Israel. He taught them to sin by eating food offered to idols and by committing sexual sin.
  • We all know:
    • The expressions “an idol is not really a god” and “there is only one God” are slogans the Corinthians apparently used to justify their behavior. Paul agrees with the slogans in part, but corrects them to show how the Corinthians have misused these ideas.
  • An idol is not really a god:
    • The problem is that some of the Corinthians are shoving this knowledge down the throats of the less knowledgeable or less mature believers. Many of the Corinthians refuse to act in love.

(5-6) There may be so-called gods both in heaven and on earth, and some people actually worship many gods and many lords. BUT for us, There is one God, the Father, by whom all things were created, and for whom we live. And there is one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things were created, and through whom we live.

  • Jesus Christ ... created:
    • John 1:3-4: God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone.
    • Hebrews 1:10: He also says to the Son, “In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundation of the earth and made the heavens with your hands.

(7) HOWEVER, not all believers know this. Some are accustomed to thinking of idols as being real, so when they eat food that has been offered to idols, they think of it as the worship of real gods, and their weak consciences are violated.

  • Not all believers know this:
    • Because of their upbringing, earlier habits, or former lifestyle, the weak still believed that they were participating in idol worship by eating the meat. The Bible suggests that some in Corinth could not shake their past. Also, don't forget that many of the Corinthian believers were Jews.
  • Weak consciences:
    • Since God looks on the heart (1 Samuel 16:7), people’s consciences are more important than their actions. This is why some could be forgiven of terrible acts (such as Paul), because they were done ignorantly in unbelief with clear consciences (1 Timothy 1:13).
    • Having believed the idol to have a real existence before they were saved, they still regard the sacrifice as a sacrifice to a being.

(8-9) It’s true that we can’t win God’s approval by what we eat. We don’t lose anything if we don’t eat it, and we don’t gain anything if we do. BUT you must be careful so that your freedom does not cause others with a weaker conscience to stumble.

  • Your freedom (liberty):
    • Paul acknowledges that we have “freedom” in Christ. Christian freedom or liberty is one of the central truths of the New Testament, but with freedom comes responsibility.
  • Stumble:
    • Paul’s main concern was how eating meat sacrificed to idols could affect others. Paul taught that we have a duty to others (Romans 1:14). In evaluating the propriety of our actions, we have to take into account the effect those actions will have on others. As I've said many times, "Someone is watching us - is Christianity real?"
    • A “stumbling block” is not an act that offends a person; it is an act that leads a fellow believer into what is sin for him or her.
    • More than Meats the Eye by Keith Krell: "Let’s consider another scenario. Do I have the biblical freedom to stock my refrigerator with Bud Light? The answer is “yes.” However, what would happen if a young man in our church was visiting at my home and when I opened the fridge he saw a case of beer? After seeing my stash, he might think to himself, “Well, if Pastor Keith drinks freely, then maybe I can too.” Yet, what if this young man comes from a family of alcoholics and has determined he doesn’t have the freedom to drink? My example could have a disastrous effect on him. In the end, I choose to abstain from this biblical freedom for the sake of others. I am brother’s keeper."
    • The idea of a stumbling block goes back to Jewish law. "Do not insult the deaf or cause the blind to stumble. You must fear your God; I am the Lord." (Leviticus 19:14).

(10) For if others see you - with your “superior knowledge” - eating in the temple of an idol, won’t they be encouraged to violate their conscience by eating food that has been offered to an idol?

  • Superior knowledge:
    • Keith Krell: "Paul’s point is: Those Corinthians that are boasting of their freedom to eat meat sacrificed to idols are acting arrogantly, without demonstrating love and respect for their brothers and sisters. Yet the real aim of Christianity should not be knowledge but love. Knowledge apart from love makes one prideful. Hence, we must always be cautious.”
  • Eating in the temple of an idol:
    • Paul is using the form of "in the temple" very ironically. Evidently, people often received invitations to have dinner in temples. Paul imagines a case in which the person with knowledge purposely eats there to assert his liberty and right. But, when the weak person sees what this strong person is doing, he too goes there to eat but the result is horrible. He's confused and unsure whether he may have sinned.
    • A Cultic Meal at the Temples - the issue is eating in a temple:
      • The Cultic Meal had three parts:
        • Preparation
        • Sacrifice
        • Feast
      • The sacrifices or the meat was divided into three parts:
        • Burned to the god
        • Worshipers' portion to be eaten at the feast
        • The god’s portion which was placed on the table in front of the idol during the feast
      • These meals were both religious activities and social events.

(11) SO because of your superior knowledge, a weak believer for whom Christ died will be destroyed.

  • Destroyed:
    • People differ on their interpretations of what “destroyed” means in this verse. Some think it refers to just physical death, while others interpret it to mean the weak brother becomes confused, feels guilty, feels he may have sinned and his faith is weakened. So, the consequences for this "weak" Christian are very serious.

(12) And when you sin against other believers by encouraging them to do something they believe is wrong, you are sinning against Christ.

  • Sin against other believers
    • We are not free to damage another person's relationship with God.

(13) SO if what I eat causes another believer to sin, I will never eat meat again as long as I live - for I don’t want to cause another believer to stumble.

  • What I eat:
    • Paul concludes this chapter by using himself as an example. His point is that we need to remember that there is something more important than our freedom to do as we please - the spiritual development of others.
  • Stumble:
    • “Fine,” Paul responds, “let’s grant your premise for a few moments.” “Even if you had the right to eat meats offered to idols, that right should not be exercised if doing so would cause a weaker brother (who believes eating these meats is sin) to stumble.” “Even if this practice were lawful (which, in truth, it is not), you should not do it because of others.”
    • What about merely eating meat that was offered to idols, without attending or participating in the heathen worship ritual? Paul tells the Corinthians that they are not to be obsessed with the fear of unwittingly eating such meats, either (1 Corinthians 10:25-30). Eat what is sold in the marketplace, without interrogating the butcher about the origin of the meat. If you go to a neighbor’s house and meat is served, eat it without raising agonizing questions. But if someone troubles himself to tell you that the meat was offered to an idol, then abstain from eating it, more for that person’s sake than for your own.
    • Paul revealed that they were arguing the wrong point. The real issue wasn’t the condition of the food but the conscience of the person who was eating it. Paul went on to stress that not just the conscience of the person eating the food was involved, but the conscience of the weak person who observed this was important too. While this issue is not relevant to most Christians today, the principle discussed here has many modern-day applications. Christians should judge the correctness of their actions not only on the basis of what is right and wrong but also on the basis of how their actions impact others. Our witness is more important than our personal liberties.
    • The Greek word translated "cause to stumble [or fall]" is skandalon, the noun form of the word, described the trigger on a trap. Paul viewed eating in an idol temple as a kind of trigger that might set off a trap that could ensnare a fellow believer. It could retard his progress and cause him pain. Paul was willing to forgo all such eating if, by doing so, he could avoid creating problems for other Christians in their relationships with God.
    • Causing someone to stumble in his or her journey to come to faith in Christ, or to grow in Christ, is not necessarily the same as doing something that others do not like. Someone may not like your choice of clothing, for example - assuming it is not immodest or sexually provocative. But Paul did not mean that you should always try to please everyone by what you do. He meant that we should be careful, that what we are doing does not hinder someone else from coming to know Christ, or keep him from growing in Christ. Inviting an observant Jew or Muslim to dinner, and then feeding him pork, would be a modern example of what Paul warned against.
    • Paul Nyquist: The Post-Church Christian: "I read an interesting story after the Texas Rangers won the American League championship title in 2010. Their all-star outfielder, Josh Hamilton has a history of drug and alcohol abuse. Now a Christian, he knows he cannot even sniff the stuff or he will be pulled again into its clutches. As you may know, it's traditional for a baseball team to celebrate after clinching the pennant by drinking champagne in the clubhouse. Hamilton's teammates knew this would be disastrous for him. So, in an intentional break from tradition, and perhaps contrary to most of their deep desires, they celebrated in the clubhouse with ginger ale."

CONCLUSION:

Coffman's Commentary: "It might be inquired, what relevance is the apostolic teaching, with regard to Christians partaking of such meats, to the peoples of this present age; to which it must be replied that they are of the most commanding relevance and importance. This is true because the apostle Paul established four timeless principles of Christian behavior in the course of his writing on this subject, these being:
(1) that what is permissible behavior for one man may, in certain circumstances, be dangerous and sinful in another;
(2) that no Christian conduct should be evaluated solely from the standpoint of knowledge, but in the light of the love of brethren, with regard to its possible influence upon others, and in the light of what others may think of it;
(3) that no Christian has a right to practice anything, however innocent it may be to him, if in so doing he shall damage the faith of another; and
(4) that whatever is done, even to the weakest member of the body of Christ, is also done to Christ himself, and that weakening or destroying the faith of even the least and weakest of Christ's members is a sin of the greatest magnitude against Christ himself. A pleasure or an indulgence which may be the ruin of someone else is not a pleasure but a sin."

Richard Niell Donovan (lectionary.org): "While the issue of eating meat sacrificed to idols might seem irrelevant today, what Paul has to say about sensitivity to the feelings of Christian brothers and sisters is highly relevant. He calls those who are strong (in the case of the Corinthian Christians, those who understood that idols did not represent real gods, so meat that has been sacrificed to idols had no religious significance) to defer to those who are weak (in the case of the Corinthian Christians, those whose faith might be weakened by seeing Christians eating meat sacrificed to idols).What are some real-life situations in which this principle might apply today? The one that seems most obvious to me has to do with alcohol and alcoholics. A person who is strong (isn't likely to get drunk) could say, "I am free to drink whenever and wherever I choose, because I can handle it. I won't get drunk. I won't lose control. I won't drive while impaired." While that might be true, in the presence of one who is weak (an alcoholic or someone who might be disposed to be an alcoholic), the stronger person needs to consider the potential consequences of his/her behavior on the weaker person. If he/she insists on drinking alcohol in the presence of an alcoholic, his/her behavior might tempt the alcoholic to "fall off the wagon"– - to take one drink, which would lead to many drinks. In such a case, Paul would call the stronger person to consider the vulnerability of the weaker person and to defer to the weaker person's sensibilities. The principle of love for the other person trumps the principle of the personal freedom that comes with faith in Christ. Also, there are Christians who feel strongly that the consumption of any alcoholic beverages is inconsistent with Christian discipleship. If they were to see a Christian drinking alcohol, they would be likely to conclude either that the person drinking alcohol (1) is not a Christian or (2) is a Christian engaging in behavior forbidden to Christians -- sinful behavior. That would likely nullify the witness of the person drinking alcohol to the abstinent Christian -- and could have other harmful effects."

Doug Goins (pbc.org): "I remember reading a story from the life of Dr. Harry Ironsides. He went on a picnic with a number of Christians, and there was a Muslim convert to Christ among them. The only sandwiches they had at the picnic were ham sandwiches. This young man graciously refused the ham sandwich. Dr. Ironsides said to him, "Well, you're a follower of Christ; don't you realize that the food restrictions have been taken away? You really are free to eat a ham sandwich."The young man said, "Yes, I know that. I know I'm free to eat ham, but I'm also free not to eat ham." Then he said, "I am the only Christian in my family, and so far I've had the freedom to go home and share my new life in Christ with my mom and dad. Every time I go to the front door, my dad says, 'Have those infidels taught you to eat that filthy pig meat yet?' I'm able to look my dad in the eye and say, 'No dad, I don't eat pork,' which gives me an entrée." He was able to forgo his freedom for the sake of the eternal destiny of his family."

NOTES:

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