1 Corinthians Chapter Eight

In our study of 1 Corinthians chapter eight, we will look at the reason why we, as Christians, do not participate in many of the things that others do.

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1 Corinthians 8:1-3

Now about food sacrificed to idols: we know that, as you say, "We all have knowledge." Yes, that is so, but "knowledge" puffs a person up with pride; whereas love builds up. The person who thinks he "knows" something doesn't yet know in the way he ought to know. However, if someone loves God, God knows him.

The believers in Corinth had written Paul asking him about eating meat that had been offered to idols. In this city there were pagan temples and the people brought their choice animals to the temple as sacrifices. After they were presented to these false gods, the meat would be sold in the shops for food. If you wanted the finest of meats, then, you would go to these shops and buy the meat that had been offered. The people had asked Paul whether this was allowed or not. He begins his answer by reminding us that love is superior to knowledge and, as Christians, we should be governed by love and not by knowledge.

1 Corinthians 8:4-6

So, as for eating food sacrificed to idols, we "know" that, as you say, "An idol has no real existence in the world, and there is only one God." For even if there are so-called "gods," either in heaven or on earth - as in fact there are "gods" and "lords" galore - yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom all things come and for whom we exist; and one Lord, Yeshua the Messiah, through whom were created all things and through whom we have our being.

Paul explains that we, as mature Christians, understand that idols and these false gods are nothing at all. We know that there is one God who created all things and one Lord which is His Son Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 8:7

But not everyone has this knowledge. Moreover, some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat food which has been sacrificed to them, they think of it as really affected by the idol; and their consciences, being weak, are thus defiled.

Even though we may understand that idols are really nothing, there are those who do not have that knowledge. In their mind, the idols are something and so food that is given to them should not be touched.

1 Corinthians 8:8

Now food will not improve our relationship with God - we will be neither poorer if we abstain nor richer if we eat.

We see that the greater knowledge is the fact that our actions do not bring holiness. It is Jesus' action on our behalf that brings holiness to our lives. This same principle applies to many "grey areas" in our lives. There are many who feel superior because of the fact that they do not take part in many of the things around them. These "holier than thou" people do not understand the principle that our holiness is in Christ and not in our own actions.

1 Corinthians 8:9-11

However watch out that your mastery of the situation does not become a stumbling block to the weak. You have this "knowledge"; but suppose someone with a weak conscience sees you sitting, eating a meal in the temple of an idol. Won't he be built up wrongly to eat this food which has been sacrificed to idols? Thus by your "knowledge" this weak person is destroyed, this brother for whom the Messiah died;

This liberty that we have in Christ should be limited by our love for our fellow brothers in Christ. We are free to do anything but willingly don't in order to avoid leading these brothers to do something that they feel is wrong. A more modern example is the drinking of alcohol. In Christ, I am free to enjoy a cold beer on a hot day but, because I am in Christ and know what alcohol can do to a life, I do not drink. My drinking could lead less mature Christians who struggle with a drinking problem to get drunk and to draw away from Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 8:12 & 13

and so, when you sin against the brothers by wounding their conscience when it is weak, you are sinning against the Messiah! To sum up, if food will be a snare for my brother, I will never eat meat again, lest I cause my brother to sin.

We willingly limit our freedom in Christ for the benefit of our weaker brothers in the faith. That is the definition of love as we see in 1 John 3:16. We could also go a step further and educate the weaker brother by explaining grace and the freedom that we have because of our relationship with Jesus Christ. In doing so, we can remove some of the chains of religion that have our brothers bound and keep them from enjoying their freedom in Christ.