The very indifference of meats, which I concede, is the reason why ye should "take heed" not to tempt weak brethren to act against their conscience (which constitutes sin, Romans 14:22 Romans 14:23 ). ii. i. a. Beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block: A Corinthian Christian with “superior knowledge” might feel the personal liberty to eat meat sacrificed to idols, but is he exercising this liberty in a way that becomes a stumbling block? Things offered to idols: The meat offered on pagan altars was usually divided into three portions. perish--The oldest manuscripts read "perisheth." One portion was burnt in honor of the god, one portion was given to the worshipper to take home and eat, and the third portion was given to the priest. What if we are served meat purchased at the temple meat market when we are guests in someone’s home? You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. It shall be the most awful ingredient in their cup that they might have been saved but would not: Christ died to redeem even them. Indeed, in the ancient world, there were many, many different gods – and even gods known as the unknown god to cover any gods one might have missed (Acts 17:23). i. . c. The Corinthian Christians may have reasoned like this: if idols are really nothing, it must mean nothing to eat meat sacrificed to nothing idols, and it must mean nothing to eat in the buildings used to worship these nothing idols. a. Food does not commend us to God: On the other hand, nor if we do not eat are we the worse. Many Christians would consider that one to be the “stronger” Christian. If the priest didn’t want to eat his portion, he sold it at the temple restaurant or meat market. But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak. This does not contradict 1 Corinthians 10:20 , which states that they who worship idols, worship devils; for here it is the GODS believed by the worshippers to be represented by the idols which are denied to have any existence, not the devils which really under the idols delude the worshippers. have an effect on our lives in that each of them make something, is striking; it is the difference between a, : If we think we know it all, we really don’t know anything –, . 2. b. Your email address will not be published. Because of your knowledge, shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? But this will always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site. One Way to Heaven. Howbeit--Though to us who "have knowledge" ( 1 Corinthians 8:1 1 Corinthians 8:4-6 ) all meats are indifferent, yet "this knowledge is not in all" in the same degree as we have it. We'll send you an email with steps on how to reset your password. Not because their conscience doesn’t work. Their. We know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God but one: Because there is only One True God, idols are not competing gods. These destroy more souls by tithing mint and cummin, than others do by neglecting the weightier matters of the law. . If they ate it unconscious at the time that it had been offered to idols, there would be no defilement of conscience. 1 Corinthians 16:14 – Do everything in love. When Paul calls Jesus Lord, he uses the Greek word kurios, and this word would have meant something to Bible reading people in Paul’s day. So the mercies of God's providence are not in vain, though many abuse them. The question of the Corinthians concerning meats offered to idols, and the apostle's preface to his instructions on that head, 1 Corinthians 8:1-3.The nature of idolatry, 1 Corinthians 8:4, 1 Corinthians 8:5.Of genuine worship, 1 Corinthians 8:6.Some ate of the animals that had been offered to idols knowingly, and so defiled their conscience, 1 Corinthians 8:7. i. Paul would never allow this principle to be a way for a legalist to make demands and bind a Christian walking in liberty. conscience of him which is weak--rather, "His conscience, seeing he is weak" [ALFORD and others]. 2. Can a Christian eat at the restaurant at the pagan temple? The Apostle Paul wrote it about 56 A.D. “He” is only one of the so-called gods. Changes will take effect once you reload the page. However Paul is not speaking about being weak or strong in regard to self-control, but in regard to knowledge. i. Leon Morris on Lord: “This term could be no more than a polite form of address like our ‘Sir.’ But it could also be used of the deity one worships. As well, 2 Corinthians 4:4, Paul calls Satan, . Idols are therefore nothing in the world, and are only so-called gods. And if someone believes there is something to an idol, and they eat meat that has been sacrificed to an idol, ? ii. The weak brother loses his faith, and if he do not recover it, his salvation [BENGEL] ( Romans 14:23 ). Introduction. Can a Christian eat at the restaurant at the pagan temple? But the judges of Psalm 82 were called “gods” because in their office they determined the fate of other men. b. ON PARTAKING OF MEATS OFFERED TO IDOLS. In Acts 15:29, the Jerusalem Council sent a letter commanding some churches to (among other things). i. Therefore concerning the eating of things offered to idols, we know that an idol, We know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God but one, : Because there is only One True God, idols are not competing gods. I. Now concerning things offered to idols: Having dealt with their questions about marriage and singleness, Paul now addresses (in 1 Corinthians chapters 8-10) the next of their questions regarding eating meat that had been sacrificed to idols. You can also change some of your preferences. These cookies are strictly necessary to provide you with services available through our website and to use some of its features. i. The really significant background, though, is its use in the Greek translation of the Old Testament to render the divine name, Yahweh… Christians who used this as their Bible would be familiar with the term as equivalent to deity.”, through whom are all things, and through whom we live, : The Corinthian Christians who felt free to eat at the pagan temple may have based their freedom on correct knowledge (knowing that idols are nothing).