FOOD OFFERED TO IDOLS. The temple of an idol (1 Corinthians 8:10) was a meeting-place for feasting. Constant sacrifices on the idol's altars provided a source of meat. Much of the meat sold in markets and found on the dinner-tables of ordinary citizens, came from the idol's temple. And unless you we... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO THINKS HE KNOWS. Loveless knowledge is destructive. See notes on Revelation 2:4-5. True knowledge always makes you humble and loving.... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THE MAN WHO LOVES GOD. _Love_ means to act toward God as he has already acted toward you. IS KNOWN. Paul substitutes this for the "has come to know" which we might expect. Compare 2 Timothy 2:19.... [ Continue Reading ]
WE KNOW THAT AN IDOL. "Most of we Christians know that an idol has no reality or power. There is only one God. There can be no other. (See note on Romans 16:27_.)"_... [ Continue Reading ]
EVEN IF THERE ARE. The pagan world worshiped many false gods and goddesses.... [ Continue Reading ]
YET THERE IS FOR US. This affirms what 1 Corinthians 8:4 said negatively. "We Christians acknowledge only one God the Father and only one Lord, Jesus Christ. This contrasts with the many gods and lords of paganism." Compare 1 Timothy 2:5; Colossians 1:15-17.... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT NOT EVERYONE KNOWS THIS TRUTH. The weak brother believed the idol was just as real as God Himself! For this man to eat the meat which had been sacrificed to an idol, he would feel he was participating in the idol's sacrifice and feel defiled.... [ Continue Reading ]
FOOD, HOWEVER. The false teacher must have said: "Since the gospel allows us to eat this meat which has been sacrificed to idols, and since eating it does not make us either better or worse, it is part of our Christian liberty to eat it if we please.... [ Continue Reading ]
BE CAREFUL, HOWEVER. The false teacher might have said: "You have taught us that God will not judge us by these trivial things that have no reality, such as idols. Eating or not eating, then does not change our relationship to God." Paul says: "Yes, this is true, but be careful of the results of you... [ Continue Reading ]
SUPPOSE A MAN. "Your example may have great influence over a weak brother, and encourage him to do something which he believes to be wrong.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SO THIS WEAK MAN. Because he sins in eating (Romans 14:23), he may perish; or he might be led back into idolatry.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IN THIS WAY. Each Christian is a _proxy_ of Christ. See note on Acts 9:4. If you sin against your brother, you sin against Christ!... [ Continue Reading ]
SO THEN. The rule of love prevents creating a fuss over things which are not important and only matters of opinion. If food is the problem, Paul will give up meat altogether, rather than be the cause of his brother sinning! See what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 9:19-22.... [ Continue Reading ]