I Corinthians 8

In the 7^th chapter Paul often stated his judgment.

So I’m not saying what Paul is saying is not true, it’s just that it is his judgment, not the law of the Lord.

(1 Cor 7:35) And this I say for your own profit, not that I may put a leash on you, but for what is proper, and that you may serve the Lord without distraction.

“For your own profit” – For your benefit.

“not that I may put a leash on you” – Not meaning to restrict beyond God’s requirements.

“that you may serve the Lord without distraction.”

(1 Cor 7:39) A wife is bound by law as long as her husband lives; but if her husband dies, she is at liberty to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord.

“A wife is bound by law as long as her husband lives;”  Paul is not stating any exceptions such as fornication, or the departing husband.

“but if her husband dies, she is at liberty to be married to whom she wishes,” – This is nothing new.

“Only in the Lord.” The same thought is expressed again in 2 Corinthians:

(2 Cor 6:14 NKJV)  Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?

(1 Cor 7:40) But she is happier if she remains as she is, according to my judgment; and I think I also have the Spirit of God.

Much of this part of the chapter has been Paul’s judgment:

Because of the present and impending problems in the world, it’s better to be single.

(1 Cor 8:1 NKJV)  Now concerning things offered to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies.

We know that we all have knowledge.  But knowledge by itself is not enough!

Knowledge puffs up:  Paul has used this word before, and it always presents a problem:

“And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned,” that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you.  (1 Cor 5:2) 

Being puffed up keeps us from thinking straight.

but love edifies.

ïkêïäïìÝù  oikodomeoô  Thayer Definition:

1) to build a house, erect a building

1a) to build (up from the foundation)

1b) to restore by building, to rebuild, repair

2) metaphorically

2a) to found, establish

2b) to promote growth in Christian wisdom, affection, grace, virtue, holiness, blessedness

2c) to grow in wisdom and piety

That’s what we are to be doing:  to restore by building, to rebuild, repair; to promote growth in Christian wisdom,

(I Cor 8:2) And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know.

What is the problem that Paul is addressing?  Why is he so adamant about this? 

I believe that this knowledge alone leads to a judgmental attitude which does not build up, but is only good at condemning.

(I Cor 8:3) But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him.

(1 John 4:6-7 NKJV)  We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. {7} Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.

So it is love that is the key!

(1 Pet 2:17 NKJV)  Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.

(1 Cor 8:4) Therefore concerning the eating of things offered to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God but one.

Point #1:  “We know that an idol is nothing in the world.”

The Reason that is true:  “and that there is no other God but one.”

To Clarify:  “an idol is nothing”  because “there is no other God but one.”

Now a question:  Do we all believe that?  Are you sure?  Paul continues:

(I Cor 8:5) For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords), {6} yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live.

So how can we summarize this?

for us there is one God, the Father,

and one Lord Jesus Christ,

And again: Do we all believe that?  Are you sure?

Why do I keep asking that?  Haven’t you heard these expressions:

God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit?  Or put another way:  God in three Persons, blessed Trinity?

Can you have it both ways?

What we just stated, and what Paul stated?

To have it both ways, don’t we have to re-write what Paul said?

for us there is one God, the Father,

and one Lord Jesus Christ,  God the Son.

If we say it this way, what happened to One God?

If we re-write the Bible that way, haven’t we just destroyed Paul’s entire argument?

Lord does not mean God!

Sarah called Abraham “lord,” but obviously she wasn’t calling him God.

(1 Pet 3:6 NKJV) “as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, . . . .”

Jesus Himself agreed with Paul’s statement:

(John 17:3 NKJV)  "And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

The idea of One God is also in Ephesians 4

(Eph 4:4-6 NKJV)  There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; {5} one Lord, one faith, one baptism; {6} one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

(1 Cor 8:7) However, there is not in everyone that knowledge; for some, with consciousness of the idol, until now eat it as a thing offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled.

(1 Cor 8:7) However, there is not in everyone that knowledge; [The understanding that there is only one God]

 for some, with consciousness of the idol, until now eat it as a thing offered to an idol;  [That is, the idol is still something to them.]

“and their conscience, being weak, is defiled.” – This gets back to the same point that Paul made in Romans: 

(Rom 14:21-23 NKJV)  It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak. {22} Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. {23} But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.

(I Cor 8:8) But food does not commend us to God; for neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we do not eat are we the worse.  [That is, if we eat with the understanding that an idol is nothing.]

(I Cor 8:9) But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak.

We have to live in such a way as to not cause someone to stumble who does not have our knowledge.  Yes, you can call it a limitation of your freedom if you like, but we must live accordingly.

(I Cor 8:10) For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol's temple, will not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things offered to idols?

But there are two different perspectives:

To you, the idol is nothing.

He doesn’t know that.

He thinks the idol is important or you wouldn’t be eating the meat.

You have taught him a serious mistake!

(I Cor 8:11) And because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?

(I Cor 8:12) But when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.

(I Cor 8:13) Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.

We cannot begin to list them all:

In general:  Just think.  How could someone else take this?

Perhaps there is nothing wrong with cashing your check in a liquor store, but what is the appearance?

My dad took things farther than that:  He never allowed us to own a deck of playing cards because of his associating them with gambling.

In general:  Do not do anything that would needless offend someone.

Lessons by Date Order  Welcome to my Web site