We continue our study of First and Second Corinthians. Worldliness (carnality), which was a very serious problem in Corinth, caused many of the believers there to walk just as the world. They even went so far as to go to court with lawsuits against their brethren in the Lord. Their worldly ways also caused them to have many questions about marriage relationships and the conduct which was proper for Christians who were already in a marriage relationship.
Paul further (chapter 8) has to explain how believers were to act regarding the various meats which were offered to the heathen idols at Corinth. Some believers, weak in faith, would be offended or stumbled if they were to knowingly eat such meat. Though it was not wrong for a believer to eat thus, seeing that the idol was nothing at all, he warns the Corinthians that they should not use this liberty if they knew it would offend or stumble other believers.
Paul ends chapter 8 with a wonderful statement, one which all believers today would do well to heed: “Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.”
1. The Corinthian believers had so taken up with the character of the world that they were suing each other - bringing dishonor to the name of Christ by dragging one another into the courts of the world to find justice. What is the “Christian” reaction towards one who would take away our possessions through lawsuits? Matthew 5:___
2. Paul taught the Corinthians that their bodies belonged to the Lord who had purchased them and now were the temple where the Holy Spirit dwelt. What was the price paid for their purchase? 1 Peter 1:___
3. Because of the immorality rampant in the idolatrous city of Corinth, the believers had many questions concerning God’s thoughts about the marriage relationship. Paul stresses that even in homes where one of the marriage partners was not saved, the believer should seek to remain. If the unbeliever separated from the believing partner, the believer, though not under bondage, was instructed to seek reconciliation. What warning did the Lord Jesus give concerning marriage? Matthew 19:___
4. Though the believer might, with a clear conscience, eat meat that had been offered to an idol, this liberty was not to be used to stumble a weak believer. How do the prophets characterize the action of the Lord Jesus towards a believer whose testimony was so faint that its light was about to go out?
Matthew 12:___
5. Paul warned the Corinthian believers not to live in such a way that would cause a weak sheep of Christ to perish (lose his Christian testimony). What did the Lord desire that Peter should do for His lambs? John 21:___