A correspondent in Edinburgh desires to know the meaning of 1 Corinthians 8:11. “Through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish for whom Christ died.” The difficulty felt in reference to this and kindred passages arises, in a great degree, from a want of proper attention to the context and also from a desire to introduce some idea quite foreign to the object of the Spirit in the passage. If I read such passages as John 15:6, Romans 14:15 and 1 Corinthians 8:11, with a certain question in my mind as to the eternal security of all God’s redeemed, I shall assuredly be stumbled and confounded, because no such question is raised. We should always seek to ascertain the real scope and design of the inspired writer, in any passage which may present a difficulty to our minds. Thus much as to the general rule of Scripture interpretation. Let us now apply it to the passage which seems to perplex our correspondent.
The grand object of the Apostle in 1 Corinthians 8 and Romans 14 is to maintain the integrity of personal faith, and the sacred right of individual conscience. Each one is directly responsible to Christ, as his Lord and master. No one has any right to intrude upon that hallowed domain, where conscience acts in immediate reference to the claims of God. The conscience may be weak; but, weak or strong, enlightened or unenlightened, its reference must be to God, and not to man. If I “embolden” a man to do what his conscience condemns, though I may be perfectly free to do it myself, I, so far as in me lies, destroy him. His eternal salvation is not in question, for that can never be destroyed by anyone. The words “destroy” and “perish” are both from the same root, and can only be interpreted in the light of the context. I cannot destroy eternal life. Such a thing is not thought of, either in 1 Corinthians 8 or Romans 14. But I can destroy him as to the principle of his walk, by leading him to act beyond his light. If I lead a man to eat meat, when he thinks it a sin to eat anything but herbs, I destroy him in a most important matter; namely, his conscientious walk before the Lord, according to his measure of light. This is very solemn. Conscience is a very tender and very sacred thing; and we commit a grievous sin against Christ when we trifle with its rights. There is a vast difference between tenderly instructing an ignorant conscience, and thoughtlessly emboldening a sensitive one.