Scripture Study: 1 Corinthians 8

Narrator: Chris Genthree
Duration: 4min
1 Corinthians 8  •  3 min. read  •  grade level: 7
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In this chapter there are instructions concerning eating things offered to idols. One might have knowledge that an idol is nothing. Knowledge of this kind tends to make a man proud, but divine love in his heart would make him careful not to hurt the conscience of another who has not that knowledge. And if any man think that he knoweth anything, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know. We ought all to be humble and ready to learn, for if we truly loved God, we know He knows us through and through.
So that in the eating anything offered to idols, care had to be taken that no one’s conscience was defiled. We know there is only one true God, though Pagans have their gods and lords many. To Christians, there is but one God the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by Him.
The apostle does not unfold the Lord’s divinity here, but the place that we as Christians know of God the Father, and, of Jesus Christ our Lord. It is contrasting that with idolatry, which had gods many, and lords many. We who are Christians, think of God as our Father, and of Christ who became man and did not cease to be God, but we address Him as Lord. It is the position (Acts 2:3636Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. (Acts 2:36)) they hold toward. us that is considered here, not the divine nature. Both we know are equally divine. The Lord is here, as elsewhere, the active Agent, all things are of the Father, and by the Lord.
Verse 7. Some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol: and their conscience being weak, is defiled. Even if our knowledge was faulty, we must keep a good conscience, or our communion is broken—we must not do things we believe are wrong. We should be ready to learn from the Word at all times, but doing that which we know or think is wrong may lead to shipwreck. (1 Tim. 1:1919Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck: (1 Timothy 1:19). See further on eating 1 Cor. 10:27-2927If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake. 28But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that showed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof: 29Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience? (1 Corinthians 10:27‑29)).
What we eat commends us not to God, but we must acknowledge God in thanksgiving, and eat according to His instructions, taking heed lest our liberty become a stumbling block to them that are weak. “For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in an idol’s temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things, which are offered to idols?” Not every converted idolater was delivered from the influence of false gods on his imagination. Thoughts of a real being in the idol still had a hold on him, and knowing it as a false God, when he saw another brother eating in the idol’s temple, it was fellowship with the idol. He loses his happiness, and starts on a wrong path.
Verse 11. “Through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died.” He was estranged from God by the act. We know from such passages as John 5:24; 10:28, 2924Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24)
28And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. (John 10:28‑29), that a true believer could not be eternally lost. The Lord would not let him go on to a lost eternity, but as far as the stronger brother’s action went, he was leading him on the downward road. It was against the brethren—it was sin—and wounded their weak conscience, and it was sin against Christ. It does not excuse one who leads another on the down track, because I know that he will not be finally lost. “Wherefore,” says the apostle, “if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I become a stumbling block to my brother.” Thus we get an example in the apostle to take care that our liberty, which we think we have, may not be used of Satan to turn aside some dear child of God. This principle applies to more things than fellowship with idolatry.