Epistles of Paul 37

Well, good evening, brethren. Welcome to our Bible study on 1 Corinthians chapter 8. Paul in his first epistle to the Corinthians, he emphasized the need for unity and sexual purity in the first few chapters. In chapter 5 and 6, he gave his judgment on a specific situation of sexual immorality, and he encouraged the brethren to make godly judgments within the church, because we are God's temple. We are the temple of God. In chapter 7, he addressed questions from the Corinthians brethren related to godly relationships between a man and a woman, and he covered a number of very specific situations, and that we covered in the last study. Now, today we're going to continue with chapter 8, and in verse 1 he says, Paul now is addressing questions that they had regarding things related to eating meat offered to idols, as we see in verse 4. He's specifically talking about eating things offered to idols. So he addresses the subject, and then he says, we know we all have knowledge.

It is possible that he may have been quoting the Corinthians, because they maybe were coming across like saying, well, we have great knowledge. So could he be quoting them? Maybe he was. And then he says, well, we know we all have knowledge. And then he says, but knowledge puffs up. Knowledge makes one feel important, more knowledgeable, better than others. In a sense, in some circles, they used to say knowledge is power. So people with knowledge and information, they in those circles, people say they've got power. But yeah, Paul is saying, knowledge puffs up. Knowledge makes one vain and arrogant, and particularly if it's false knowledge. So because that false knowledge actually is actually ignorance and blinds one to their own spiritual reality, that really they need to learn true knowledge. And we know we are dealing here in 1 Corinthians with a very immature church. This is speaking spiritually. We read earlier on in previous chapters, they were drunk. They were drunk at the Passover service.

We also read that there was sexual sin in this congregation. So in a sense, yes, they had a lot of knowledge, but worldly knowledge. And to the true knowledge, they were blind and immature. And that's why it says, but love puffs up. You see, puffed up, arrogance has been important. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. What did I say? Sorry, I apologize.

Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. You see, they were puffed up. They had blindness. They had deception. And there's a difference between being puffed up, because it is like being raised versus edified, which is also being raised, but it's built. It's made stronger. And so being puffed up is raised in a sense of being blind and being deceived, whilst edified is being raised in a sense of building and making stronger. And so it continues in verse 2, and if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing, yet as he ought to know. If we think we know it all, Paul is basically saying, I want to show you, you don't have as much knowledge as you think you have, or as you think that you are full of knowledge. And so he goes on now, in verse 3, he says, but if anyone loves God, this one is known by him. This is that love edifies, it builds, and God knows that person that has genuine love. Verse 4 and 5, therefore concerning the eating of things offered to idols. So the subject here in this chapter is about things offered to idols. We know that an idol is nothing in the world, and there is no other God but one. And so Paul is addressing the situation here of people taking meat and killing that, for instance, that cow, and then selling that meat, that beef. But that cow had maybe been killed in the presence of a statue to some pagan god, and the question is, does that defile the meat? In other words, does that make the meat unclean?

No, because the idol is nothing. The idol is nothing. That's what Paul is saying in verse 4. We know that an idol is nothing in the world. Despite maybe what the pagan priest may say, that offering of that animal to a pagan god, to an idol, neither defiles it nor sanctifies it.

So it's God that sanctifies, that sets apart certain animals to eat or not to eat. It's God that makes animals clean and decides which animals are clean and which animals are unclean. And so it's not by offering it to an idol that makes it unsuitable to eat. No, that's not the case. And so regardless of how many concepts this world may have of different gods and multiple gods, there aren't multiple gods.

They are in fact, those that they call gods, are nothing else than demons. Yes, there are previous demons, but there's only one god. You see, that's why it says, for even if they are so called gods, whether they never are on earth, as there are many gods and many lords, yet for us there is one god, the father, of whom are all things, and for him, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live.

So in verse 5, yeah, it's saying, they are so-called gods, and then it says yes, because there are many gods and many lords. Those so-called gods could be gods or lords in that, but for us there is one god, supreme 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 for us, the true god, which is one, is god, the father, and in that god family, Christ is the Lord. Now, in John 10, I'm going to talk a little bit about this, because there have been, sometimes, by some people, they've had a little bit of misunderstanding about who god is, and specifically the father and the son. So I'm going to talk a little bit about this in this context.

So in John 10, verse 30, in John 10, verse 30, John 10, verse 30, it says, I and my father are one. Now, understand that just because Christ and the father are one does not mean that they are one person. They are one, but they are two different beings. I use the word person to make it easier for us to understand, but maybe a better word that I should have used is two different beings. But for us, as human beings, to understand a little bit better, let me just use the word person, although they are spirit beings, not physical persons. We understand that, but it's just for us to understand better.

They are two different personalities, two different persons, but they are one. You remember in John 17, which is Christ's lost prayer in front of the disciples, which is recorded. And then at the end of that prayer, he is praying, and he says in John 17, verse 20, he says, I do not pray for these alone. In other words, the disciples alone, but also for those who believe in me through their word, that they may be one, as you, father, are in me and I in you, that they may be one in us. So Christ is praying to the Father that we may be one, just like the Father and Christ are one.

And so then he says, verse 22, and the glory which you gave me, I've given them, that they may be one, just as we are one. I in them, you in me, that they may be perfect in one. In other words, may be perfect in unity.

And so when he says Jesus Christ and the Father, in John 10, verse 30, Christ and the Father are one in unity, in sense of purpose. So the ultimate goal of working for salvation of mankind and the plan that they have of bringing many sons to glory, Hebrews chapter 2 verse 10, if I remember correctly, they are one in that purpose.

We also see that when Christ came, he was sent by the Father. So it's two different persons. Look at John 17 verse 3. He says, and this is the eternal life, that they may know this, that you are the one true God and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. So the true God, the highest, if Christ's God, is the Father. But they both are God beings of the God family.

And so when we read in 1 Corinthians chapter 8 verse 6, there is one God, the Father, is the the high, the highest, the supreme, the Father. And therefore, in the New Testament, quite often he uses it, differentiates it, God, the Father as God, and the Lord Jesus Christ as Lord. But there are instances that it clearly identifies Christ as a God being. And it is the Father and the Son, which form one God family, that sanctify, that can make anything holy or not, or can make, or when they created, they decided to make some meats clean and some meats unclean.

So a demon, an idol, a statue, does not do anything to the meat itself. It doesn't make it clean or unclean.

And so when we read in 1 Corinthians chapter 8 verse 6, it says, there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for him, and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom? In other words, Jesus Christ is through whom all things, through whom are all things. It's through Jesus Christ that all things exist. It's through Jesus Christ. So what do we have is the Father, is the supreme authority, and the Father worked out this plan in conjunction with the Lord, which is now the Son, and they decided that the power of God, God's only Spirit that proceeds from the Father, is what the Son would use. So it was God gave destruction and everything was created through Christ, through him. That's why it says through whom are all things, and through whom we live. You and I live because Christ, under the authority of the Father, using the power of the Father, which is God's only Spirit, he created us and he made us, and that's through him that we live.

In John 1 verse 3, in John 1 verse 3, let's look at that. In John 1 verse 3, John chapter 1 verse 3 says, all things were made through him. That's through Christ, and without him, Christ, nothing was made that was made. So the understanding is very clear, and I'm going to summarize it very simply by paraphrasing this section here in John 1 verse 1. In the beginning, existed was the word. So it's talking about existence. In the beginning, when it was time of the beginning, the word was already there. In other words, the word is eternal. Christ is eternal. And the word was with God. The Greek has the article, the God, so with the Father. So the word was with the highest, the greatest, which is the Father. So the word, which became Christ, was with the God, which became the Father. Right? So the two had a relationship. They were together. They were united. And the word, which became Christ, was God. So the word was a God-being of the God-family. So he, Christ, was in the beginning with the Father. And all things were made through Christ. And nothing that was made, and without him nothing was made that was made. So everything was made through him.

In Ephesians chapter 3 verse 9 says the same thing. In Ephesians chapter 3 verse 9, we read there at the end of verse 9, it says that this mystery was even in God, who created all things through Jesus Christ. So God the Father created all things through Jesus Christ, who we in the New Testament is normally referred to as the Lord. So God the Father created everything through Christ. In Colossians chapter 1 verse 15 and 16, in Colossians chapter 1 verse 15 and 16, it says, He is the image of the invisible God. In other words, Christ is the express image in character, is of the same mind, is of the same desire and intent and purpose as the invisible God, you know, as the Father.

That we also see in Hebrews chapter 1 verse 3, and it says He is the firstborn over all creation.

Some people sometimes ask, what do you mean He is the firstborn? Wasn't Adam the firstborn?

Physically speaking, yes, but Christ was the first born which came from human life to a spirit being. So was the first, let's say it, was the first resurrected to a spirit being. Was the first, as some people call it, born again. He was the first born, the first born amongst many brethren, as we read in Romans 8 verse 29, or as we read in Revelation 1 verse 5, it says the firstborn from the dead. So Christ was the firstborn of all the creation. In other words, He was the first of all human beings that came from man and became a spirit being. So He was the first one to be, is the first born, right, to be a spirit being from man. And then it goes on in verse 16, for by Him, by Christ, all things were created. All things were created, as we saw early on in 1 Corinthians, He said was through Him. All things were created through Him. So we can see Christ is the Creator. But the Father is the Creator as well, because the Father gave the instruction to Christ, and Christ did the creating. And then we continue. All things were created that are in heaven and are on earth, visible and invisible, where the thrones or dominions or presentities or powers. All things were created through Him. In other words, Christ created everything, physical and spiritual, everything that was created was created by Him or through Him.

And then in verse 17, I'll make a part of it, still reading in verse 16, and for Him. So everything was created for Him. In other words, He is the sole end of His own work. It's for Him, and obviously then He gives the Father, but it is all part of their plan. And then we read in verse 17, and He is before all things. In other words, Christ existed before all things. He existed before all creation was created. In other words, He's eternal. He's not created. And then He says, and in Him all things consist. So in Him all things are preserved or set together. So He's a preserver and the governor of all things. He's the King of kings. So yeah, we see four important points. So let's continue now in 1 Corinthians chapter 8 verse 6. See, for yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom all things and we for Him, and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we live. So for us, it's God. Everything was created by God, and there is one God and one Lord through whom everything was created. Right, so only God can sanctify, and in fact He sanctifies through Christ as we saw everything was created through Christ. So He, through Christ the Lord, God sanctified everything. Only God, therefore, through Christ, can or makes, meets clean or unclean, not an idol.

Now it is important to also understand that when they offered, they made sacrifices in these pagan temples, they offered clean animals. It's important to understand that. If you look at Acts 14 verse 13, Acts 14 verse 13 talks about, then the priest of Zios, whose temple was in front of their city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, intending to sacrifice with the multitudes. So we see that they were offering clean animals. So these clean animals, therefore, could be eaten by people. They were not unclean, they were clean. So, a knowledgeable, because he's talking about YHWH in verse 2 and verse 1, you know, we know we all have knowledge, a knowledgeable, mature Christian, understanding this, that is asked, can you eat meat that has been offered to an idol? The answer is, of course you can. It is clean meat, it's not unclean. You can eat that meat because it's clean meat. God made the beef, that meat, clean. It's not made unclean by how it was killed if, for instance, was in the presence of a pagan idol, because the idol is nothing. Continue, however, there is not in everyone their knowledge.

You see, not everybody, though, may have their understanding.

That's what he says. For some, with consciousness of the idol, until now, eat it as a thing offered to an idol. So some people, because of their background, because of where they came from, they feel it's wrong. Especially if, for instance, people are new in the faith, and particularly in that society, in today's society, it's probably a bit difficult to relate this. But I'll give you an example that, in a little while, is more relatable. But what Paul is saying is that, however, the situation is not just like saying black and white. It's not always A or B. Choose A or B. No, sometimes the situation may be a little bit more difficult to discern. Particularly if there's a new person, and as it says here, they were brought up in their conscience, in their conscience, that this was an idol, and until now they saw that as something offered to an idol, and they saw that as something wrong. They saw that. Their conscience from their previous background, before they came into the faith, their conscience before it was trained, they felt it was an idol and believed it was wrong. Now, here's what Paul is saying. It's not good to defile your conscience. It's not a good thing to go against your conscience. That's what he says in verse 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.

You see, so the problem is, if your conscience tells you, I shouldn't eat it because of my background, I don't want to eat it, don't defile your conscience. To believe it's wrong, and then go ahead and do it, it's not good. That's defiling your conscience. You see, so what Paul is saying is not just black and white. He's saying, correct, the meat offered to an idol is not suddenly made unclean. No, it's not. So for a mature Christian that understands that, he doesn't have a problem with it. But for a new person in the faith, coming from that background, for them it was difficult to understand that. And so we have to give them time to learn and to grow.

Verse 8, but food does not condemn us to God, but food does not command us to God, nor neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we don't eat are we the worse. In other words, the kingdom of God is not meat and drink. An idol is nothing, as we saw in verse 4. So it's not eating or not eating food offered to an idol that is the kingdom of God. So Paul is saying, are there something deeper? You see, we as Christians, that's what Paul is saying. We have a right, there's no problem, to eat meat which is clean, which had been offered to an idol.

So you could say it in today's terms, we have a right. So I demand my rights, I'm going to eat it. But what Paul is saying is, you know, you don't want to offend your brother.

You're going to have consideration of the others.

And as I said, this eating or not eating food which had been offered to idols is kind of difficult for us to understand in the context of our society. So let me give you an example that it's easier to understand in the context of our society. And, you know, that's easier to relate to us. And that is related to drinking alcoholic beverages. Now obviously, it's not a sin to drink alcoholic beverages. I mean, even a Passover is of wine. Paul says in Timothy, 1st Timothy 5 verse 23 says to Timothy, drink a little wine for your stomach's sake. So drinking wine or alcoholic beverages is not a sin. You also probably read in Deuteronomy, I remember correctly, Deuteronomy 14, where it's talking about the use of sick and tired and that you're going to use it to drink wine and strong drink at the feast. So it's not wrong. It's not a sin. Paul would have not told Timothy to sin for his stomach's sake. So it's not a sin to drink alcoholic beverages. But it needs to be in moderation. Because the sin is if you're going to get drunk, if it's not in moderation.

So, however, is it right to drink alcoholic beverages? Whenever I feel like, do I have a right to do it? Yes, you do. But in some circumstances, it's not the best thing. If you are close to a person that just came to the church, for instance, and is alcoholic, or has come to the church or not come to the church, a person that is alcoholic is struggling with alcohol. And if he drinks wine, he drinks two, he drinks three, he drinks five, and he can't handle it because he's used to drinking. But when he drinks five, he's going to drink six, and he's drink ten, and he's going to drink more. And then he gets drunk because he's alcoholic, he's got liver problems, and he's got many other physical problems.

In some cases, some of those people, because of that alcoholic problem, have died.

And you may know some people in that that happened, too. So if somebody struggles with alcohol, and you are aware of that, you better not drink in front of them, because that may create some kind of desire in that person, while I want to drink, too.

And so in that case, it would be wise not to drink in front of them. You see, people have different situations. Maybe it's somebody new in the church, and they think that you shouldn't drink wine. Or maybe there are some young people with you, and maybe it's better not to drink wine in front of those young people. Obviously, if those people have told you, now that's okay, if the person's alcoholic says, now it's okay, I've gone over it, I don't drink, full stop, but you're welcome to drink, then the situation is different. But you see, it's not a black and white situation. It says, I've got a right, I can drink, and I'm going to drink. You see, so what Paul is talking about in 1 Corinthians is the same sort of principle that maybe you have a right to eat meat offered to idols, but maybe there is a situation where you should not exercise that right, because you don't want to create a stumbling block on the other person. Verse 9, because, but beware, lest somehow this liberty of yours, yes, that you can drink wine, or this liberty of yours, that you can have meat offered to idols, unless this liberty of yours becomes a stumbling block to those who are weak, those who are new, those that are still learning, or they have a physical challenge, like alcoholics, so don't put extra pressure on them.

So not everybody has the same experience. Not everybody is at the same stage of understanding the mind of God about certain issues, and therefore, maybe you have a right to do that, but maybe it's wiser for their sake for you not to exercise your right and give them an opportunity to grow into the same knowledge that you have. Verse 10, therefore, maybe, for if anyone sees you who have the knowledge eating in an idol's temple, like for instance, now you have this understanding that you can eat this meat, and there where, for instance, there is near the temple, the temple, this idol temple, then they have different stands where they're selling the meat, and they're buying it, or barbecuing it, or making a big cookout, and people can buy these burgers with whatever, with that meat, and you are there, and you buy, and you eat it, because to you it's nothing. And so you go there into that idol's temple, so anybody sees you, you who have the knowledge eating an idol's temple, will not be conscious of him who is weak. So that person that is weak, that sees, ah well, this is a problem, but then he would be emboldened to eat, and he would be eating against his unconscious.

You see, so be careful, you don't go against your conscious. It's not a good thing to defile your conscious. If you believe it's wrong, don't do it. So that person believes it's wrong, but he says, okay, I'm going to do it anyway. But in their conscious, they think it's wrong. So by you setting that example to those people, that's not a good thing.

So we've got to be careful about things like, for instance, appearance of evil. A person maybe doesn't see that distinction. And so that person then ends up doing something against his or her own conscience. And that's not good. We're going to be careful with that.

So then he continues in verse 11 and 12. And because of your knowledge, shall the weak brother perish for whom Christ died?

You see, because of your understanding that you have that, yeah, it's not a problem, but you have allowed this person to go against their own conscience, defiling their conscience, and you bringing them into a problem because they're going against their conscience. And once you go against your conscience, then it opens up other problems that you start going against your conscience. So you don't want to go against your conscience. So if you do that, because of your knowledge, verse 11, shall the weak brother perish for whom Christ died? So Christ died for him. And now because of your knowledge and your lack of sensitivity, you are creating an issue for the other person. So there is a problem. So sometimes we have to deny ourselves a bit, even though you may say, well, I can do it, I have the right, but sometimes we have to deny ourselves. Verse 13, therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat lest I make my brother stumble. So which is the greater error?

Denying your rights or offending your brother? You see, it takes balance and wisdom. Now, should that person, maybe it's a situation that is new in the church, should that person stay weak all the time? No. Over time, they should be taught the right way. Their conscience should be retrained and understanding the truth. And so there is a time frame because people are supposed to grow in grace and knowledge and understanding. So they're supposed to grow. But if the person is alcoholic, that's not a question of giving them time to grow. It's an illness, so be careful with that. So let's make sure that we, as Paul is saying, are sensitive to other people's difficulties, but we should try and encourage people also to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.