1 Corinthians 8:1-13 Click here for Bible Verses
Hi GAMErs,
Today’s passage is 1 Corinthians 8:1-13. Let’s go!
1 Corinthians 8:1-13 (NIV)
1 Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that we all possess knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.
2 The man who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know.
3 But the man who loves God is known by God.
4 So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world and that there is no God but one.
5 For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”),
6 yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.
7 But not everyone knows this. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat such food they think of it as having been sacrificed to an idol, and since their conscience is weak, it is defiled.
8 But food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.
9 Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak.
10 For if anyone with a weak conscience sees you who have this knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, won’t he be emboldened to eat what has been sacrificed to idols?
11 So this weak brother, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge.
12 When you sin against your brothers in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.
13 Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to fall.
On verses 1-13: In 1 Corinthians 8, Paul addresses a question that many Christians in his church had conflicting opinions about: is it okay to eat food sacrificed to idols or not (v1-4)? From Paul’s answer, we can learn 3 questions to ask when determining whether you should engage in what seems like a questionable activity (whether it’s eating food sacrificed to idols, playing Pokemon Go, going trick or treating, or something else):
Question 1: Ask “Does God’s Word clearly and directly prohibit this activity?” If yes, then the answer’s clear: don’t engage in this activity (or at least don’t engage in that part of the activity which is clearly prohibited by Scripture). If God’s Word does not clearly and directly prohibit this activity, go to question 2.
Application: In the case of eating food sacrificed to idols, Scripture does not clearly or directly prohibit it. That’s why it was such a contentious issue.
Question 2: Ask “What fruit is born in my life when I engage in this activity?” Just because Scripture does not prohibit it doesn’t mean it’s okay to engage in it. As Paul says, “Everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible, but I will not be mastered by anything.” (1 Corinthians 6:12)
So ask yourself:
– Does this activity help me fulfill God’s purposes for my life or does it pull me away from God’s purposes?
– Does it promote the character of Christ in my life, or does it realistically open the door for Satan to work in my life?
– Does it set me free or does it enslave me?
– Does it renew me (mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually) or does it corrupt me?
– Does it benefit my relationships with God and with people, or does it hurt them?
– In short, does this activity bring more harm or more good to my life?
Application: Sometimes the answer to this question will vary depending on the person. For example, Paul himself had no problem eating food sacrificed to idols. In Paul’s mind, there is only one God (v6), idols are not real “gods” (v4-5), and food is just food — “we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do” (v8). For Paul, eating food that was sacrificed to idols was no different from eating normal food, so Paul personally had no problems engaging in this activity. Other Christians, however, had a different perspective. They couldn’t get over the fact that the food had been prepared for the purpose of worshiping an idol (v7). Thus they couldn’t eat such food with a clear conscience and were disturbed to see other Christians eating it. For these Christians, eating food sacrificed to idols was not beneficial and thus it was best for them not to engage in this activity.
Question 3: Ask “What impact does it have on others when I engage in this activity? Are others blessed or discouraged when I do this? What kind of example am I setting for those around me? Does me engaging in this activity do more harm or more good to others?” You personally may have no problems engaging in an activity, but if others see you engaging in it and are impacted in a negative way, it may be best not to engage in that activity, at least while in their presence. As Paul says, “be careful that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak” (v9).
Application: Since eating meat sacrificed to idols was becoming a stumbling block for other more sensitive Christians with a “weak conscience” (v9-11), Paul resolved that he would not eat food sacrificed to idols, at least not in their presence. In verse 13 he writes, “if what I eat causes my brother to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to fall.”
Praise God. May God give you wisdom to know how to discern God’s will for your life with every disputable activity you encounter. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you in answering these 3 questions, and you’ll have a better idea as to whether God wants you to be engaging in that activity or not.
Heavenly Father, on disputable and controversial matters, please give me wisdom to discern what is bes for me to do, for Your glory, for others’ benefit, and for my good. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
