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1
Corinthians Chapter Eight
I.
Content of the Chapter
Whether Christians Can Eat
Things Offered to Idols
A. We shall walk in love
not
by knowledge (v.1-3):
1. Knowledge puffs up
but
love edifies (v.1).
2. Knowledge has its limitation
(v.2).
3. If anyone loves God
this
one is known by Him (v.3).
B. If we walk by knowledge
we
can eat the things offered to idols (v.4-6
8):
1. The eating of things
offered to idols is nothing in the world (v
2. All things are of God and
through Christ (v.4b-6).
3. Food does not commend us to
God (v.8).
C. If we walk in love
we
cannot eat the things offered to idols (v.7
9-13):
1. It is difficult for those
whose conscience is weak to eat things offered to idols (v.7).
2. Our liberty of eating
should not become a stumbling block to those who are weak (v.9-10).
3. If one wound the weak
conscience of the brethren
he has sinned against Christ (v.11-12).
4. If food makes my brother
stumble
one shall never again eat meat (v.13).
II.
Verse by Verse Commentary
1Cor. 8:1 “Now concerning things
offered to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up
but
love edifies. ”
YLT: “And concerning the things sacrificed
to idols
we have known that we all have knowledge: knowledge puffeth up
but
love buildeth up;”
Meaning of
Words:
“know”: see
perceive; “knowledge”: learning; “puff up”: make proud
inflate;
“love”: the divine love
the perfect love; “edify”: build up;
The
Background: there
were many temples in the city of
Literal
Meaning: “we
know that we all have knowledge”. ---- “Know” refers to the subjective feeling
in us; “knowledge” refers to the external objective knowledge. Here it
especially refers to the knowledge of eating things offered to idols. Since
believers in the church at
“Knowledge puffs up”
“knowledge” is
good (Pro. 2:10) that can fill man with various precious and pleasant riches
(Pro. 24:4). However
knowledge has a dangerous side-effect ---- man may boast
of it. “Puff up”
it means that one always considers himself right and thus
despises others and condemns others and even offends others (see v.9
13) and
destroys others (v.11).
“But love edifies”
love can not only
edify individual believer
but also build up the body of Christ
namely
the
church (see Eph. 4:16).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1)
Believers
have
more or less
some spiritual knowledge. The problem is not how much
knowledge we have possessed
but how much we have applied.
2)
The
worldly knowledge makes men puff up
and biblical knowledge makes men puff up
and spiritual knowledge makes men puff up
and even gifts given by the Spirit
---- knowledge
also makes men puff up.
3)
Knowledge
can neither deal with the problem of oneself ---- pride
nor the problems of
others ---- be stumbled
difficulties (v.11-13). Only love can satisfy both of
them. If Christians do not keep the balance between their knowledge and love
his knowledge has become valueless. Knowledge that is lack of love may tend to
destroy
not edify.
4)
“Puff
up” is opposite to the word “edify”. Puff up: inflate and burst finally. Edify:
it builds up men. Both of their results are opposite. The former brings about
corruption
and the result of the latter abides forever.
5)
Christians’
actions are not only according to their knowledge
but also the love they
should have. The actions out of knowledge may not be understood by others
but
actions out of love are bound to touch the hearts of others.
6)
When
Paul mentions things offered to idols
he does not say we should eat or not
but especially mentions knowledge and love. Knowledge is from the tree of the
knowledge of good and evil
behind which there is the work of Satan (see Gen.
2:17; 3:4-5). Love is of God
for God is love (1John 4:8).
7)
What
Paul pays attention to is not whether it is lawful
but whether it is helpful
to others and whether it edifies others or not. Believers should judge every
problem according to the perspective whether it is lawful
not whether it
edifies or not.
8)
He
who has love has a firm principle in his walking: he does all that edifies
others
and refuses to do anything that cannot edify others.
9)
Even
though we have much mysterious knowledge
we are nothing if we have no love.
Even though we have the gift of removing mountains
we still have no value if
we have no love. Knowledge and gifts will be done away one day. Only love
abides forever (see 1Cor. 13:2
8).
10)
It
is always love instead of knowledge that makes Christians really spiritual or
carnal. The difficulty we often meet in the church is the lack of love.
11)
It
is the love of God which pours into us that makes us love and edifies others as
Christ who does not please himself
but pleases others (see Rom. 15:1-3).
1Cor. 8:2 “And if anyone thinks that
he knows anything
he knows nothing yet as he ought to know.”
YLT: “and if any one doth think to know
anything
he hath not yet known anything according as it behoveth to know;”
Literal
Meaning: “and
if anyone thinks that he knows anything”
“anyone” refers to the one who thinks
he is saturated with profound knowledge and boasts of it.
“He knows nothing yet as he ought to
know”
it means that the knowledge of man is extremely limited. If it is
compared with the knowledge of God
one can only confess that he knows nothing
(see
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1)
The
deeper and the wider one searches in knowledge
the more will he feel that the
knowledge that he has obtained is verily shallow and limited. Only the one who
has a smattering of knowledge may think no one knows more than him.
2)
The
final element of everything lies in God. And the small man can not fully
understand the great God.
3)
The
more we have true knowledge
the more will we find that we know little. Once
man has got a little false knowledge
he thinks he knows all.
4)
If
one thinks he has perfect knowledge
he has lost the first element of
knowledge
or he has not realized what he does not know ----- he still needs to
be instructed by others.
1Cor. 8:3 “But if anyone loves God
this one is known by Him.”
YLT: “and if any one doth love God
this
one hath been known by Him.”
Literal
Meaning: “but
if anyone loves God”
“love God”
in the original
it does not refer to
friendly or imperfect love
but the divine and noble and perfect love. We love
God
for God first loved us (1John 4:19) and He has poured out His love into us
(
“This one is known by Him”
God knows
both the one who loves Him and the one who does not love Him. “Know” here
includes the meaning of approval and pleasure. There are also Bible exegetes
who think that it can also be translated as “the same is known of Him”. He who
loves God can have real knowledge
which is not only from reasonable
understanding but also through the love of God and from the practical
experience of Him.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1)
Even
though we cannot fully know God
we can love Him. What most pleases God is that
man loves Him. Therefore
the simplest way of pleasing God is to love Him only.
Love is more important than spiritual knowledge.
2)
Where
there is no love
there is no real knowledge. Only the one who loves God can
have true knowledge of God.
3)
What
Christians should know is the knowledge of love. Knowledge without love is not
real knowledge and even is harmful to man.
4)
All
that we have devoted to God in service
works and dealing with things and men
in the church or our private life for the sake of the love of God are known by
God. Even the tears for Him are also put into His bottle by Him (see Ps. 56:8).
1Cor. 8:4 “Therefore concerning the
eating of things offered to idols
we know that an idol is nothing in the
world
and that there is no other God but one.”
YLT: “Concerning the eating then of the
things sacrificed to idols
we have known that an idol nothing in the world
and that there is no other God except one;”
Literal
Meaning: “we
know that an idol is nothing in the world”
the idol itself is of no power and
is false (see Ps. 115:4-7; 135:15-17; Is. 44:12-20)
but the devil hides behind
the idol (see 1Cor. 10:20).
“And that there is no other God but
one”
“know” is the subjective consciousness in us. The faith of Christians is
based on the foundation of “the faith in the only true God”.
1Cor. 8:5 “For even if there are
so-called gods
whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many
lords)
”
YLT: “for even if there are those called
gods
whether in heaven
whether upon earth -- as there are gods many and lords
many --”
Literal
Meaning: “for
even if there are so-called gods”
the gods here relate to the false gods in
Greek and Roman myth.
“Whether in heaven or on earth”
“in
heaven”: it refers to the various heavenly gods that men blindly worshipped at
that time; “on earth”
it refers to the heavenly gods that came down to the
earth or the kings in the ancient times who proclaimed themselves gods.
“(As there are many gods and many
lords)”
“many gods” it does not mean there are really many gods
but that in
Gentile world who worshipped the idols men had make many gods. Paul here
declared a fact ---- men worshipped many gods that did not exist at all.
“Many lords”
men called the kings
that governed the Gentiles lords
e.g. Festus called the king Agrippa Lord (see
Acts 25:26)
which means god.
1Cor. 8:6 “yet for us there is one
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.”
YLT: “yet to us one God
the Father
of
whom the all things
and we to Him; and one Lord
Jesus Christ
through whom
the all things
and we through Him;”
Literal
Meaning: “yet
for us there is one God
the Father”
“yet” is a strong comparison. “Us” refers
to Christians. “One God” is the only true God whom Christians believe (1Tim.
2:5; Is. 44:6). “The Father”
it shows that the true God is the Father of Jesus
Christ as well as the Father of believers (see Eph. 1:2-3). The word of
“Father” also indicates that He is the source of all life.
The “one God” is opposite to “many gods” in the previous verse
and so
is “one Lord” to “many lords”.
“Of whom are all things
and we for
Him”
“of whom” means that God the Father is the source of all things (Acts
4:24). “We” refers to Christians. “For Him” shows that the salvation of Christ
will gain many believers for God (see Acts 26:20).
“And one Lord Jesus Christ”
“Lord”
refers to the master
the Creator who possesses all. “Jesus Christ”
God has
made Him both Lord and Christ (see Acts 2:36).
“Through whom are all things
and
through whom we live.” ---- Christ is the heir of all. And all things were
created by Him (see Heb. 1:2; John 1:3;
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1)
We
believers shall confess only God is the Lord of all. Any godly appearance and
religious form cannot make us more hallowed.
2)
What
Christians believe is the only God and the only Lord. We can neither worship
any idol made by men
nor let anyone or anything become the invisible idol in
us unconsciously
e.g. spiritual giants
status
learning
money and etc.
1Cor. 8:7 “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.”
YLT: “but not in all men the knowledge
and
certain with conscience of the idol
till now
as a thing sacrificed to an idol
do eat
and their conscience
being weak
is defiled.”
Meaning of
Words:
“defile”: be profane;
Literal
Meaning: “however
there is not in everyone that knowledge”
“everyone” here especially refers to
believer
for Paul calls them brethren (see v.12-13). “Knowledge” in the
original refers to the objective knowledge. “That knowledge” is to know there
is only one true God and idols are false and do not exist in fact.
“For some
with consciousness of the
idol
until now eat it as a thing offered to an idol”
they who have the
consciousness of idol lack right knowledge of idols. Though they have believed
Christ
they are still afraid of idols so that they believe eating the things
offered to idols equals to worshipping idols.
“And their conscience
being weak
is
defiled”
“be defiled”
they have no peace in conscience and dare not to have
normal fellowship with God.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1)
If
we only imitate the examples of others but still have doubt inside
our
conscience will be defiled
for all whatever not of faith is sin (Rom. 14:23).
2)
The
weakness of believers’ conscience is often due to the lack of spiritual
knowledge. Therefore
our conscience has close relationship with our spiritual
knowledge. Therefore
we shall not only seek love but also let our love abound
yet more and more in full knowledge and all intelligence that we may judge of
and approve the things that are more excellent
in order that we may be pure
and without offence (Phil. 1:9).
1Cor. 8:8 “But food does not commend
us to God; for neither if we eat are we the better
nor if we do not eat are we
the worse.”
YLT: “But victuals do not commend us to
God
for neither if we may eat are we in advance; nor if we may not eat
are we
behind;”
Meaning of
Words: “commend”:
present
show; “worse”: fall short
be destitute; “better”: make abound
exceed
enough and to spare;
Literal
Meaning: “but
food does not commend us to God”
it means that what comments us to God is not
food. What man eats can prove nothing to God
nor make our spiritual life
better.
“For neither if we eat are we the
better
nor if we do not eat are we the worse.” ---- Here
the “better” and
“worse” are in spiritual sphere
not in physical sphere. The whole verse
indicates that one will not become worse on account of food
nor be abundant in
spirit because of food.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1)
For
every creature of God good
and nothing to be rejected
being received with
thanksgiving (1Tim. 4:4). The food that we eat does not influence our relationship
with God at all. We are perfected in Christ
not in what we eat or not eat.
2)
The
food itself cannot affect our relationship with God. Therefore
what we should
consider when we decide whether we eat a certain kind of food or not is not our
relationship with God
but that with other believers.
3)
Food
is a neutral thing
no matter morally or spiritually. Food itself has no
difference between good and evil. Only if man gives the food special meaning
it will be thus linked with moral color and spiritual meaning. Therefore
when
we touch a certain kind of food
we shall pay attention to the views of men
upon the food beyond the food itself.
4)
Food
cannot make man more excellent
nor judge the spiritual condition of man
for
the kingdom of God is not eating or drinking
but righteousness
peace and joy
in spirit (Rom. 14:17).
1Cor. 8:9 “But beware lest somehow
this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak.”
YLT: “but see
lest this privilege of yours
may become a stumbling-block to the infirm
”
Meaning of
Words:
“liberty”: right
power;
Literal
Meaning: “but
beware”
it means one shall take heed to the influence of his attitude to
others.
“Lest somehow this liberty of yours
become a stumbling block to those who are weak”
“liberty” refers to the
knowledge that idol is nothing (see v.4)
so man cares nothing for eating
things offered to idols and feels he has liberty of eating. “Those who are
weak” refer to Christians who are weak in conscience and regard things offered
to idols are uneatable. “A stumbling block” relates to the reason for their
being stumbled.
Paul tells us that when we do anything
by the liberty of Christians
we should not care for our own feeling and view
upon it only
but also take heed of not stumbling weak brothers so as to
prevent them from disobeying their conscience and even sinning (see v.10-12).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1)
If
the strong one eats
he losses nothing. If the weak one eats
his conscience is
defiled (see v.7). Therefore
he who is strong should beware and not abuse his
liberty of eating lest he should offend others.
2)
Concerning
the liberty of Christians
we should not pay attention to our own profit only
and otherwise the liberty will become a stumbling block or trouble to
others.
3)
We
have liberty to do anything. However
for the sake of caring for brethren
we
shall abstain from all things that are bound to cause doubt to the faith and
conscience of brethren.
4)
We
have been called to liberty. Brethren
only do not use liberty as an
opportunity for the flesh
but through love serve one another. (Gal. 5:13).
5)
If
we do not love God or men
though we have knowledge
the knowledge has no
profit. If we do not love God or men
though we have liberty
we are like the
salves of the devil.
6)
If
our knowledge and liberty are increased
but our love has not
we are in great
danger. Knowledge and liberty are like water
and spiritual love is dike. If
the dike is high
we will not be afraid of the rising water rises. Water has great
function and serious harm
so do the knowledge and liberty of Christians.
1Cor. 8:10 “For if anyone sees you
who have knowledge eating in an idol's temple
will not the conscience of him
who is weak be emboldened to eat those things offered to idols? ”
YLT: “for if any one may see thee that hast
knowledge in an idol's temple reclining at meat -- shall not his conscience --
he being infirm -- be emboldened to eat the things sacrificed to idols
”
Meaning of
Words: “be
emboldened”: be built
be edified;
The
Background: there
were many houses in the temples of the old city
Literal
Meaning: “for
if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol's temple”
“you who
have knowledge”
it refers to Christians who think idol is nothing and thus
care nothing for eating things offered to idols. When they are invited by the
heathens
they may answer them with readiness.
“Will not the conscience of him who is
weak be emboldened to eat those things offered to idols?” ---- “Him” is the one
who sees other Christians eating in the temple of idols. “Weakness”
it means
that the feeling in their conscience is that Christians should not eat things
offered to idols. “Be emboldened”
be built and be edified.
The whole verse means that believers
who are weak in conscience are emboldened to imitate those who have knowledge
to eat things offered to idols after seeing their actions.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1)
Those
who have knowledge may often care for themselves only
but fail to care about
others. They only seek to satisfy the desire of their own belly
but have not
thought of the feelings of others.
2)
There
are two sorts of men here ---- one is those who have knowledge and the other is
those who are weak in conscience. The former regards the latter as those who
rigidly adhere to formalities or those who are zealous of religion. The latter
takes the former as Christians who love the world. However
both of them think
they are more spiritual than the other side. This is an abnormal situation
often appeared in the church.
1Cor. 8:11 “And because of your
knowledge shall the weak brother perish
for whom Christ died?”
YLT: “and the brother who is infirm shall
perish by thy knowledge
because of whom Christ died?”
Literal
Meaning: “the
weak brother … for whom Christ died”
it shows the great responsibility of
those who have knowledge. The weak brother is the one whom Jesus Christ loves
through the death of the cross.
“And because of your knowledge shall …
perish”
“perish”: destroy; it does not refer to eternal perdition
but the
destruction of the life and the testimony of Christians.
The whole verse means that one’s bad
example by knowledge makes the weak brother disobey his conscience and be
emboldened to eat things offered to idols (see v.10). And such actions in his
feeling equal to worshipping idols
so his conscience is defiled (see v.7) so
that his Christian life and testimony have been destroyed. And Christ died for
such a brother whom you have hurt. How can you meet Christ calmly?
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1)
Believers
who think you have knowledge should pay attention to that ---- Christ died for
your brother
and you are even unwilling to forsake a piece of meat for him!
Christ has given His life for him
and you are unwilling to give up your
liberty of Christians!
2)
Christ
died for not only strong believers but also weak brothers; for not only those
who have spiritual knowledge but also for those who have no spiritual
knowledge. Therefore
we children of God should beware lest we should sin
against our brothers unconsciously (see v.12).
1Cor. 8:12 “But when you thus sin
against the brethren
and wound their weak conscience
you sin against Christ.”
YLT: “and thus sinning in regard to the
brethren
and smiting their weak conscience -- in regard to Christ ye sin;”
Meaning of
Words:
“sin against”: offend; “wound”: beat
smite
strike;
Literal
Meaning: “but
when you thus sin against the brethren”
“thus”
it refers to the situation in
verse 11 that brother perishes because of your actions.
“And wound their weak conscience”
if
one thinks in his conscience that things offered to idols cannot be eaten but
he still eats them (see v.10)
it will make his conscience dull and has smitten
and destroyed his conscience. And he will do more things he should not do and
even his faith will be destroyed.
“You sin against Christ”
it means
that anything that hurts other members has directly hurt the Head ---- Christ.
Sinning against brothers is sinning against Christ.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1)
Though
believers have not sinned
if our actions have made others stumble
we have
sinned in the eyes of the Lord.
2)
The
basic principle of Christians’ conduct is that ---- we do not walk according to
our views upon a certain matter
but we should see whether it will sin against
brothers and against Christ or not.
1Cor. 8:13 “Therefore
if food makes
my brother stumble
I will never again eat meat
lest I make my brother
stumble.”
YLT: “wherefore
if victuals cause my
brother to stumble
I may eat no flesh -- to the age -- that my brother I may
not cause to stumble.”
Meaning of
Words:
“make…stumble”: entrap;
Literal
Meaning: “therefore
if food makes my brother stumble”
“make stumble”
cast someone into a trap or
cause someone sin.
“I will never again eat meat
lest I
make my brother stumble”
“meat” refers to the meat that has offered to idols.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1)
The
principle of believers’ walking ---- we will never make our brother stumble for
the sake of us.
2)
One
who has love does not eat things offered to idols. It is not because his
conscience is weak but that he loves his brothers and is unwilling to cause his
brothers stumble because of his eating.
III.
Outlines of the Spiritual Lessons
The
Comparisons Between Knowledge and Love
A.
Knowledge
puffs up
but love edifies (v.1).
B.
Knowledge
is limited
but love is limitless (v.3).
C.
Knowledge
cannot please God
but God knows who loves Him (v.4).
D.
Knowledge
may sin against brothers
but love can edify brothers (v.11).
Three
Aspects of Danger of Weak Brothers
A.
Their
conscience may be defiled (v.7).
B.
They
may be stumbled and thus sin (v.9).
C.
They
may perish (v.11).
The
Relation of Food With the Spiritual Life of Believers
A.
Food
does not commend us to God (v
B.
Neither
if we eat are we the better
nor if we do not eat are we the worse (v.8b).
C.
What
we eat may sometimes become a stumbling stone to those who are weak (v.9).
D.
He
sins against brothers because of food has sinned against Christ (v.12).
Two
Sins That Cause Brothers Stumble
A.
Sin
against the brethren
and wound their weak conscience (v.12);
B.
Sin
against Christ
for Christ died for the brother whom you have sinned against
(v.11-12);
──
Caleb Huang《Christian Digest Bible
Commentary Series》
Translated by Mary Zhou