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1 Now about “food sacrificed to idols.”*Paul continues answering the issues the Corinthians have raised. So “we all have knowledge” about this subject. Knowledge makes us proud, but love strengthens us. 2 If anyone thinks they know anything, they don't know as they really should know! 3 But whoever loves God is known by God.
4 So regarding eating food sacrificed to idols: we know that there are no such things as idols in the world, and that there is only one real God. 5 Even though there are some things called “gods,” whether in heaven or on earth—in fact there are many “gods” and “lords.” 6 But for us there is only one God, the Father, from whom everything was made, and he is the goal of our existence; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom everything was made, and he is the means of our existence.†This is a complex verse the meaning of which is much debated. It is seen as an early “creed” or declaration, identifying God as Creator and Re-creator, the focus of our lives. It literally says, “But to us one God the Father, from whom the all and we into him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom the all and we through him.”
7 But not everyone has this “knowledge.”‡Paul takes issue with this knowledge being misapplied, as seen in verse 10 when it could be seen as being proud and arrogant. Some who up to now have been so used to idols as a reality that when they eat food sacrificed to an idol, their conscience (which is weak) tells them they have defiled themselves. 8 But food doesn't gain us God's approval! If we don't eat this food, we're not bad, and if we do eat this food, we're not good. 9 Just take care not to use this freedom you have to eat food sacrificed to idols to become offensive to those with a weaker attitude. 10 If another believer sees you who have such “better knowledge”§See under 8:7. eating food in an idol temple, won't his weak conscience be convinced to eat food sacrificed to idols?*In other words, deciding to follow another's example, while still believing it is a sin. 11 By your “better knowledge” the weaker believer is destroyed, a believer for whom Christ died. 12 In this way you sin against other believers, wounding their weaker consciences, and you sin against Christ. 13 So if eating food sacrificed to idols would cause my fellow believer to stumble, I will never eat such meat ever again, so that I don't offend any believer.

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*8:1 Paul continues answering the issues the Corinthians have raised.

†8:6 This is a complex verse the meaning of which is much debated. It is seen as an early “creed” or declaration, identifying God as Creator and Re-creator, the focus of our lives. It literally says, “But to us one God the Father, from whom the all and we into him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom the all and we through him.”

‡8:7 Paul takes issue with this knowledge being misapplied, as seen in verse 10 when it could be seen as being proud and arrogant.

§8:10 See under 8:7.

*8:10 In other words, deciding to follow another's example, while still believing it is a sin.

© 2018 Dr. Jonathan Gallagher