I Corinthians 8 Devotional
by Pastor Mark Hudson
We can see once again that Paul is responding to a communique from the church to Paul. He refers to this missive in 7:1, “Now concerning the matters about which you wrote. . . .” and in 8:1, “Now concerning food offered to idols. . . .” As we mentioned in the comments on chapter 5, Paul can be flexible when the situation calls for taking circumstances into account. This is a fascinating aspect of the Apostle’s mind and heart.
The issue of food offered to idols is not an issue that we have exact clarity on. It could be meat from an animal that was used for a sacrifice to an idol and since not all the animal’s meat was used for the sacrifice the leftover meat was sold in a market and consume by many different people, including believers. Many times, in their homes, Christians would eat this meat with Jewish and Gentile believers. Also notice in v. 10, that sometimes people could eat at the temple, not necessarily worshipping or sacrificing at the temple but eating, maybe like people voting in our church without any affiliation to the church.
It appears that some Christians could eat meat that was “associated” (part of a sacrifice, once dedicated, or some similar meaning) and have no qualms at all. Others, maybe coming out of idolatry, experienced dissonance by having anything at all to do with idols. If those two groups shared a meal and meat sacrificed to idols was on the table, all kinds of trouble ensued.
Since we know the Corinthians asked Paul about this predicament it is interesting to notice the quotations in v. 1, “All of us possess knowledge” “knowledge.” Then in verse 4, “an idol has no real existence” and “there is no God but one” and then “gods” and lords in verse 5. In verse one, Paul is quoting a section of their letter and then pointing out that their knowledge does not appear to be helping them. Rather, their knowledge is making them proud.
Then in verses 4 and following Paul quotes them approvingly.
But then in verse 7, Paul seems to move away from theology: God, idols, knowledge and moves on to something deeper, more profound, and of greater importance: love. Paul states that not everyone sees eating meat sacrificed or offered to idols the same way. Because of some believers, who were heavily involved in idolatry prior to coming to faith, “their conscience . . . is defiled.” There may be some things I can without giving the activity a second thought that another believer cannot do without feelings of regret. Paul does not criticize the weaker person (v. 11) while in vs. 7, 10, 12 it is that person’s conscience that is weak.
It is easy to get caught up in exactly what was happening and what food offered to idols exactly means. It might be more fruitful to ask what Paul is asking us to do. Isn’t he asking up to put others above ourselves? It really seems rather simple. Don’t get lost in the food, where it is being consumed, if you are one with a weaker conscience. It comes down to love and thinking about others.
Paul does not think idols have any existence, but Paul knows some people think idols have existence. In verse 7, he says, “some . . . eat food as really offered to an idol.” Paul accepts their conclusion without agreeing with them. Paul also realizes that people have a right to eat whatever food they want to eat. Notice, he doesn’t tell those with a weaker conscience to toughen up or to stop thinking idols have existence.
Paul focuses on the more mature or those without a weak conscience. He cautions them on trusting in their “knowledge” claiming that it leads to arrogance (v. 1). Paul counsels humility in the next verse. The knowledge that counts is God’s knowing us. Paul wants those with knowledge to defer to those who do not possess this knowledge. Paul keeps asking the mature (Paul does not call them mature) or knowledgeable to pay attention to the weaker ones. Paul wants them to see them, recognize them, and live so you don’t hurt them. These are not “weak” but a “brother for whom Christ died” v. 11. They have names, friends, family and are important to God. To Paul it does not sound like the others even “see” the weaker ones and if they do see them, don’t give them much thought. Paul states that if you disregard the concerns of other brothers and sister, you wound their conscience and sin against Christ. This is the most serious sentence he has written in this chapter.
Meat is not what is important; a brother is. Your superior knowledge, if used carelessly, is not only not helpful but actively hurtful. In this limited sense, Paul is critical not of knowledge but how some carelessly use their knowledge. He is critical of those who value their own rights even if exercising those rights hurt others. Paul has expressed his deep and abiding concern for believers to be loving. He call love the greatest over faith and hope. In Phil 2:3, 4, “In humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” Romans 14:19, “So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual building up.” And 15:2, “Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.”
“Lord, if I spent more time thinking about others and less about me, I would be more effective as a Christian. Turn my eyes away from my own needs to the needs of others. While I can’t disregard myself or hate myself, I do need to be more focused on others. Help me to be sensitive to the needs of others while at the same time turning a deaf ear to their criticism of me. Lord Jesus, You were always living and thinking for the glory of God and yet You saw the widow’s mite. You turned to find the woman who touched You in a bustling crowd. You stopped the stoning of a woman who was tricked and unjustly condemned. You were and are the most loving, the kindest, and the most thoughtful Person in the universe. Pour Your Spirit out on us so we can love others the way You call us to. In Christ’s glorious Name. Amen.