1 Corinthians 8 - Printer Friendly

Paul turns to another issue possibly raised by the Corinthians in an earlier letter written to him. This challenges his previous teaching to them about restrictions on eating meat offered to idols. Paul's response begins in chapter 8 and continues through to the end of chapter 10, where he sets very specific guidelines about buying and eating meat offered to idols, as well as eating in idol temples.

The worship of gods and idols saturated Corinthian society, where idol temples were integrated into many aspects of daily life. Bringing an offering to a god or idol was a near-universal experience in Greek and Roman culture, as was going to a banquet for a birthday, business meeting, wedding, or funeral at an idol temple. Christians and Jews who refused to enter idol temples would find themselves isolated from much more than just the religious culture of their community. It's no wonder some of the Christians in Corinth pushed back on Paul's restrictions about attending idol temples for civic and family functions. These practices seemed as normal to them as any other part of daily life.

Food offered to idols was eaten in idol temples, but the leftover food was also sold in the market. The questions facing Christians, many of whom had worshiped idols themselves before converting to Christianity, was whether it was okay to eat anything that had been offered to an idol under any circumstance. What if someone served it at a dinner party? What if you didn't know it was idol food?

The Corinthians argue that since they know idols don't truly exist, as true gods, and that only the one true God is real, why does it matter if they eat the meat or not? Paul agrees with them that the idols are nothing and the food itself is nothing more than food. They aren't wrong on that aspect of their position (1 Corinthians 8:1–6).

The problem, Paul responds, is that not all of them really know these things. Some Christians, especially those from a background of deep idol worship, are not fully convinced that the idols have no real power. They cannot eat the food with a clear conscience. Even if their conscience is "weak" and misguided, Paul says that to violate their conscience is to commit sin (1 Corinthians 8:7–10).

That's why what the Corinthians know is not enough. They must also love their brothers who do not know. If Christians with weaker consciences are led into sin—through violating their own consciences—by seeing those with stronger consciences eating idol food in an idol temple, the stronger ones will be guilty of sinning against their brothers and against Christ, who died for them. Paul writes that he would personally give up eating any meat at all in order not to lead a brother in Christ into sin (1 Corinthians 8:11–13).

First Corinthians 8:1–13 begins Paul's longer response to the question of attending functions in idol temples or eating food offered to idols. This appears to blend Paul's own statements with references to the Corinthians' own remarks. It seems the Corinthians had previously written to Paul saying they are not ''worshiping'' the idols. They know idols don't really exist and that only God is real. Paul replies that the problem here is not lack of knowledge but lack of love. Some brothers and sisters in Christ cannot eat idol food with clear consciences. Those who are stronger risk leading those who are weaker into sin and, in that way, sinning themselves.

Paul responds to Corinthian objections about restrictions on eating in idol temples, or eating food offered to idols. Those were activities deeply integrated into everyday Corinthian society. Paul agrees that idols are nothing and food is only food. The problem is that some Christians from idol-worshiping backgrounds cannot eat idol food with a clear conscience. To do so is sin, for them. If those with stronger consciences—those who understand the truth better—lead their weaker brothers into sin, they themselves will also be guilty of sinning against their brothers and against Christ.

First Corinthians 8 begins Paul's response to another issue raised by the Corinthians. Earlier passages dealt with sexuality; this section discusses idolatry and food. Paul agrees that idols don't truly exist and only God is real. The problem is that some of the less-developed Christians aren't convinced of that. For those believers, they violate their consciences by eating idol food. Even if it's misguided, violating one's conscience is a sin (Romans 14:23). If those with stronger consciences lead these weaker brothers and sisters into sin, they will be guilty of sin themselves. Paul continues to balance liberty with care for others over the next chapters.