1 Corinthians 8:10 - Printer Friendly

ESV: For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols?

NIV: For if someone with a weak conscience sees you, with all your knowledge, eating in an idol's temple, won't that person be emboldened to eat what is sacrificed to idols?

NASB: For if someone sees you, the one who has knowledge, dining in an idol’s temple, will his conscience, if he is weak, not be strengthened to eat things sacrificed to idols?

CSB: For if someone sees you, the one who has knowledge, dining in an idol's temple, won't his weak conscience be encouraged to eat food offered to idols?

NLT: For if others see you — with your 'superior knowledge' — eating in the temple of an idol, won’t they be encouraged to violate their conscience by eating food that has been offered to an idol?

KJV: For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols;

NKJV: 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?

Paul is giving a warning to those in Corinth who understand that eating idol food, in and of itself, is not sinful. After all, those gods and idols are not real. They have the knowledge that only God is real. Paul entirely agrees that there is nothing inherently wrong in eating those foods. Christians who fully understand this are not sinning, at all, when they do so.

However, Paul has pointed out that there are believers who don't really know this, yet. In the case of Corinth, many converts were from a background steeped in idol worship. Thanks to that temptation or confusion, they cannot eat idol food with a clear conscience. They are not fully convinced the idols are not real. Paul labels this as a weakness, but does not insist they change their minds (1 Corinthians 8:7). Rather, as seen clearly in other letters, Paul encourages believers to be fully convinced before God, before they do anything (Romans 14:23). Time and discipleship are meant to strengthen the conscience.

Paul points out that by eating idol food—which they have a right to do—those Christians with stronger consciences may risk causing others to stumble into sin. Context, as always, is key here. Paul is not saying that eating that meat, itself, is a sin. Rather, he is saying it is a sin to violate one's conscience in such matters. Therefore, "strong" Christians need to be careful not to tempt "weak" Christians to do something the "weak" believer mistakenly thinks is immoral.

Paul proposes an illustration: one with a weaker conscience sees a stronger believer in an idol temple eating idol food. To modern readers, the idea of a Christian eating in an idol temple for any reason is surprising. But the ancient Corinthian culture was so steeped in the worship of false gods and idols that many places outside of one's own home were connected to idolatry. Idol temples were the default banquet halls, where family gatherings, business meetings, weddings, funerals, and all kinds of other events were held.

To refuse to enter an idol temple, in that era, would require a Christian to opt out of involvement in many areas of life. It was no small restriction. Still, it was the price of loving one's brothers and sisters in Christ.

In his illustration, Paul asks if the weaker Christian will be encouraged to eat idol food when he sees another Christian doing it, though his conscience tells him not to? That seems likely.

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.

First Corinthians is one of the more practical books of the New Testament. Paul writes to a church immersed in a city associated with trade, but also with corruption and immorality. These believers are struggling to properly apply spiritual gifts and to resist the ungodly practices of the surrounding culture. Paul's letter gives instructions for real-life concerns such as marriage and spirituality. He also deals with the importance of unity and gives one of the Bible's more well-known descriptions of love in chapter 13.