[The question which Paul here answers may be stated thus: "Have not Christians perfect liberty to eat meat that has been sacrificed to idols?" To this question the Corinthians seem to have added a line or two of argument, that they might obtain an affirmative answer, as appears by the apostle's repl... [ Continue Reading ]
If any man thinketh that he knoweth anything, he knoweth not yet as he ought to know [for humility precedes true knowledge];... [ Continue Reading ]
but if any man loveth God, the same [i. e., God] _is known by him_. [i. e., the lover of God (1 John 4:7). Before replying to the question, Paul deals with the argument which accompanied it, pointing out the fact that their boasted knowledge was confessedly without love, and being such it was puffin... [ Continue Reading ]
Concerning therefore the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that no idol is anything in the world [Isaiah 44:9-20], _and that there is no God but one_.... [ Continue Reading ]
For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven [as celestial bodies, or as myths] _or on earth_ [as idols]; _as there are gods many_ [the Greek cities had pantheons and temples filled with them], _and lords many_ [the Roman emperors, and even lesser dignitaries, demanded that divine hon... [ Continue Reading ]
yet to us there is one God, the Father [contradicting the many], _of whom are all things_ [whose creatorship undeifies all other beings, reducing them to mere creatures], _and we unto him_ [created as his peculiar treasure and possession, and hence exalted far above the idols which we once worshiped... [ Continue Reading ]
Howbeit there is not in all men that knowledge [the apostle limits and corrects their statement found in 1 Corinthians 8:1]: _but some, being used until now_ [being but recently converted from paganism] _to the idol, eat as of a thing sacrificed to an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled... [ Continue Reading ]
But food will not commend us to God: neither, if we eat not, are we the worse; nor, if we eat, are we the better. [There is no inherent virtue either in eating or fasting.]... [ Continue Reading ]
But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to the weak.... [ Continue Reading ]
For if a man see thee who hast knowledge sitting at meat in an idol's temple [Literally, idoleum, or idol-house; a term coined by the Jews to avoid desecrating the word "temple" by applying it to seats of idolatry. The idol temples were frequently used as banqueting- houses; but for a Christian to f... [ Continue Reading ]
For through thy knowledge he that is weak perisheth, the brother for whose sake Christ died. [Paul here presents a new appeal, of unapproachable pathos and power. The world had never before heard any such reason why mercy should be shown to the weak.]... [ Continue Reading ]
And thus, sinning against the brethren, and wounding their conscience when it is weak, ye sin against Christ. [who suffers with the very least of his servants (Matthew 18:6; Matthew 25:40; Matthew 25:45). Corinth was full of temples, and sacrifices were daily and abundant. Part of the meat of these... [ Continue Reading ]
Wherefore, if meat causeth my brother to stumble, I will eat no flesh for evermore, that I cause not my brother to stumble. [To the Corinthians Paul says "take heed" (1 Corinthians 8:9); but for himself he proposes a sublime consecration and perpetual self-sacrifice. The apostle would not make the w... [ Continue Reading ]