FIRST CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 8: _ INTRODUCTION AND COMMENTARY-MARK DUNAGAN_ I. INTRODUCTION TO CHAPTER EIGHT: This chapter begins. whole section (1 Corinthians 8:1-1 Corinthians 11:1) dealing with Christian liberty and especially in the realm of meats sacrificed to idols. 'This whole discussion on C... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW CONCERNING THINGS SACRIFICED TO IDOLS: WE KNOW THAT WE ALL HAVE KNOWLEDGE. KNOWLEDGE PUFFETH UP, BUT LOVE EDIFIETH. 'Now concerning' -signals that Paul is picking up yet another item from their letter (1 Corinthians 7:1). 'SACRIFICED TO IDOLS' -'the portion of the flesh left over after the he... [ Continue Reading ]
IF ANY MAN THINKETH THAT HE KNOWETH ANYTHING, HE KNOWETH NOT YET AS HE OUGHT TO KNOW; 'thinketh' -'supposes' (NASV) 'Its good to know, but then there is an attitude toward your knowing. There is. healthy and an unhealthy way of thinking that you know.' (McGuiggan p. 123) 'KNOWETH' -lit., 'has com... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT IF ANY MAN LOVETH GOD, THE SAME IS KNOWN BY HIM. 'if any man loveth God' -'present tense verb; hence, "if any man keeps on loving God."' (Willis p. 265) _ Points to Note:_ 1. This implies that one can have "knowledge", even correct knowledge of God and His will and yet "not love God." _The P... [ Continue Reading ]
CONCERNING THEREFORE THE EATING OF THINGS SACRIFICED TO IDOLS, WE KNOW THAT NO IDOL IS ANYTHING IN THE WORLD, AND THAT THERE IS NO GOD BUT ONE. 'we know' -with absolute confidence and certainty. Yes, absolute truth does exist! 'NO IDOL IS ANYTHING IN THE WORLD' -Idols or images did exist and at t... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THOUGH THERE BE THAT ARE CALLED GODS, WHETHER IN HEAVEN OR ON EARTH; AS THERE ARE GODS MANY, AND LORDS MANY; 'that are called gods' -'if there are so-called gods' (NASV); 'It is true that men have supposed that there are so-called "gods". (Nor) 'IN HEAVEN OR ON EARTH' -'The pagan's filled the... [ Continue Reading ]
YET TO US THERE IS ONE GOD, THE FATHER, OF WHOM ARE ALL THINGS, AND WE UNTO HIM; AND ONE LORD, JESUS CHRIST, THROUGH WHOM ARE ALL THINGS, AND WE THROUGH HIM. 'yet to us there is one God' -'And what. marvellous truth this is. How freeing such. truth is. Thank God for the death of superstition.' (Mc... [ Continue Reading ]
HOWBEIT THERE IS NOT IN ALL MEN THAT KNOWLEDGE: BUT SOME, BEING USED UNTIL NOW TO THE IDOL, EAT AS OF. THING SACRIFICED TO AN IDOL; AND THEIR CONSCIENCE BEING WEAK IS DEFILED. 'that knowledge' -To me the best way to harmonize this verse with Paul's assertion in 1 Corinthians 8:1 'We all have knowl... [ 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. 'commend' -'change our place in God's sight' (Con); 'God's approval of us is not based on the food we take.' (Bas) 'ARE WE THE WORSE...ARE WE THE BETTER' -'The one who abstains is not... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT TAKE HEED LEST BY ANY MEANS THIS LIBERTY OF YOURS BECOME. STUMBLINGBLOCK TO THE WEAK. 'But' -Yes food may be morally neutral, and food is. "liberty", but you can push this "right" in the face of. brother, and spiritually kill him with it. 'TAKE HEED' -a warning to the "Knowledgeable". Present... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR IF. MAN SEE THEE WHO HAST KNOWLEDGE SITTING AT MEAT IN AN IDOL'S TEMPLE, WILL NOT HIS CONSCIENCE, IF HE IS WEAK, BE EMBOLDENED TO EAT THINGS SACRIFICED TO IDOLS? 'For' -a case in point. 'A MAN' -'someone' (NASV); in the context the Christian with an idolatrous past (1 Corinthians 8:7). 'SEE... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THROUGH THY KNOWLEDGE HE THAT IS WEAK PERISHETH, THE BROTHER FOR WHOSE SAKE CHRIST DIED. 'through thy knowledge' -'ruined by your "enlightened mind"' (Mof) Led to ruin by knowledge that makes one arrogant (1 Corinthians 8:1); pushes for "rights", even if they led. brother into sin. 'Boy, that'... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THUS, SINNING AGAINST THE BRETHREN, AND WOUNDING THEIR CONSCIENCE WHEN IT IS WEAK, YE SIN AGAINST CHRIST. 'And thus' -'in this manner.. connecting the sin against the brother with the conduct previously described.' (Willis p. 273) 'SINNING AGAINST THE BRETHREN' -'in such case, not only the we... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREFORE, IF MEAT CAUSETH MY BROTHER TO STUMBLE,. WILL EAT NO FLESH FOR EVERMORE, THAT. CAUSE NOT MY BROTHER TO STUMBLE. 'Wherefore' -'And here is the conclusion of. really brilliant scholar!' (McGuiggan p. 126) 'IF' -in the event. Always ready to forego his "rights" if the situation demanded it... [ Continue Reading ]