1 Corinthians 8 - Introduction

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 Christian liberty (its reality, its dangers, its perversion and its limits) centers around meats sacrificed to idols. Paul will illustrate the right use of this liberty with reference to himself in chapter 9.' (McGuiggan p. 122)

For First Century Christians, especially those living in. Greek city, this was. big issue. 'Idolatrous practices were related to almost every family and social and political custom of the times. Meats which had been sacrificed in the temple were used at all social festivities; they were exposed for sale in the regular markets and were placed upon the table before invited guests and might appear in one's own home.' (Erdman p. 87)

'The pagan temple rituals, many state occasions, festivals of various kinds of societies, the lives of families and of individuals, all involved sacrifices to the gods and the participation of larger or smaller circles in the feasts connected with these rituals. The desire to participate in such feasts as well as the obligation of family connections or of friendship raised the question as to how far. Christian might go in this regard.' (Lenski p. 333)

'Sacrifice to the gods was an integral part of ancient life. It might be of two kinds, private or public. In neither case was the whole animal consumed upon the altar..In private sacrifice the animal, so to speak, was divided into three parts. First,. token part was burned on the altar. Second, the priests received as their right portion...Third, the worshipper himself received the rest of the meat. With the meat he gave. banquet. This was specially the case at times like weddings. Sometimes these feasts were in the house of the host; sometimes they were even in the temple of the god to whom the sacrifice had been made. We have, for instance,. papyrus invitation to dinner which runs like this: "Antonius, son of Ptolemaeus, invites you to dine with him at the table of our Lord Serapis." Serapis was the god to whom he had sacrificed. The problem which confronted the Christian was, "Could he take part in such. feast at all?"...If he could not, then quite obviously he was going to cut himself off almost entirely from all social occasions.

In public sacrifice, that is sacrifice offered by the state, and such sacrifices were very common, after the requisite symbolic amount of the meat had been burned, and after the priests had received their share, the rest of the meat fell to the magistrates and others. What they did not need they sold to the shops and the markets; and therefore, even when meat was bought in the shops, it might well have been already offered to some idol and to some heathen god. From that point of view. man never knew when he might be eating meat that had formed part of. sacrifice to an idol." [Note:. Barclay p. 80]

Bruce reminds us, that since the animals offered in sacrifice were usually of the best quality, such meat sold very quickly in the market. In addition, 'For the most part the Gentiles who had become believers in Corinth had probably attended such meals all their lives; this was the basic "restaurant" in antiquity. and every kind of occasion was celebrated in this fashion.' (Fee p. 361)

Several questions needed to be answered: (1) Could. Christian even buy such meat, or what if he/she inadvertently purchased some. To this question Paul responds, 'buy and don't ask questions', i.e. relax and don't worry about it. (1 Corinthians 10:25) (2) Could. Christian eat such meat in the home of an unbeliever? Paul's answer is yes and no-1 Corinthians 10:27-28 (3) Could. Christian attend. banquet at an idol's temple? And this is the question that seems to unlock the key to this whole section and especially the relation of these Chapter s to the decree made in Acts 15:20; Acts 15:28 'that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols..'

A. One View of This Section:

The "meat" under consideration in Chapter s. and 10 is "market-place" meat. In the name of "knowledge" and "freedom" some of the Corinthians are advocating eating such food.

B. Another View of This Section:

The phrase "things sacrificed to idols" in chapter 1 Corinthians 8:1 does not refer primarily to marketplace food, but to eating of sacrificial food at the cultic meals in the pagan temples. 'In this view all of 1 Corinthians 8:1, 1 Corinthians 10:22 takes up this issue against the Corinthian position that they have the "right" to continue this practice. As with going to the prostitutes (1 Corinthians 6:12-20), it is forbidden both on theological (1 Corinthians 10:14-22) and ethical (1 Corinthians 8:1-13) grounds. Then, in 1 Corinthians 10:23-11 he concludes with the matter of idol food sold in the market and eaten in private homes.' (Fee pp. 359-360)

This view seems to have the following supportive evidence:

1. The only specific mention of their particular "eating" in Chapter 8, is "dining in an idol's temple" (1 Corinthians 8:10).

2. chapter 1 Corinthians 10:14-22 seems to be. clear condemnation of participation in such temple feasts.

3. chapter 1 Corinthians 8:4-6 seems to have. better connection with 1 Corinthians 10:14-22, then 1 Corinthians 10:25-33.

4. It would seem to better explain the specific eating under consideration in the decree given in Acts 15:29. If this view is correct, then that decree was forbidding the eating things sacrificed to idols in an idol's temple. Paul then later clarifies, that such meat in different circumstances (1 Corinthians 10:25ff) could be eaten.

Of course, someone might respond, 'but doesn't Paul label eating meat in an idol's temple,. liberty?' (1 Corinthians 8:9) Yet the liberty of that passage seems to be referring back to verse 8, i.e. the liberty of eating or not eating. After reading verses 1 Corinthians 8:10-13, I'm not sure if Paul leaves any door open for eating in an idol's temple. Specific windows of opportunity are given for eating "marketplace" meat (1 Corinthians 10:25-27), and yet none are spelled out for eating that same meat in the idol's temple. Someone might respond, "Well it is inferred, that if someone (who is weak) isn't watching you, then you can eat." (1 Corinthians 8:10) Yet my question would be, 'How do you know when someone is or isn't watching you?' Notice what verse 10 doesn't say: "If. weak brother is sitting beside or across the table from you", "If. weak brother approaches you." "If. weak brother says, hey that meat is sacrificed to idols." The text simply says, " If someone sees you." Nothing is said, concerning whether you saw them or not! Therefore, since you could never guarantee that. weak brother would never see you eating there, verses 1 Corinthians 8:10-13 appear to be Paul's first argument against attending such feasts at all for any Christian.

II. THE OUTLINE OF THIS SECTION: 1 Corinthians 8:1-1 Corinthians 11:1:

I. Their Argument-1 Corinthians 8:1: Attendance at the idol's temple wasn't wrong for them, seeing that they "knew" the truth about idols, i.e. they were just eating with their friends and not worshipping non-existent gods.

II. Paul's Response-1 Corinthians 8:1-6: The true basis of Christian ethics.

III. Who They Had Forgotten About-1 Corinthians 8:7-13: The abuse and damage that is done when Christians recklessly push for their rights.

IV. Paul Defends His Authority-1 Corinthians 9:1-2: Did Paul have the right to tell them such things?

V. Paul's Own Example of Giving Up His Rights-1 Corinthians 9:4-23:. rebuke and response to those on the "rights" bandwagon.

VI. Paul Even Must Buffet Himself-1 Corinthians 9:24-27:. stern warning: Did they think that they didn't need to exercise self-control? Even in the realm of "personal liberties"?

VII. Their False Security-1 Corinthians 10:1-13:. response to those that would think that their "knowledge" and "privileges" as Christians would protect them from any "contamination" (at the idol's temple?).

IX. Can't Eat At Both Tables-1 Corinthians 10:14-22: For idolatry involves the worship of demons, in reality.

X. Concerning The Realm of Lawful Eating-1 Corinthians 10:23-33:. final word about eating marketplace meat. They can buy and eat at will (1 Corinthians 10:25), with the one exception that they should abstain if in. pagan home someone points out its temple origins.

III. COMMENTARY ON CHAPTER EIGHT: