Tyndale Open Study Notes1 Corinthians 8

Paul addresses the Corinthians' question about eating food offered to idols. In the Greco-Roman world, temples and shrines dedicated to pagan gods were common. Worshipers often offered animal sacrifices, and pagan priests sold the extra meat in the market. Christians wondered if they could eat this meat.

Was meat from a sacrifice to a pagan god impure? Paul does not mention the Jewish Christian leaders' prohibition in Acts 15:20, 29. Instead, he stresses that actions should be guided by love and consideration for others. After introducing the topic (1 Corinthians 8:1–13), he shares examples of giving up one's rights for others' sake (9:1–27) and offers advice on three specific situations believers faced.

"We all have knowledge" was a saying among the Corinthian Christians. The knowledge referred to religious understanding. Some Christians believed their superior knowledge made them ignore others' opinions.

God acknowledges those who truly love Him, not just those who know all the answers (see 1 Corinthians 13:12; Galatians 4:9).

In reality, the idols to which such meat is sacrificed are not gods, because there is only one God (Deuteronomy 6:4; see also Deuteronomy 4:35, 39; 10:19–20). He is the Creator of everything, including the meat being sacrificed for the idols. The only ultimate reality is God, the Father, and the one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things were created (see also John 1:3; Colossians 1:16; Hebrews 1:2).

Many Corinthian believers grew up in a pagan world and saw eating such meat as worshiping the god it was sacrificed to. For these Christians, eating meat offered to an idol would go against their weak consciences (see 8:10–12; 10:28–29; Romans 14:13–23).

The Corinthians' connection with God did not depend on whether they ate certain foods or not, regardless of the food's source (compare Romans 14:17).

Believers should ensure their actions, like eating sacrificial meat, do not cause others to struggle (compare Romans 14:13, 20–21; Galatians 5:13).

• Believers who insist on eating food offered to idols (because they believe their knowledge allows them to eat it) could harm less mature Christians. These less mature Christians may see eating this meat as worshipping pagan gods.

• for whom Christ died: Compare Romans 14:15.

Causing immature believers to sin by violating their conscience is like sinning against Christ, who has claimed them for himself (compare Matthew 25:40, 45).

Personal rights must come second to the greater responsibility of not causing another believer to struggle.