LESSON 12
(8:1-13)

FREEDOM’S PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE

8 Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.”  “Knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up.  2 If any one imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know.  3 But if one loves God, one is known by him.
4 Hence, as to the eating of good offered to idols, we know that “an idol has no real existence,” and that “here is no God but one.”  5 For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth – as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords” – 6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.
7 However, not all possess this knowledge.  but some, through being hitherto accustomed to idols, eat food as really offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled.  8 Food will not commend us to God.  We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do.  9 Only take care lest this liberty of yours somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.  10 For if any one sees you, a man of knowledge, at table in an idol’s temple, might he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols?  11 And so by your knowledge this weak man is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died.  12 Thus, sinning against your brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ.  13 Therefore, if food is a cause of my brother’s falling, I will never eat meat, lest I cause my brother to fall.

8:1-11:1 form a unit of discussion that deals with the subject of the Christian and freedom.  Paul had mentioned the point in 6:12, and explained that freedom had limits, as in 6:13-20.  he now raises the issue again in answer to a question of meat offered to idols.  The discussion was necessary because the nature of the meat itself must be discussed, the truth about idols would need to be considered, along with some explanations and applications of the principles involved.
A text parallel in reference to the principle involved is Rom. 14:1-15:13.  There Paul discusses meat and days, conscience and knowledge, which form the basic points of our text.  The two texts dovetail, for in the Romans text, Paul’s treatment of the matter is centered upon a relationship to Christ, 15:7, while here he ends with Christ being presented as the example for living, 11:1.  The “strong” and the “weak” are the subject of each text.
It is always helpful to survey the whole discussion of a subject before studying it in detail.  The following outline is presented as a means to “see” the parts and the whole.  The question asked evidently concerned the eating of meats offered to idols.  Paul’s answer might be viewed as follows.

I.	Discussion of knowledge and freedom. 8:1-8
II.	Implications in the matter, 8:9-13
III.	Paul as an illustration of the principle, 9:1-27
		A.   Giving up rights, 9:1-23
		B.	Discipline of self, 9:24-27
IV.	Israel as an illustration of the principle, 10:1-13
V.	Eating at Idol Feast, 10:14-22
VI.	Summation of the issue, 10:23-11:1

As you study this section, be alert to such concepts as freedom and responsibility that may limit freedom, to the truth about meats, idols, fellowship, to the relationship of knowledge and conscience, and of knowledge, conscience and love.  Note especially Gal. 5:13-15 as that relates to this general subject.
8:1 – food offered to idol – There were at least three positions apparent in this matter: 1) those who knew the facts about meat and idols, 2) those who didn’t know said facts (or perhaps didn’t understand the application of their knowledge) and 3) those who didn’t care what the facts were, or in knowing didn’t live in love toward others who didn’t know.
knowledge – Knowledge is a must if one is to live as God desires.  This letter to Corinth is in the area of knowledge, given so that the brethren could improve their life style.  However, knowledge must be tempered with many other things, including love.  If it is not, it “puffs up” see this same term back in 4:6) as a normal rule.
love – Love was and is the basis for the two great commands of God, to love Him and others, Luke 10:25-27.  It is faith in obedience that are essentials in one’s relationship to God.  To believe God is to obey God; to love God is to obey God.  Faith has to do with the intellect, love with the god-like emotions that motivate actions.  Neither can be separated from the essence of Christianity.
In this area, as in the area of spiritual gifts, love was lacking, and Paul developed the topic in Ch. 13 to help them “know” how to use their knowledge.
  love builds up – The Greek term for builds up is oikodome_, which has a good “image” and is thus to be encouraged in every Christian’s life.  Consider how Paul uses it in 14:4; I Thess 5:11; I Pet. 2:5, 7.  It is often translated as edification as in Rom. 14:19; 15:2; I Cor. 14:3; II Cor. 10:8; 12:19; 13:10; Eph. 4:12, 16.  (Notice now 10:1, 23.)  The opposite of it is to destroy or tear down, which is what some were doing in the congregation.
The truth is that love does not build up apart from knowledge.  One may love God and others in a pleasing manner as one is taught to love in the proper way.  Obviously, 8:1-11:1 is directed to the point of aiding them to love others in a manner worthy of their calling as Christians.
V. 2 – As someone observed many years ago, “the larger the island of knowledge, the greater the shoreline of wonder.”  In the Christian life, one may know a principle well, but never cease learning how to apply the principle.  Some in the congregation probably knew that God created everything good, Gen. 1:32 and that nothing including meat was unclean of itself, Rom. 14:14; I Tim. 4:1–5.  What they may have lacked was knowledge of how to live in accordance with the facts as they knew them.
V. 3 – This verse brings to mind such texts as those in I Jn. 3:11-18 and 4:7-12.  The implication may be that if a person is of God, it is because of love.  If this be so, lives that please God must be lived in a loving way toward others.
V. 4 – The Christian often does not appreciate the revelation of God in the Bible.  It is from the Bible that Christians know 1) that idols are “nothing” and 2) that there is only one God, and 3) that no god is behind an idol, a demon is behind it.  Let us who read this be more appreciative of the concern God had for us as expressed in giving to us His Word.  The lesson for the Corinthians was this: though an idol can be made, in truth there is no god behind it; it is simply a product of human hands.  As God pointed out by the Psalmist in Ch. 115, idols are essentially nothing, and here can be no profit in them, Hab. 2:18-20.  In spite of this truth, men may personify the idol and let it represent a deity of some sort.  As such, it represents a religious truth to them, and is so treated.
In the situation in Corinth, some Christians evidently had been converted from such a background.  There were countless others living in the area who yet were idolaters.  These things being true, the problem of meats offered to idols, which represented a religion (thus making the meat sacred in some sense) was everywhere.
V. 5 – The world’s peoples were and are mostly people who know not the truth and consequently were and are in the class of the idolatrous.  Furthermore, even though a person from such a cultural background may become Christian, the many truths of Christianity may not all be known at once, or if known, not fully understood.  It sometimes becomes difficult to eliminate a lifetime of thought from one’s mind. especially the subconscious part of the mind.  Since the subconscious determines in varying ways what is thought or done, or triggers reactions of various kinds, one might be a Christian quite awhile and still have trouble in various areas depending upon the circumstances.
V. 6 – for us – The Christian religion is primarily a religion of revelation from God.  It is by this revelation that Christians have the truth about the one God, and on Lord Jesus.
V. 7 – not all possess – The reference is seemingly to the information in vv. 4-6.  Paul used the word knowledge seemingly with the implication of both knowledge of the truth and understanding of the application of the truth.
eat food – As mentioned in v. 5, though some idolaters had become Christians, proper understanding of meats, idols, love and conscience wasn’t complete yet.
The eating of the meat offered to idols was part of the problem.  Such meat was readily available, and unless identified as such, would appear to be like any other meat.  Some wondered if ti could be eaten at all.  The answer depended upon the circumstances.  One side is discussed in 8:8-13, another in 10:14-22, a third in 10:23-33.  The subtle but sure dangers in the freedom to eat will be seen in 9:1-10:13.
conscience – This facet of one’s personality was so important that it caused the Corinthians to write Paul, and Paul to answer back in some detail.  Since the conscience plays such a vital role in one’s life, we need to understand it as best we can.  Please consider the following comments on conscience.
The Greek term comes from the root ‘to know’ and is prefixed with the preposition ‘with.’  The term has the basic idea of a co-perception, or self-awareness in the sense of knowledge in regard to one’s self.  It has two basic uses in the New Testament, generally expressed by the English word “conscience” and the more inclusive word “consciousness.”  Context must be considered in each case to decide which is the best term to use.
Conscience (which people define in various ways) has to do with a standard of conduct for oneself, and one’s actions (either proposed or already done) in respect to that standard.  If one does (or purposes to do) what corresponds to said set of standards, one will have a “good” conscience.  If one does not do what is considered “right” to do, the conscience will be “bad” and a sense of guilt will be felt.
Unger’s Bible Dictionary expressed a point about conscience that it is not a distinct faculty of one’s mind, such as in the will or memory, but rather has to do with a feeling of guilt or satisfaction.
Consciousness is a broader term, having the same general idea as the word “personality.”  It involves one’s whole self, whatever one is, or does, or thinks or of what one is aware, etc.  hence, it would encompass one’s conscience and set of standards as well as other facets of one’s personality.
Conscience may be more or less strong/weak, depending upon many things, such as one’s belief about the matter(s) involved, one’s view or rightness, the effect upon others, etc.  Since one’s conscience is directly related to one’s set of standards, a person may or may not have the same conscience over a period of time.  If one’s standards change, one’s conscience automatically changes.  One may begin life with the standard that it is wrong to lie.  If one lies, then one will feel guilt.  However, if one decides that it is acceptable to lie, one’s conscience will accordingly act upon such a principle.
One of the problems of conscience and God’s Word is that one may “believe that God teaches such and such” whether in fact it is so or not.  Another person, just as committed to God’s Word, believes differently, and so will have a different conscience response.  Such a problem is the point of Chs. 8-10 in I Corinthians, Chs. 14:1-15:13 in Romans, as well as 2:12-29 in Romans.
R. L. Whiteside in his comments on Romans 2:15 correctly states that one’s conscience is only related to one’s own actions, unless said action involves another.  One’s conscience will corroborate one’s moral judgment about one’s action(s) in proportion to one’s belief about said action(s).
We must always compare our accepted set of standards in respect to God’s Word, correcting them as we learn more of God’s Word.  It may well be true of us that years of study will bring us to change our standards.  In this regard, our consciousness of self in respect to God’s Word will be that what was once thought sinful (and resulted in a “bad” conscience, a guilt feeling) will no longer be so, and vice versa.  It is a biblical principle that one should always do what is believed to be right, or sin will result.  However, as mentioned above, people understand differently, and act as they understand.  We need to recognize this truth, and judge others accordingly.
A list of places where the Greek appears, in the R.S.V. translation: Acts 23:1; 24:16 Rom. 2:15; 9:1; 13:5; I Cor. 8:7, 10, 12; 10:25, 27, 28, 29(2); II Cor. 1:12; 4:2; 5:11; I Tim. 1:5, 19; 3:9; 4:2; II Tim. 1:3; Titus 1:15; Heb. 9:9, 14; 10:2, 22; 13:18; I Pet. 2:19; 3:16, 21.
weak – Their set of standards, based upon their knowledge (or lack of it) was such that the eating of idol meat could not be done in good conscience.  Their conscience was “weak” in this respect.  As in Rom. 14:2-4, some could eat meat, any meat, with no problem, while others could not do so.  All concerned were Christians, but the knowledge was not the same in each case.  As Paul argued there, regardless of who did what, God could make each one “stand” in spite of the differences in conduct.  It was the same in Corinth.  What needed to be said to the Romans also needed to be said to those in Corinth so that all would understand alike, and love each other while the understanding was developing.
The term “weak” was seen in the texts of 1:25, 27; 2:3 and 4:10. It will appear again in v. 9, 10, 11, 12; 9:22; 11:30; 12:22 and 15:43.  It is generally used in a comparative sense, with the opposite being strength, ability, etc.  Normally in the four gospels, as in Mt. 10:8 and Jn. 5:3, it designates people who were ill with some disease.  The term “infirmity” is often used to translate it.  However, in the epistles, it is mostly used in a spiritual sense, as in Rom. 5:6.  Note the use of it in II Cor. 12:5-10.
defiled – From molun_, to make impure, to stain or do harm to.  Check II Cor. 7:1; Rev. 3:4; 14:4.  In the case at hand, the defilement was sin (Rom. 14:22-23 shows that this is true) as well as doing damage to it (“wounding” it as v. 12 says). The end effect, if not corrected, is spelled out in v. 11.  A “shipwrecked” conscience is a disaster, as I Tim. 1:19-20 brings out.
V. 8 – Food is a neutral subject in and of itself insofar as Christianity is concerned, Mk. 7:19; rom. 14:4; etc.  However, that fact does not mean that a Christian can be indifferent to it if others are involved (as in this text) or even if only self is involved, since food may be eaten in such quantities as to show lack of self-control, perhaps even reflecting the fact that one’s belly (i.e., appetite) is one’s god, Phil. 3:19.
V. 9 – liberty – Freedom was the battle cry of some apparently.  However, every thought and/or act has consequences.  Freedom to act (the Greek word was discussed in 6:12) does not mean freedom from consequences.
stumbling block – From the Greek word proskopt_, which has the idea of a blow against something or someone that does harm.  Some helpful passages would be Mt. 4:6; 7:27; Lk. 4:11; Jn. 11:9; Rom. 9:32; 14:13, 20, 21; II Cor. 6:3; I Pet. 2:8.  Notice in v. 13 for a different word which overlaps this term as can be seen in Rom. 9:33.
V. 10 – This is a picture of both liberty and thoughtlessness.  While meat was indifferent, sitting in an idol’s temple and eating it was not indifferent, and for two reasons.  One reason will be discussed in 10:14-22.  The second reason is in this verse.  The person whose conscience is not sufficiently strong to prompt abstinence and whose knowledge is lacking about meats may well eat and, in eating, sin.  Thus, freedom can be terribly deceiving.
encouraged – See v. 1 for this term.
V. 11 – The man who is weak, by another’s example, may well become a fatality in spite of all that Jesus did to keep such from happening.
While a Christian may sin, but then repent and be forgiven, Heb. 7:25; I Jn. 1:9; the picture here is of one who becomes a victim of continuance in a matter that results in his destruction (see above on v. 7).  Jesus taught in Jn. 8:34 “The one doing sin si a slave of sin.”  The same theme is sounded in Rom. 14:13-21.  The “Strong” is commanded in such cases to do as Christ did, and forbear in behalf of the brother who is weak, Rom 15:1-3.
for whom Christ died – Nothing of this world is as important as the soul of a person.  Hence, nothing must be placed before another that would bring about the loss of his soul, or continued in one’s own life.  The Scriptures were given to help Christians grow to be like Christ, and thus to be profitable to the body rather than a corrupting influence (reread 3:10-17).  Recall Jesus’ searching question in Mt. 16:24-26.
V. 12 – sinning – It would surely be a sing of lovelessness and immaturity to exercise “freedom” in the light of such facts as Paul had presented.  (it has been evident in the years since that many have been so enslaved to freedom that Christendom has suffered often and greatly.)  Love was lacking, v. 1, as well as knowledge.
wounding – The Greek term tupos had the original idea of a blow to someone or hitting something, then the mark or imprint that was left (as a bruise on the cheek, etc.).  Here, the sin involved would cause a similar result upon the weak brother’s conscience.
you sin against Christ – Since the brother was as much a part of the body of Christ as anyone else, the harm done was done to the body as a whole as well as the member in particular.  This same idea was expressed to Saul of Tarsus by Jesus in Acts 9:4.
It will be worthy of a moment’s time to state this point: this text and that in Romans are generally taken to present a Christian who is “mature” versus a Christian who is “immature” (or an “adult” versus a “babe”).  However, the terms used are strong and weak which are not stated to equal mature versus immature.  The people in mind are those who have knowledge about a certain point versus those who don’t.  Furthermore, the “weak” person in each case is said to be sinning in the issue involved, either because the action involved, either because the action involved is thought to be 1) doubtful to do or 2) sinful to do.  Now the fact then is that the weak brother is one who for some reason believes that God’s Word is 1) not clear or 2) has forbidden something, or else the person doesn’t know the facts in the case (which may mean God’s Word was misunderstood, or it isn’t known that God has spoken, or nothing is known by him at all).  The end is this: any two people might be involved in the matter.  Meats and days are simply points to illustrate the principle.  (The author has a set of notes on Romans available from the O.C.C. bookstore that discusses the subject further.)
V. 13 – The conclusion of the matter is stated here, and in 9:19-23.  The bearing of another’s burdens is not optional but necessary, Gal. 6:1-2.
Notice the section in Chapter 15 of Acts, which indicates that problems such as these were everywhere.  the same is still true today.  Paul’s love for others was the impelling force that directed his life, as it should in our lives.  He will use his own life in Ch. 9 and 10 to illustrate the point that one principle may modify another.
to fall – This expression translates a different term than in v. 9, but both overlap.  You may want to check these texts for this term skandalidz_: Mt. 5:29; 13:21, 41; 16:23; 18:7; Mk. 6:3; 9:42, 45, 47; Lk. 7:23; 17:1, 2; Jn. 6:61; 16:1; Rom. 9:33; 11:9; 14:13, 21; 16:17; I Cor. 1:23; II Cor. 11:29; Gal. 5:11; I Pet. 2:8; I Jn. 2:10; Rev. 2:14.  The term was sometimes applied to the stick that held the bait in a trap (the little deal you put cheese on in a mousetrap).  When it was touched, the trap was released and the animal caught.  Temptation is that way: it is the means to sin.  Sin, if allowed to finish its work, brings death, James 1:12-15.

	LESSON 12 QUESTIONS

1.	Make a simple outline of 8:1-11:1.

2. 	State the problems that were in need of discussion.

3. 	What would you say is the relation of love and knowledge?

4. 	Could knowledge bring humility as well as a “puffed up” attitude?

5. 	How does God’s Word help Christians understand the truth about such thing as idols, meats and many or few gods?

6. 	If you did not have God’s Word, how would you know for certain about the items in #5?

7. 	Is there a difference between knowing a fact and understanding how the fact is to be applied?

8. 	What restraints does liberty have?

9. 	Why was a brother in Christ more important to Paul than any rights Paul had?

10. 	Would you consider yourself strong or weak about 1) smoking, 2) dancing, 3) musical instruments, 4) shorts, 5) driving over 55 m.p.h., 6) bikinis, 7) wines used in cooking, 8) X-rated movies seen on the T.V.?