April 27, 2010 Lesson 6 of 1 Corinthians 8 and 9

The church in Corinth had asked about the eating of food which had been offered before an idol. Picture yourself as a Christian in Corinth, invited to a social banquet in a temple, or seated as a guest in the house of a non-Christian friend, and offered food which had been presented in sacrifice to an idol.
8:1-13. Using the knowledge of truth as their sole guide (such truth as is stated in verse 4-6), what decision did the Corinthians come to about eating food offered to idols? Did Paul agree? List the reasons why he also says that in certain circumstances he would abstain from such eating. Answer: The Corinthians were asking do we, or can we, eat the meat sacrificed to other Gods. This is of question, as I understand because much of the meat prepared by gentiles at the time was sacrificed to other Gods to purify it. Paul’s argument is that this sacrifice to purify the meet was a practice of the ignorant. Those with knowledge know that the meet does not need to be purified by sacrifice. God made all things good for us to eat. So Paul’s bigger argument is do it or don’t do it, just don’t do something that will make the unbeliever or even the new and immature Christian stumble and fall.


9:1-27. What basic principles which should govern Christians action does Paul illustrate here from his own conduct? In particular what rights does he show Christian workers to have, and what are his reasons for not using them? Answer: Paul says the main purpose of the Christian worker is to share in the gospel. Paul says that the Christian worker has the right to preach and not work at a job. Paul argues that the Christian worker should be supported by the church body to preach the word. He concludes by saying that we should walk with sinners to show them the love Christ showed us. We should love them as Christ did while living here with us.


Notes
8:12. ‘Wound their weak conscience’: note the contrast. What requires tender handling is brutally treated. Cf. 9:22. The ‘weak’: i.e., those whose grasp of Christians truth is feeble, and who are timid in exercising their liberty in Christ. Cf. Rom 14:1-3
8:13. This declaration is conditional and personal, not absolute and general. The significance of this should not be overlooked. Cf. 10:27-30.