1 Corinthians 8:1-7

1 Corinthians 8:1

Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.

 

Touching - Concerning

Offered unto idols - sacrificed to idols

 

Corinth was a very idolatrous city and therefore the question came up concerning the situation of eating food which was sacrificed to false gods in the form of an idol. Remember, the Temple of Diana was located there and probably had stretched its tentacles into the marketplace to sell goods to raise money. The Christians in Corinth had some knowledge concerning Christian Liberty but Paul was exhorting them that a little knowledge without the proper use of it can be dangerous. There may have been some that were not against eating food which was sacrificed to idols and there may have been those who believed that since they were delivered from false religion, that they should not partake of it in any manner whatsoever. Obviously there were factions concerning this situation also and that may be why Paul was bringing up the fact that a person with knowledge can become very arrogant. Instead Paul was telling the Corinthian Church to lace the knowledge with love. Edification is one of the natural outcomes of true love. (Rom 14:19 KJV) Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.

 

1 Corinthians 8:2

And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.

 

Knowledge held by some becomes their self-exaltation and that knowledge can actually become a stumblingblock to themselves. No matter how much a man thinks he knows, he never has complete or perfect knowledge. The Greek verb for “knoweth” is in the Perfect Tense which denotes full and complete knowledge. Partial knowledge could be devastating when believed to be completed knowledge. Only God has complete knowledge and we humans must understand that with each day comes learning, which should give us the hint of how much we don’t know. If a person continues to learn, then there is incomplete knowledge.

 

1 Corinthians 8:3

But if any man love God, the same is known of him.

 

If a person really loves the Lord, they will seek spiritual wisdom and knowledge. God manifests His love to His children through wisdom and heavenly knowledge because they belong to God. When we love God, that love for God becomes the catalyst of being able to love our neighbor. The only one who loves God is the saved person. There are many who say they know of God or know God, but the real test for the believer is they love God. That love is then manifest as our testimony to others that we truly belong to God and love Him.

 

1 Corinthians 8:4

As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.

 

Paul now returns to the subject of idols. He states that Idols are nothing, since false gods in essence do not exist. They have no authority over the creation or over their adherents. They exist only in man fashioned methods such as statues or pictures. (Psa 135:15 KJV) The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the work of men's hands. The problem is that not that the idol or false god does not exist, the problem is that people who came out of these false gospels may still have an affinity to them, since some may have been idolaters for many years. There are many who came out of the Roman Catholic Church with great fear, only to find out that their fears were unfounded, especially when they started reading the Bible and found out the truth. In reality an idol is nothing but in superstitious beliefs, it may be a terrifying entity.

 

1 Corinthians 8:5

For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,)

 

There are many man-created false gods. In India alone there are 400 million personal false gods. Satan tries to confirm the existence of false gods by bringing lying signs and wonders to deceive the people. (2 Th 2:11-12 KJV) And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: {12} That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. These false deities hold much sway over the ignorant masses that follow them, of course, through the teaching of the false teachers or prophets of these religions. Not just in India, but in many countries there are local customs and religions with false gods. The New Age Movement states that we humans can become God. False religion can be both a terror to some and a confidence for others.

 

1 Corinthians 8:6

But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

 

To those who are truly saved, their exists the knowledge that false gods do not exist, except in the mind of unsaved man. (Col 1:16 KJV) For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: Paul is strongly stating here that nothing in this world or universe is created or sustained without God Himself. The true Christian has their life in Christ. (Col 3:4 KJV) When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. We exist by God and not God by us. The false religions with their idols exist because they are man made and can be changed any time the hierarchy of the religion says so. (Hab 2:18-19 KJV) What profiteth the graven image that the maker thereof hath graven it; the molten image, and a teacher of lies, that the maker of his work trusteth therein, to make dumb idols? {19} Woe unto him that saith to the wood, Awake; to the dumb stone, Arise, it shall teach! Behold, it is laid over with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in the midst of it. Paul also brings to light the term “Father” which means that God is the progenitor of all life plus it denotes that the true believer has the true God as their Father, which shows a familial relationship. That is something that no one can ever have with a false deity, simply because a non-existent false deity cannot create or have relationships of love.

 

1 Corinthians 8:7

Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.

 

Not everyone in Corinth understood this truth as Paul speaks to Christians now. There were some Christians in Corinth who apparently thought that after they ate something which was sacrificed to an idol, thought they had sinned. (Rom 14:23 KJV) And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.  Some believers who were weak in the faith were being persuaded by some other Christians who apparently were more mature in the faith that it was fine to eat things sacrificed to idols. Even in modern times some Christians hold to beliefs they had while unbelievers in a religion. Even though these Corinthians may have had true knowledge, there always remained a thought concerning the idol and the food they ate. If a person had a weak conscience, they would live under the umbrella of guilt that their actions of eating something sacrificed to idols was a sin. If they believed it was sin, to them it was. Those who had a strong conscience knew it was not a sin simply because a strong conscience is not steeped in false teachings.

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