In this chapter the Apostle Paul deals with the subject of idols and idol worship. Many people today tend to think of idols as those carved stone freestanding statues of both mankind and animal kind that have been prevalent throughout mankind’s history, and that idols are a thing of the past. But this is not true. All one has to do is visit a Catholic institution or a European cathedral to see statues of all kinds and people showing reverence to them. Most Chinese restaurants have statues of their god, Buddha, somewhere in the building and often food is placed before the statue as an offering and a dedication of the restaurant food to this Chinese god. People collect images such as frogs and owls (doleful creatures)and how much they worship these collections can be seen if one tries to take them away from them. Idols come in all forms such as sports teams, movie stars, rock stars, food, fashion, holidays, and even careers. An idol is anything to which one gives one’s heart and ultimately time and treasure. An idol takes one’s focus away from the one true God and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Verses 1-3 Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth. 2 And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know. 3 But if any man love God, the same is known of him.
The Apostle Paul warns the Corinthian Christians to not become proud or puffed up with their knowledge of idols and idolatry because no one knows everything about any subject and there is always more to learn. And having pride in one’s knowledge opens the door for Satan to come in and use that pride to his advantage. When dealing with others involved in idolatry the Christian believer is to use the love of Jesus Christ and not merely head knowledge to admonish or educate the idolater.
Application: Pride does indeed come before a fall. Remember when the Sadducees tried to trick Jesus into making a statement regarding whose wife a woman was when in Heaven if she was married to her dead husband’s brothers as per Mosaic law? Unlike the Pharisees who acknowledged all of the Old Testament Scripture, the Sadducees only acknowledged the first five books written by the Prophet Moses, and their pride in their knowledge of these first five books of the Bible made them sure that they could prove that there was no resurrection after death. But Jesus’s simple answer taken from those books proved there was life after death and His answer destroyed their entire religious belief and system in a matter of a few minutes. The Sadducees fell that day, never to be a strong religious entity again. When dealing with Biblical knowledge and especially when teaching that knowledge to others, the Christian believer needs to remain humble because only God has all knowledge of all things. No Christian knows it all, but is always learning as God reveals His Word to His children.
Verse 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.
Food was sold at open-air markets and some of it was for the offering to idols, so anyone could purchase food that may have been first offered to an idol. Apparently, some in the Church were concerned about being defiled if purchasing this food and eating it. For the Christian believer, that food was just food because the idol was not a god. The believers knew the one, true God. The Psalmist wrote, “Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands. They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not. They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not: They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat. They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them.” Psalm 115:4-8 So the Apostle Paul is saying that since idols are nothing but inanimate objects, food offered to them wasn’t anything the Christian had to worry about. Eating food offered to idols would not physically hurt or defile the body. So they could either eat it or not eat it. However, the problem arises when Christian believers have the conviction that eating food offered to idols caused them to be defiled and so frowned on the practice of other believers buying the food.
Application: Idols have no power except that which is given to them by people. When people become attached to their idols and begin to spend time on them and with them, the devils begin to work through the idols and before long people become like their idols and filter everything through their idols. They begin to think, speak, hear, and see what the devils want them to. That is the danger of idols. An obvious example is when young people begin to worship a performer. It is not long before they begin to dress like the performer, walk and talk like the performer, and try to emulate the performer so that their own personality is now hidden as they try to be like the performer they are so enamored with.
Verses 5-6 For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) 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.
As stated before, Corinth was a rich city and a wicked city with many gods and goddesses, so the Christians who came out of the sinfulness of that city were very aware of all the different gods and goddesses and the idols made in their honor that were worshipped by the citizens of Corinth. The Apostle Paul is reminding the Corinthian believers that there will always be many gods and goddesses that mankind will create and worship, but that they know there is only one true God, the LORD Jesus Christ, who made everything and that they are “in” Christ and He is “in” them and they are one with the LORD as His Holy Ghost/Spirit was living inside of their body of flesh.
Application: A very important point to remember is that truth is singular whereas error is plural. There is one God and many false gods, one Bible and many false Bibles, one true Church and many false churches, one way to salvation and eternal life in Heaven and many false ways that lead to Hell, one Holy Ghost/Spirit and many evil spirits and so forth.
Verses 7-8 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. 8 But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse.
The Apostle Paul points out that not all understand what he has just said and that many believers are weak in their Christian faith and would feel they were defiled if they ate food that had been offered to idols. But in truth, what is eaten is not what is important to the LORD so it really does not matter.
Verses 9-11 But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak. 10 For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol’s temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols; 11 And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?
However, just because eating food offered to idols does not bother some Christian believers, if they know it bothers other believers they should not do it. Should a weak brother in the LORD see another brother having a meal of this food at the market, they may feel that they can do the same thing and because of their belief, they defile themselves and their relationship with the LORD. An example today would be to offer a Christian brother or sister who is a vegetarian a roast beef sandwich when it is known that the brother or sister does not eat meat. The true Christian will not offend his brother or sister in the LORD, and not deliberately offend those outside of the Church either by engaging in any activity that others feel is wrong or inappropriate.
Verses 12-13 But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ. 13 Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend. (1 Corinthians 8)
Offending a fellow Christian is sin and disrespectful to the LORD Jesus Christ. Therefore the Apostle Paul ends this subject by stating that he refrains from doing anything, including eating certain foods, if it might offends fellow Christians.