1 Corinthians 8 & 9
8:2 If anyone thinks he knows anything Some Corinthian believers assumed that knowledge was the true sign of spirituality. They did not understand that knowledge without love indicates a lack of knowledge.
8:7 The conscience is like a judge in a courtroom. The judge does not make the laws; his role is to interpret them and render decisions. The judgments of the conscience are relative and vary between individuals, depending on what they know. The conscience carries an impulse to obey the right, and it passes judgment on conformity or nonconformity to the right. As a result, the conscience is a very powerful force. Guilt feelings are just as devastating as real guilt; therefore, love and not knowledge must be the basic principle whereby Christians live.
against Christ Implies that Christ counts what is done to His people as being done to Him (
9:1 Paul enforces the principle of considerate love by using his own action as an example. His apostolic office entitled him to certain privileges, but he renounced them for their sake.
WORD WEALTH
9:10 partaker, metecho (met-ekh-oh); Strong’s #3348: Literally “to have with.” The word connotes a sharing in, participating of, copartnering, working in association with another, and taking part in a joint venture. Here the sowers and the reapers share the same hopes.
WORD WEALTH
9:15 void, kenoo (ken-ah-oh); Strong’s #2758: To abase, neutralize, empty, nullify, render void, divest totally, reduce to nothing. The word is used of the incarnation of Christ in
