In this next section of 1 Corinthians, which spans chapters 8, 9 and 10, Paul is addressing more questions from the Corinthian believers, and touching on the responsibilities and liberties of the believer.

The primary issue which brought up the questions Paul is answering in chapter 8 had to do with meat sacrificed to idols. May a believer eat meat that was sacrificed to idols?

A little background is in order. In Corinth, there were two sources for meat in the markets. The regular meat market, and then excess sacrifice meat market. The regular meat market was expensive. The excess sacrifice market was affordable. So, many people who could not afford the meat from the regular market, would buy the excess sacrifice meat.

Idol worship was a huge part of everyday life in the city of Corinth. Every day, people were taking sacrifices to the temples. 1 portion of each sacrifice went to the ‘god’ to whom it was sacrificed. 1 portion went to the priest, and 1 portion went to the person who was making the sacrifice. With all of the sacrifices being made, there was too much for the priests. The excess was sold for anyone to buy.

Well, this led to an issue in the church. Some believers were buying meat in that had been sacrificed to idols, and other believers were offended.

How should they handle this?

Paul is going to handle this issue, and the way he does has application for us today, as well.

What? How many of us are buying meat that has been sacrificed to an idol? This particular issue may not be one with which we have to deal. However, the principles which Paul, through the Spirit is teaching in this passage can be applied to issues we face today.

1 Corinthians 8 NIV

Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that “We all possess knowledge.” But knowledge puffs up while love builds up. Those who think they know something do not yet know as they ought to know. But whoever loves God is known by God. So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that “An idol is nothing at all in the world” and that “There is no God but one.” For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”), yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live. But not everyone possesses this knowledge. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat sacrificial food they think of it as having been sacrificed to a god, and since their conscience is weak, it is defiled. But food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do. Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak. For if someone with a weak conscience sees you, with all your knowledge, eating in an idol’s temple, won’t that person be emboldened to eat what is sacrificed to idols? So this weak brother or sister, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. When you sin against them in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause them to fall.

Knowledge vs. Love

I titled the sermon today based upon the first verse in this section of 1 Corinthians.

Paul is answering their question about whether a believer may eat meat that was sacrificed to an idol. However, he does not just come out and say ‘yes’ or ‘no’.

Instead, Paul is teaching them through this issue, that they might learn the principles by which to judge issues where there are disagreements.

As we work through Paul’s teaching, we will see

The Danger of Knowledge

The Benefit of Love

Living in Knowledge with Love

Paul starts out by saying this:

1 Corinthians 8:1 NIV

Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that “We all possess knowledge.” But knowledge puffs up while love builds up.

The Danger of Knowledge

Knowledge is good, and we all have knowledge. The problem is that when there is a dispute, we tend to think we have knowledge and the other person is foolish.

Imagine the fights the Corinthians were having before asking Paul to address this issue.

Knowledge puffs up. It makes us proud. And pride was a major issue for the Corinthians, and for us today.

We get prideful in our knowledge and understanding, and begin to look down on others, or condemn others who have not reached our level of understanding.

Paul goes on to say,

1 Corinthians 8:2 NIV

Those who think they know something do not yet know as they ought to know.

If your knowledge is leading you to pride instead of humility, you do not yet know as you ought to know.

Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations 2968 Like Boy on Seashore

Sir Isaac Newton, after his sublime discoveries in science, said, “I do not know what I may appear to the world; but to myself I seem only like a boy playing upon the seashore, and diverting myself by now and then finding a pebble, or a prettier shell than ordinary, while the great ocean of truth lies all undiscovered before me.”

Illustration: Newton Voltaire

Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations 2964 Which Was the Dotard?

It is a remarkable fact that Sir Isaac Newton, writing on the prophecy of Daniel 12:4 said that if they were true, it would be necessary that a new mode of traveling should be invented, for knowledge would be so increased that man would be able to travel at the rate of fifty miles an hour.

Voltaire, true to the spirit of skepticism, said: “Now look at the mighty mind of Newton, who discovered gravitation; when he began to study the Book called the Bible, it seems in order to credit its fabulous nonsense, he believed that the knowledge of mankind will be so increased that we shall be able to travel fifty miles an hour! The poor dotard!” Today even a skeptic would have to say, “Newton was a wise philosopher; Voltaire a poor old dotard.”

The Danger of Knowledge - Pride

Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies.

When we grow in knowledge, it tends to lead us to pride. It should lead to more humility, not pride. We should realize more of what we do not yet know and understand.

Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies.

1 Corinthians 8:1 NIV

Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that “We all possess knowledge.” But knowledge puffs up while love builds up.

The Benefit of Love

It is interesting the Paul does not say, whoever knows God… Or, whoever loves God has true knowledge...

Love builds up. The word here is like building a house. Love, in wisdom builds others up, a little at a time, wisely, laying good foundations and building upon those foundations one piece at a time.

Then, after speaking of the dangers of knowledge, Paul speaks of the benefit of love.

1 Corinthians 8:3 NIV

But whoever loves God is known by God.

The best knowledge is this, not what I know, but that I am known by God!

Matthew 7:15–23 NIV

“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

What is this fruit which is recognizable? It is not the pride of knowledge, but the fruit of love.

For if we truly love the Lord, we will love others.

1 John 3:10 NIV

This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister.

1 John 4:20 NIV

Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.

1 John 4:21 NIV

And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.

The more we know the Lord, the more we should love Him. As we love Him, it should come out in how we treat our brothers and sisters in Christ. As we love Him, we are known by Him!

Knowledge is not wrong.

Knowledge of the Lord is great! As Paul shared in 1 Cor 1.31.

1 Corinthians 1:31 NIV

Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”

Which is a quote of Jeremiah 9:24,

Jeremiah 9:24 NIV

but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the Lord.

Knowledge of the Lord is great, when it leads to love and not pride!

Living in Knowledge with Love

So, Paul now shows how knowledge working out in love is the answer to the dispute over food sacrificed to idols.

Living in knowledge of God

So, Paul now shows how knowledge working out in love is the answer to the dispute over food sacrificed to idols.

1 Corinthians 8:4–6 NIV

So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that “An idol is nothing at all in the world” and that “There is no God but one.” For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”), yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.

Living in knowledge of God

It is all from God, and for God that we live.

It is all through Christ, and through Christ that we live.

Can you eat this for God? Can you eat this through Christ?

Remember,

1 Corinthians 8:8 NIV

But food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.

Living in knowledge of our brother

1 Corinthians 8:7–12 NIV

But not everyone possesses this knowledge. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat sacrificial food they think of it as having been sacrificed to a god, and since their conscience is weak, it is defiled. But food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do. Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak. For if someone with a weak conscience sees you, with all your knowledge, eating in an idol’s temple, won’t that person be emboldened to eat what is sacrificed to idols? So this weak brother or sister, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. When you sin against them in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.

1 Corinthians 8:13 NIV

Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause them to fall.

Living in knowledge of our brother

1 Corinthians 13:1–3 NIV

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.