Sermon Tone Analysis

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.

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:

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,

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

Which is a quote of Jeremiah 9:24,

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.

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,

Living in knowledge of our brother

Living in knowledge of our brother