I Corinthians 8
Church Talk – A Study of I and II Corinthians
Pastor Brandon Ball
06/07/2023
The Sacrifice of Christian Liberty
From chapter 8 to chapter 11 the major topic is food sacrificed to idols, but the real underlying issue is Christian freedom and the priority of love.
1. Love is Greater than
1 Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” This “knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up. 2 If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. 3 But if anyone loves God, he is known by God. —1 Corinthians 8:1–3 (ESV)
“Knowledge” is not bad. Paul includes himself in possessing knowledge by his use of “us”.
What is bad is using knowledge (even advanced knowledge) to justify Christian liberties.
It is a self-fulfilling text when one declares, “let me explain to you why I’m right and your wrong”.
- “Knowledge
” (φυσιόω) to puff up; inflate; to make proud Why is it so ridiculous to take pride or solace or comfort in “knowledge?”
Because no matter how much knowledge you have, it is
! 8 Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part, 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. —1 Corinthians 13:8–10 (ESV)
The truth is that gaining knowledge should keep one humble – the more you learn the more you realize how much you actually don’t know!
If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. —1 Corinthians 8:2 (ESV)
Knowledge puffs up but love builds up.
- What’s the difference?
Knowledge builds
but love builds . You Love God Because He First Loved You.
1 Corinthians 8. 3 But if anyone loves God, he is known by God.One might have expected Paul to assert “the one who has full and complete knowledge, loves God”. Instead, Paul flips this makes the claim that the important thing is not what one knows per se but by whom the person is known and the implications of that knowledge.
The only reason we are able to love God is because he first loved us enough to grant us the ability in our finite minds enough knowledge to love Him.
2. Knowledge Must Be
4 Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that “an idol has no real existence,” and that “there is no God but one.” 5 For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”
6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.
7 However, not all possess this knowledge. But some, through former association with idols, eat food as really offered to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. 8 Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. 9 *But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.* 10 For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? 11 And so by your knowledge this weak person is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. 12 *Thus, sinning against your brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ.* 13 Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble. —1 Corinthians 8:4–13 (ESV)Genuine love for others always builds up in the right way. But actions that flow from knowledge absent of love build up in the wrong way and can lead to catastrophic consequences.
It is the one with the knowledge in this situation that is condemned in the strongest possible way because he caused the weaker brother to stumble.
There is a reverse to this scenario.
- On one hand, we’re talking about Christian liberty causing another to stumble.
What about advanced Bible knowledge?
12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. —Hebrews 4:12 (ESV)
A Worker Approved by God
14 Remind them of these things, and charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers. 15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. 16 But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, 17 and their talk will spread like gangrene. —2 Timothy 2:14–17 (ESV)Rightly handle the word of truth because it is a sharp blade.
- You can perform
with the Word. - You can
someone with the Word.
3. Sacrifice of Liberty is a Demonstration of
13 Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble. —1 Corinthians 8:13 (ESV)
Paul declares, I would rather give up meat than to cause my brother to stumble.
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. —John 3:16 (ESV)
His sacrifice was a demonstration of his love.
34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” —John 13:34–35 (ESV)
Our sacrifice is a demonstration of our love and testimony of His love.
12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. —John 15:12–13 (ESV)
Notes: