The Problem of Idols
.. we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God but one.
Cultural Clashes of Early Christians
False religions: idols as gods in the image of man.
In his first letter to the saints of the church at Corinth the Apostle instructs these new believers in cultural freedom and expected behavior of Christ followers as witness to the community in which we live.
Paul has already addressed a need for church unity between the Jews and Hellenists, as well as their obligation of humility modeling Christ our Lord.
He has just addressed the rampant immorality of church members and guidelines concerning marriage and singleness.
Now Paul will take on the general celebratory festive culture of the city where many feasts and pilgrimages provide indulgence of the flesh at temples of idols for which Corinth is famous.
Some Bible translations begin this 3-chapter section with helpful headings pointing to a question the Apostle received from a saint in Corinth to which the Apostle responds in his letter to Corinth:
- Concerning Food Offered to Idols
- Food Sacrificed to Idols
- Be Sensitive to Conscience
- Take Care with Your Liberty
The problem is not that of food or festivals, but the question of celebrating idolatry as saints identified with Christ.
1 Corinthians 8:
About food offered to idols: We know that “we all have knowledge.”
Knowledge inflates with pride, but love builds up.
If anyone thinks he knows anything, he does not yet know it as he ought to know it. But if anyone loves God, he is known by Him.
One God, NO idols
Paul immediately states true doctrine as their measure of response:
For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”—
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.
God and idolatry
From the Commandments of YHWH which the Hebrew believers are bound to obey:
5:7 לֹא יִהְיֶה־לְךָ אֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים עַל־פָּנָיַ׃
“‘You shall have no other gods before me.
You shall not bow down to them or serve them;
for I the LORD your God am a jealous God..
Deuteronomy 5:9a ESV
The Apostle Paul, Hebrew of Hebrews as he sometimes describes himself, must also address social behaviors of the Hellenist (Greek and Roman) believers about how their Gospel grace intersects with the Law and Commandments of Almighty God.
'But we are free to go to their festivals and feasts, their homes and their parties.. aren't we?'
AND what IF I can get them to come to our Sunday gathering to grow our church (here in Corinth)?
Pushback! Whether AD 55 or AD 2025, modeling religious freedom in a community all-inclusive of every idol and practically every sin challenges cultural perceptions concerning our witness of Jesus Christ.
So what advice does the Apostle offer?
Paul provides examples of most of the people we meet both in the worship community of the Church and community gatherings where we live.
In other words he instructs us to look at those around us, for all are not alike.
- 7 But this knowledge is not in all.
- And some, by habit of the idol until now, eat as of a thing sacrificed to an idol; and their conscience being weak, it is defiled.
- 8 But food will not commend us to God;
- neither if we should eat do we come short,
- nor if we should not eat, do we have an advantage.
- 8 But food will not commend us to God;
- And some, by habit of the idol until now, eat as of a thing sacrificed to an idol; and their conscience being weak, it is defiled.
But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.
- 9 But be careful, lest somehow this right of yours becomes an occasion of stumbling to those being weak.
WHY?
Prepositions:
he & brothers also applies to she and sisters (in Christ)
*in the AD 1st century men only addressed other men, husbands addressed only their own wife, who could address other women.
- 10 For if anyone sees you, having knowledge,
- eating in an idol’s temple,
- will not *his conscience,
- being weak,
- be built up so as to eat the things sacrificed to idols?
- 11 For the one being weak is destroyed through your knowledge—the brother for whom Christ died.
- 12And thus sinning against the brothers
- and wounding their being weak conscience,
- you sin against Christ.
1 Corinthians 8:7-12 Berean Literal Bible
- What is my witness?
- Are any of us wounding a weak conscience of someone seeking Christ?
Take Heed – βλέπω – Strong’s G991 – blepō
The leader of your local Sunday gathering receives and reads a letter from the very founder of your church.
Do your ears perk up? Is the Apostle’s coming exhortation and instruction something important? Could Paul’s examples point to some you know well?
metaph. to see with the mind’s eye
- to have (the power of) understanding
- to discern mentally, observe, perceive, discover, understand
- to turn the thoughts or direct the mind to a thing, to consider, contemplate, to look at, to weigh carefully, examine
‘You with eyes to see and ears to hear,’ Jesus would say.
NOT everyone worshiping with you will see or hear the Spirit speak to what is right and what is true.
Paul has already introduced this watchful humility of self to the Corinthians in working out their salvation in daily life.
For consider G991 your calling, brothers, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble.
According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful G991 how he builds on it.
The Apostle is laying a foundation here in Corinth not simply for a second letter which Paul will send, but more importantly for other reliable church leaders, specifically Timothy who Paul will mention later.
the Stumbling Blocks of culture
But see to it that this authority of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.
Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall.
Is YOUR authority in FREEDOM in Christ a STUMBLING BLOCK to other weaker believers?
For if someone sees you, who have knowledge, dining in an idol’s temple, will not his conscience, if he is weak, be built up to eat things sacrificed to idols?
1 Corinthians 8:10 LSB
And because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?
But when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.
Strong exhortation against a free attitude toward idolatry!
And Paul’s clear conscience and brief conclusion to this one instance of food sacrificed to idols:
“Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.
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