September 10, 2025
1 Corinthians 8 ESV
Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” This “knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up. If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. But if anyone loves God, he is known by God. 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.” 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. 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. Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. 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? And so by your knowledge this weak person is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. Thus, sinning against your brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.
Discussion Questions:
Paul now begins to address another concern of the Corinthian brethren: Is it okay to eat meat offered to idols? The Apostle Paul will discuss this general topic in the next three chapters. However, for this study we would like to concentrate on what is said in chapter 8.
1) Because this is a situation that we do not face in the modern world, what is meant by eating meat offered to idols?
2) Apparently this was not an easy issue for the brethren, so why did some think it was okay and why did some think it was wrong?
3) What is Paul’s advice on this issue in chapter 8?
Discussion Summary:
Throughout the ancient world when animals were sacrificed in a temple, only part of the meat was offered on the altar. The rest of the meat was butchered and sold for food. The majority of meat that was sold in cities came from a temple. Jews would not eat any meat that was sold at a pagan temple. During the days of the apostles this became a question for believers: Should Christians eat meat that was offered first to an idol and then sold out of a temple?
In this chapter Apostle Paul gives both sides of this question. First, he says that he believes there are no other gods so an idol is just an image (verse 4) therefore it is okay to eat the meat. Secondly, he says that not everyone has this perspective. Some still think of idols as representing other gods and so if they eat meat offered to idols they feel as if they are worshipping that god (verse 7).
The Apostle Paul’s advice is that a Christian should understand that love is more important than knowledge. We should never want to overwhelm someone who doesn’t understand our perspective. It is better to give up your preference to eat than to cause someone to violate their conscience.
True Christian liberty is to do good to others. It does not give license to cause conflicts (Romans 12:10). The Christian should be alert to not give an appearance of evil to those who are not familiar with your perspective (1 Thessalonians 5:22). The Christian should be very careful not to cause someone to sin (Matthew 18:6).
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