1 Corinthians 8


1 Now about your question concerning food that has been offered to idols: Yes, we know that “we all have knowledge” about this issue. But knowledge makes us feel important, while love (makes others feel important) builds up the church.

It was a common practice of the time for farmers to offer food to idols, especially meat, and then take it to the marketplace to sell.

2 Anyone who thinks he knows all the answers doesn't have any of the knowledge he should have.


3 But those who love God are known by God. 

4 So, about eating those things that have been offered to idols; we all know that an idol isn't really a god (it's just a statue), and that our God is the only real God. 

5 Because there are things that are called gods, both in the skies and on the earth, (since people worship many things they call gods and lords (bosses, masters),)

But we know there is only One God, the Father who created the universe, and for whom we live. And there is only One Master, Jesus the Anointed One. Everything comes through Him,  including us. 

However, not all believers know this. Some are so used to thinking of idols as being real that when they eat food that has been offered to idols, they think of it as the worship of real gods, and their weak inner moral guide is corrupted. 

Food, however, will not improve our relation with God; we shall not lose anything if we do not eat something, nor shall we gain anything if we do eat it.

9 But be careful that your freedom doesn't cause someone who is weaker in their faith to fall (from their walk with God)

10 Because if someone who is weak in faith sees you who knows more about God sit down to eat meat in the idol's temple, won't he be tempted to violate his conscience and eat those things too?

Though someone who is mature in the faith could easily eat the meat offered to idols without worshiping them, someone new to Christianity might not be able to, especially since they would have just been converted from that very religion.. So following the example of the more mature christian they would be lead into idolatry.

Some Christians use this verse to justify bullying other Christians into abstaining from alcohol and other non biblical ideas. "I would be offended if you drink. Ever. Anywhere, any time."  And if a Christian is in the presence of a recovering alcoholic, then he certainly should abstain from drinking.

But those who demand others not drink so they are not "offended" are not "weak in the faith," but are legalistic imposing their will on others. They are bullies.We are not to mold our lives to please them. We are to follow the scripture alone (The Bible does not condemn drinking, but drunkenness. Two different things.)

11 So because of your knowledge (that eating things offered to idols is only eating food, because the idol is just a statue, not a god) will a weaker brother who the Anointed One died for loose his salvation?  

12 When you sin in this way against a weaker  fellow believer, making them falter in their beliefs,  you are sinning against the Anointed One. 

13 And so, if what I eat makes my fellow believer to fall, I will not eat meat until the end of time, so I won't cause him to loose out with God!



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