To abstain from meats offered to idols. We must not abuse our Christian liberty to the offence of our brethren; but must bridle our knowledge with charity.
Anno Domini 57.
WHEN the heathens offered sacrifices of such animals as were fit for food, a part of the carcase was burnt on the altar, a part was given to the priest, and on the remainder the offerers feasted with their friends, either in the idol's temple, or at home. Sometimes also a part was sent as a present to such as they wished to oblige; and if the sacrifice was large, a part of it was sold in the public market. To these idolatrous feasts, the heathens often invited the Christians of their acquaintance in Corinth; and some of the brethren there, desirous of preserving the friendship of their neighbours, accepted these invitations; perhaps at the persuasion of their false teacher, who called it an innocent method of avoidingpersecution. They knew that an idol was nothing in the world: and therefore their partaking of the sacrifice, even in the idol's temple, could not, they thought, be reckoned a worshipping of the idol. Besides, as they argued, such a feast was considered by enlightened Christians as a common meal, which under the Gospel they were at liberty to eat; especially if they did it to shew their belief that idols have no existence as gods. These arguments, it is true, are not explicitly stated by the Apostle. But the things that he has written in this chapter and in chap. 10: being direct confutations of them, we may believe that they were mentioned by the Corinthian brethren, in their letter referred to in chap. 1 Corinthians 7:1.
Agreeably to this supposition, the Apostle begins his discourse concerning the eating of things sacrificed to idols, with acknowledging that the generality of Christians had much more knowledge than the heathens. But at the same time he told them, that knowledge often puffeth up individuals with pride, and makes them neglect the good of their neighbours. Whereas love leadeth one to edify his neighbour, 1 Corinthians 8:1.—Next he declared, that whoever is vain of his knowledge, and makes an uncharitable use of it, knows nothing yet as he ought to know; because true knowledge always makes a man humble and charitable, 1 Corinthians 8:2.—And that the way to attain true knowledge in religious matters, is to love God, who in time will make us know things, as we ought to know them, 1 Corinthians 8:3.—Having laid down these principles, the Apostle, in answer to the first argument, whereby the partaking, even in the idol's temple, of the sacrifices offered there, was pretended tobe justified, acknowledged that most Christians know an idol is nothing in the world; has no existence as a God, and no share in the government of the world; and that there is no other God but one: and no other Lord but Jesus, 1 Corinthians 8:4-6.—But at the same time he told them, there were some weak brethren, who had not that knowledge, but believed idols to be real gods, who possessed some share in the government of the world; consequently, when they ate of the sacrifices offered to idols, they did it with a conscience, or belief, of the existence of the idol, and of his power in human affairs. In them therefore the eating of such sacrifices was certainly an act of idolatry, whereby their conscience was defiled, 1 Corinthians 8:7.—Next, to the argument, that the things sacrificedto idols, being meats the eating of which was lawful under the Gospel, consequently that they might be eaten in any place, 1 Corinthians 8:8 the Apostle replied, that in the use of their Christian liberty of eating all kinds of meats without distinction, they were bound to take care not to lead the weak into sin, by their example, 1 Corinthians 8:9.—This, he told them, they would certainly do, by eating the sacrifices of idols. For, said he, if a weak brother, who fancies an idol to be a real god, see thee, who knowest that it is no god, sitting at a feast on the sacrifice in the idol's temple, will not his ill-informed conscience be encouraged by the example to eat of that meat as sacrificed to a real god? 1 Corinthians 8:10.—And thus, through an improper use of thy knowledge, shall thy weak brother commit idolatry, and perish, for whom Christ died, 1 Corinthians 8:11.—Such a conduct, the Apostle termed a sinning against the brethren, and against Christ, 1 Corinthians 8:12.—Then in a high strain of Christian benevolence, he declared, that if his eating any kind of flesh occasioned his brother to sin, he would abstain from it all his life, 1 Corinthians 8:13.—By saying this, the Apostle insinuated to the faction, that, whatever they might pretend, their real motives for joining the heathens in their idolatrous feasts were of a sensual kind. They loved good cheer and merriment. But, were it only for the salvation of their brethren, it was their duty willingly to have denied themselves all such gratific
Here it is necessary to observe, that the Apostle's design, in this part of his letter, was, not to shew the Corinthians the sinfulness of sitting down with the heathens in an idol's temple, to feast on the sacrifices offered there: that subject he treats of in ch. 10. But his design was, to make them sensible, that although it had been lawful for those who knew the truth concerning idols to partake of these feasts, they were bound to avoid them, because their weak brethren, who believed idols to have some share in the government of the world, would by their example be led to eat at these feasts as an act of worship, and so be guilty of idolatry.—The remaining arguments in vindication of the practice, together with the general question itself, concerning the lawfulness of eating in the temples, or elsewhere, meats that had been sacrificed to idols, the Apostle considered afterwards, chap. 10:—See chap. 1 Corinthians 11:5 note 1 where the reason of the Apostle's treating this subject hypothetically, in the part of his letter now under our consideration, is assigned, and applied for illustrating his treating hypothetically of women's praying and prophesying in the public assemblies for worship.