He was in Ephesus at the time, but his heart and prayers were on the struggles that were threatening the church he planted in a strategic city during his 2nd missionary journey.
The church was not flourishing.... it was floundering in a pagan culture and seemed full of problems.
In reading the two letters that Paul sent (and always wondering about a third one), it seems to me that Paul's greatest desire was for believers in Jesus with vastly different backgrounds to find unity within their diversity.
If somehow they found a common faith and common core and a common bond... they would be able to make it through the other important struggles of the day.
I find I Corinthians 8 to be an interesting study on principles of unity.
As we come to the beginning of these points, it is important to notice the lead-up....
'Called to be saints together"... 1:2
"I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment." 1:10
"I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another." 4:8
"I say this (teachings on sexual immorality and marriage, contentment in the Lord) for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord." 7:35
So here we are in I Corinthians 8-
And Paul has been working through the issues.... division, pride, factions, theological disputes, sexual immorality (likely a common practice in pagan temples and trade guilds- part of career/social expectations) and now we come to idolatry and eating the meat that was sacrificed to pagan idols (and now available in the marketplace at a bargain price).
Now concerning food offered to idols:
The church was not flourishing.... it was floundering in a pagan culture and seemed full of problems.
In reading the two letters that Paul sent (and always wondering about a third one), it seems to me that Paul's greatest desire was for believers in Jesus with vastly different backgrounds to find unity within their diversity.
If somehow they found a common faith and common core and a common bond... they would be able to make it through the other important struggles of the day.
I find I Corinthians 8 to be an interesting study on principles of unity.
As we come to the beginning of these points, it is important to notice the lead-up....
'Called to be saints together"... 1:2
"I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment." 1:10
"I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another." 4:8
"I say this (teachings on sexual immorality and marriage, contentment in the Lord) for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord." 7:35
So here we are in I Corinthians 8-
And Paul has been working through the issues.... division, pride, factions, theological disputes, sexual immorality (likely a common practice in pagan temples and trade guilds- part of career/social expectations) and now we come to idolatry and eating the meat that was sacrificed to pagan idols (and now available in the marketplace at a bargain price).
But the over-riding principle is a call to unity and the foundational truth that it requires:
Now concerning food offered to idols:
Paul is doing double duty here.... Biblical thinking on a current issue, but having a goal of unity.
The general idea is..... UNITY WITH DIVERSE CONVICTIONS
A LACK OF UNITY IS, ULTIMATELY, A LACK OF HUMILITY
A LACK OF UNITY IS, ULTIMATELY, A LACK OF HUMILITY
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.
As he did earlier in the letter, Paul sees the root of divisions as pride. And the quickest cure is a self-killing embrace of humility.
UNITY IS MOTIVATED BY LOVE
But if anyone loves God, he is known by God.
Humility and love go hand in hand. And without love, we cannot know God because He is love (I John 4:7,8).
UNITY REQUIRES TRUTH.... BUT SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO SWALLOW IT
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.
UNITY REQUIRES PATIENCE - WAIT FOR MATURITY
However, not all possess this knowledge.
The ultimate truth... if all idols are false gods and not real... there is no real issue here. This meat is neutral... BUT JUST BECAUSE THIS IS TRUE does not mean that some at Corinth had learned that truth....
UNITY WITHOUT A VIOLATION OF CONSCIENCE
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.
UNITY WITHOUT CONDEMNATION
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.
UNITY BECAUSE I SURRENDER MY RIGHTS FOR THE SAKE OF OTHERS AND THE SAKE OF CHRIST
Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.
WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IN OUR CULTURE IF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST WORKED FOR, LONGED FOR, AND PRAYED FOR A SPIRIT OF UNITY IN HUMILITY AND LOVE?
UNITY WITHOUT CONDEMNATION
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.
UNITY BECAUSE I SURRENDER MY RIGHTS FOR THE SAKE OF OTHERS AND THE SAKE OF CHRIST
Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.
WHERE DOES THIS LEAD?
As Corinthians moves on- Paul keeps these principles in mind as he continues to warn against sinful attitudes and practices.
Ultimately, he leads to a higher way... a higher law.. a law of love. One that should carry us all to eternity.
These principles do not change in the 2nd letter to the Corinthians, but the tone is more joyful. The 1st letter is harsh but the 2nd one seems to indicate that the discipline was fruitful.
APPLICATIONS AND QUESTIONS FOR US IN THE 21ST CENTURY
- Do I desire unity? Does it mean enough to us that I would be willing to give up my rights for the sake of the gospel and for others?
- Am I willing to be patient and not offend the immature believer until the Lord grows them up a little?
- What is my attitude toward others who do not agree with me?
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