First Corinthians

First Corinthians was taught by Dr. James Modlish
Outline provided by Randy Rogers

 

CHAPTER EIGHT

Chapter 8 deals with the conduct of a Christian in regards to food offered to idols. Paul’s admonition to the Corinthians is not to offend the brethren that have a weaker conscience about this matter. This same principle could be applied to other things as well.

8:1 “we all have knowledge” - When a person gets saved, they get knowledge (Psa. 119:138), but that knowledge can puff you up!

“charity edifieth” - A lot of knowledge acquired, without Charity (love) can cause you to be puffed up.

“If you’re puffed up you’re liable to have a blow out.” - Dr. Peter S. Ruckman

Charity is loving God (vs. 3).

Paul’s speaks about “speaking the truth in love” in (Eph. 4:15). The “truth” is the (knowledge) spoken of here, and “love” is the (charity).

8:2 Paul is just a little bit sarcastic here. He’s trying to bring the Corinthians down a notch or three.

8:3 If a man loves God it will show through. Charity is the highest form of love. This love is a giving love (Jn. 3:16) - “For God so “loved” the world, that he “gave” his only begotten son…”

8:4 Paul has to help the Corinthians remember that there is only one true God, and that idols are nothing. (See Psa. 115:1-8)

8:5 This looks like a contradiction from the previous verse, but it is not. There are those that are “called gods” in heaven and earth, but there is only one True God.

Satan is called the “god of this world” - (2 Cor. 4:4).
God said that the fallen angels in (Psa. 82) are gods.

Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God. Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any. (Isa. 44:6,8)

8:5 This also has to do with those that are called Lord. There is only one True Lord,

“And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.” (Rev. 19:11,16)

8:6 This pretty much sums it up… one true God, and one true Lord! The rest don’t win, place, or show in the overall picture.

8:7 Not all people have the knowledge that we just mentioned. This includes baby Christians that have yet to grow in Christ.

The persons conscience convicts him wrongly (vs. 11-12).

8:8 Eating meat doesn’t make you better or worse when it comes to the Lord.

“commendeth” - approval

8:9 Christians have liberty in Christ to do certain things according to their own conscience (Rom. 14:1-13), but Paul reiterates that they are not to use their Liberty as a stumblingblock to those that are weak.

8:11 The weaker brother’s conscience is defile because of your knowledge, and his emboldened spirit to try and do the same thing that you have liberty to do… but he does not.

“perish” - does not mean he goes to hell, but that his conscience is destroyed, his testimony is destroyed as well. (1 Cor. 10:23-31)

8:12 Since this person is a member of the body of Christ, you sin against Christ when you wound the conscience of a weaker brother.

8:13 It is good to watch what you do and say in front of younger, weaker Christians. Not offending them is a primary concern for older more knowledgeable Christians.

Watch what you do and say. There’s an old saying - “no man is an island” that applies here. Paul says it this way:

For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. (Rom. 14:7)

-Page Navigation-

Chapters: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16