1st Corinthians – Liberality and Constraints

December 9, 2008

The beginning of an extremely challenging portion of Scriptures, 1 Corinthians 8 edges towards discussing liberty and constraints. Chapters 8-11 showcase Paul’s pastoral nature, for rather than writing a polemic list of do’s and don’t’s to a church of diverse believers with questionable devotion, he has devised an all-embracing construct for Christian life, worship and the spiritual realm. The implications of these chapters are more radical than the sexual ideals put forth in chapters 6-7.

The issues of enforcing ecclesial norms plagued the Corinthian Church just as it plagues the Catholic Church in America. One central issue emerges: eating meat sacrificed to idols. Rather than burn or discard meat used for ritual purposes, pagan temples and local markets sold vast supplies of cheap, edible meat. It was common in Corinthian culture for one to eat his meal right at the temple, and the vast quantity of meat made these temples a sort of banquet hall for trade guilds; in either case these affairs were tainted with pagan idolatry.

Paul prepares the groundwork for his argument by beginning chapter 8 very carefully; writing across the Aegean Sea to a church with which he has a deep spiritual bond, he is like a careful parent not trying to lose control of rebellious teenagers. As an Old Testament scholar, he knows the need to eradicate idolatry among God’s people. Certain Corinthian Christians had long argued it was licit to eat meat sacrificed to idols, since they knew there was only one true God, but the early Church’s harsh treatment of those who burned incense to the Roman gods provides a proper precedent against such a practice. Nevertheless, the Corinthian Church was in turmoil over this issue, dividing families and splitting the church.

For a bit of history, the Christian faith came to Corinth after the Council of Jerusalem which insisted that uncircumcised Gentiles refrain from eating meat with blood in it or that had been strangled, avoiding all things associated with idols and all forms of sexual immorality. Blood was so stringently avoided primarily because of God’s commandment to Noah and his sons, not Israelites, of whom we are all descendants. Now, the Corinthians bristle at Paul’s authority and perceived "legalism" in regards to meat sacrificed to idols.

He offers a valuable lesson, "’all of us possess knowledge’. ‘Knowledge [without love] puffs up, but love builds up’" (8:1). After discussing love and knowledge, he concedes that "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" (v 5-6). He follows with "not all possess this knowledge. But some, through being hitherto accustomed to idols, eat food as really offered to an idol" (v 7). The mature Christians must bear patiently with their co-religionists who do not possess the knowledge in verses 5 and 6; the alternative is to sin against Christ (Cf. v. 12). He then finishes the chapter by edging up to a prohibition on eating meat sacrificed to idols which he will state definitively in chapter 10.

As an aside, when Paul says "all things are lawful," he is not being an antinomian [law-abolisher], but instead referring to those who have the full life of Christ and never act except in accord God’s perfect will. This statement is also an attempt to warm those who respond negatively to legalism to his pastoring.

Music: La Cornara from the album Italian Music of the 17th Century, performed by Altri Stromenti. www.magnatune.com

  • /
Update Required
To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version or update your Flash plugin.

Download MP3 (45:47; 26 MB)

Acts Lecture 40 – The Affliction in Asia, Part II

February 1, 2022

Acts Lecture 39 – The Affliction in Asia, Part I

January 25, 2022

Acts Lecture 38 – The Philippian Jailer

January 18, 2022

Acts Lecture 37 – Mission to the Galatians

January 11, 2022

Acts Lecture 36 – The Second Missionary Journey

January 4, 2022

Acts Lecture 35 – The Prohibition of Blood

December 28, 2021

Acts Lecture 34 – The Council of Jerusalem, Part II

December 21, 2021

Acts Lecture 33 – The Council of Jerusalem, Part I

December 14, 2021

Acts Lecture 32 – A Drama of Ideas, Part III

November 30, 2021

Acts Lecture 31 – A Drama of Ideas, Part II

November 23, 2021

Acts Lecture 30 – A Drama of Ideas, Part I

November 16, 2021

Acts Lecture 29 – Paul and Barnabas

November 2, 2021

Acts Lecture 28 – Rejection

October 26, 2021

Acts Lecture 27 – Paul’s Speech

October 19, 2021

Acts Lecture 26 – Bar-Jesus

October 12, 2021

Acts Lecture 25 – The Holy Spirit Speaks

October 5, 2021

Acts Lecture 24 – Barnabas in Antioch

September 28, 2021

Acts Lecture 23 – Herod Agrippa

September 21, 2021

Acts Lecture 22 – Communion of Churches

September 14, 2021

Acts Lecture 21 – Peter and the Gentiles

September 7, 2021

Acts Lecture 20 – Cornelius the God-fearer, Part II

August 31, 2021

Acts Lecture 19 – Cornelius the God-fearer, Part I

August 24, 2021

Acts Lecture 18 – The Christians Disperse

August 17, 2021

Acts Lecture 17 – Paul in Damascus

August 10, 2021

Acts Lecture 16 – The Good Pharisee

August 3, 2021

Acts Lecture 15 – The Ethiopian Eunuch

July 20, 2021

Acts Lecture 14 – The First Heretic

July 13, 2021

Acts Lecture 13 – Saul of Tarsus

July 6, 2021