Introduction
Chapters 8-10 deals with the church’s questions about meat offered to idols. In the Roman world, meat was slaughtered at pagan temples by the priests. One portion was burned in honor of the temple’s god, one portion was given to the worshipper to take home and eat, and the priest kept one portion. If the priest didn’t want to keep his portion, he sold it at the temple meat market at a discount price.
This raised serious questions for the Corinthian Christians. Would some demonic power be present in the meat and injure the believer? Would eating such meat defile the Christian?
While we do not face this problem in the modern age, we do have situations that are questionable. For example, should Christians smoke cigarettes, watch movies with foul language and scenes, etc? Although we are free from the Law, do we have the right to live any way we please?
In chapters 8-10, Paul outlines basic principles that should govern how we live. Paul teaches that we should not cause others to stumble by our choices (chapter 8). In chapter 9, Paul freely did not demand services due him as an apostle so he could serve them without salary. Finally in chapter 10, Paul used Israel to warn Christians about presumptuous sins connected with idolatry and immorality.
The Clarification, vv. 4-6, 8
A. There are many false gods who are not gods at all, vv. 4-5.
B. There is only one true God, the Creator of all things and the giver of life, v. 6.
C. There is no connection between food and spirituality, v. 8 and Matthew 15:17-20.
The Concern, v. 7
Not all Christians know this, and some are upset when other believers eat such meat offered to idols.
The Challenge, vv. 1-3, 9-12
A. Don’t become a stumbling block to other Christians, vv. 9-12.
1. To do so is to sin against your weaker brother, vv. 9-11.
2. To do so is to sin against your Savior, v. 12.
B. Do become a stepping-stone, vv. 1-3: Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.
The Conclusion, v. 13