Knowledge Versus Love
Study note
Paul begins by acknowledging that all believers possess knowledge, but he immediately warns that knowledge puffs up while love builds up. True understanding comes from being known by God, not from intellectual superiority. Regarding idols, the Corinthians correctly know that an idol has no real existence and that there is only one God, the Father, and one Lord, Jesus Christ. But knowledge alone is not sufficient for navigating this issue.
1 Now about meat that has been offered to idols. We all think we know the answer to this one. But knowing things can make you arrogant. Love is what builds people up. Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.
2 If someone thinks they have all the answers, they have not even started to understand things the right way. And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.
3 But when someone loves God, God knows that person in a special way. But if any man love God, the same is known of him.
4 So about eating food offered to idols: we know that an idol is not a real god. There is only one true God. As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.
5 Sure, some people talk about so-called 'gods' in heaven or on earth. There are plenty of things people call 'gods' and 'lords.' For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,)
6 But for us, there is one God -- the Father. Everything came from him, and we live for him. And there is one Lord -- Jesus Christ. Everything was made through him, and we live through him. But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.
The Stumbling Block of Freedom
Study note
Not all believers share the same level of understanding. Some, still accustomed to thinking of idols as real, have their conscience wounded when they see a knowledgeable believer eating in an idol's temple. Food itself is spiritually neutral, but exercising one's freedom without regard for weaker believers can destroy a brother for whom Christ died. Paul frames careless use of liberty as a sin not only against the weaker person but against Christ himself, and he personally commits to never eating meat again if it would cause a fellow believer to stumble.
7 But not everyone understands this yet. Some people are so used to thinking idols are real that when they eat idol food, they feel like they are participating in idol worship. Their conscience is not strong enough yet, and it gets stained. Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.
8 Food itself does not change our standing with God. Eating does not make us better, and skipping does not make us worse. But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse.
9 But be careful. Your freedom to eat anything might cause a problem for someone whose faith is not as strong. But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.
10 Someone with a shaky conscience sees you — someone who 'knows better' — eating in a temple where idols are worshiped. Will that not push them to eat idol food too, even though it bothers their conscience? For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols;
11 So your 'knowledge' ends up hurting a fellow believer who has weak faith. This is someone Christ died for. And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?
12 When you hurt the weak faith of a fellow believer like that, you are sinning against Christ himself. But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.
13 So if eating meat could make a fellow believer stumble, I will never eat meat again. I would rather give it up than make someone fall. Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.