1 Corinthians 8: Just because you're hungry and it's there doesn't mean that you should eat it.
Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that ‘we all have knowledge.’ Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. If anyone thinks he knows anything, he does not yet know it as he ought to know it. But if anyone loves God, he is known by him.
As Paul turns his attention toward the subject of Christian Corinthians eating food that has been “sacrificed to idols,” we are again confronted with Corinth’s overarching problem: self-centeredness. The apostle has already addressed their cliquishness, their self-promotion, their pridefulness, and their tendency to not think about the other members of their community. “We know that ‘we all have knowledge.’ Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.” It appears that once again certain members of the church are claiming status because of their possession of special knowledge. This distinction within the church centers on the act of eating food that has procured from the any of the myriad of pagan temples located there in Corinth. It appears that some members of the congregation think that “This is bad. This is really bad. M’kay.”
And we soon learn that Paul thinks that this belief is silly; this is not a problem. The problem for Paul is that there are members of the church that look down on their brothers and sisters that believe this. This latter group believe that they have greater knowledge and are, thus, farther along in their faith. They mistakenly believe that the growth in one’s knowledge is synonymous with the growth of one’s faith. Paul quickly informs them, by verse three, in fact, that they cannot be more wrong. He then returns to the issue that has promoted the enlightened members’ pride.
About eating food sacrificed to idols, then, we know that ‘an idol is nothing in the world,’ and that ‘there is no God but one.’ For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth—as there are many ‘gods’ and many ‘lords’—yet for us there is one God, the Father. All things are from him, and we exist for him. And there is one Lord, Jesus Christ. All things are through him, and we exist through him.”
Paul declares that “gods” and “lords” have no power to affect the Corinthian’s lives, since they have placed their faith in Jesus Christ. Therefore, it does not matter if the food that they are eating had been presented to these deities as offerings before they consumed it; such offerings are a waste of food.
“For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth—as there are many ‘gods’ and ‘lords’ yet for us there is one God, the Father.” Paul tells the Corinthians that even of there were deities in creation, it would not matter since for them, “there is one God, the Father…And there is one Lord, Jesus Christ.” He admits that there are many gods and idols that people empower with their faith; they convince themselves that these are real. But none of these matters for the believer. Paul ends this passage with a doctrinal statement similar to ones that he will make in future letters: “All things are from him, and we exist for him. And there is one Lord, Jesus Christ. All things are through him, and we exist through him,” Paul says. This is why the condition of the Corinthians’ food is of no consequence for Paul; it has no power since God is the source of all things and we have received these for His purposes.
However, not everyone has this knowledge. Some have been so used to idolatry up until now that when they eat food sacrificed to an idol, their conscience, being weak, is defiled. Food will not bring us close to God. We are not worse off if we don’t eat, and we are not better if we do eat.
There are some in the church that do not yet possess the wisdom to partake in such food. In fact, it may well be the majority. These have not moved far enough away from their old habits, thoughts, and desires that they are able to eat such food. They can eat, but it would not be beneficial for them. True freedom in Christ is the product of maturity. (Galatians 5) If these immature members of the congregation eat food used in idolatry, Paul likely fears that emotional and physical responses might hinder their spiritual development. After all, he essentially warned the Corinthians that participating in sex outside of marriage will do the same. Food for all people—like sex for most—Paul says here serves a purpose, and that purpose is not to make us holier or bring us closer to God.
But be careful that this right of yours in no way becomes a stumbling block to the weak. For if someone sees you, the one who has knowledge, dining in an idol’s temple, won’t his weak conscience be encouraged to eat food offered to idols? So the weak person, the brother or sister for whom Christ died, is ruined by your knowledge. Now when you sin like this against brothers and sisters and wound their weak conscience, you are sinning against Christ. Therefore, if food causes my brother or sister to fall, I will never again eat meat, so that I won’t cause my brother or sister to fall.
Earlier, Paul wrote to the Galatians: “Carry one another’s burdens; in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. For is anyone considers himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.” (6:2,3) “All things are permissible, yet all things are not beneficial for me.” Here in these closing verses of chapter eight, Paul tells the Corinthians what is beneficial to each of them: the betterment and strengthening of every member’s faith in Christ. The Corinthians will come to learn in this very letter that each person is a member of the body of Christ with every other member. What is best for those who brag about their knowledge and the freedom that it gives them is to seek a closer walk with Jesus for other members who lack these.