Now concerning things
offered to idols:
We know that we all
have knowledge.
Knowledge puffs up,
but love edifies.
And if anyone thinks
that he knows anything,
he knows nothing yet
as he ought to know.
But if anyone loves
God,
this one is known by
Him.
1 Corinthians 8: 1 --
3
A majestic
and even a mysterious fact that when we allow that which is our duty as a
Christian, allowing the Holy Spirit to invade and control our nature, then we
are becoming what we ought to be, an image of our Lord and Savior Jesus
Christ. One of the issues that the
church has had to deal with over the years and even in our present age is that
of idols. What is an idol? So often always think about is statues or
other artifacts that are used in some form of worship, by Christians, and
non-Christians; i.e. the statue of Buddha would be an example of this. But also other things are also mention such
as pictures of saints lining the walls of cathedrals and churches and even in
homes, therefore, the question is what is an idol. As has been mentioned, we often think of an idol as an image of
some material, and object representing the deity and then worshiped as
such. Yet, idol also represents a
deeper meaning that is that an idol is something devotedly or excessively
admired. Furthermore, an idol is that
which is a mere image of a person or a thing, a semblance of something visible
but does not have substance. You can
also have the meaning of a false notion, a fallacy. To give worship to something, or some one is to regard that which
is being in worship with faith and devotion, even a deep emotional and
devoted love for that which the idol represents. Paul is going to address this issue of idolatry and the idols
because the Corinthians had as their main form of worship Aphrodite, the
goddess of love, who stood atop the Acrocorinth and in Corinth where you could find the
cults of the gods of Egypt, Rome and Greece. Of equal fame in Corinth was the
temple of Poseidon, ruler of the sea (on which Corinth's commercial life
depended) and maker of earthquakes (a frequent danger in the area). Poseidon
had a very large temple at a nearby village where the biennial Isthmian Games
were held. Numerous other temples in Corinth include ones to Apollo, Hermes,
Venus-Fortuna, Isis, and one dedicated to "All The Gods" (Pantheon).
On the slopes of the Acrocorinth was the sanctuary of Demeter, which dates from
the 6th and 7th centuries B.C. It was
also customary among the heathen's to make peace in regards to their
sacrifices, and not only to eat of the food that they are offered in the least
to the idols or gods but to invite your friends to partake along with them, and
this often happened in the temples.
This now became a question for the Christians whether or not they should
eat food that had been offered to idols or not therefore Paul had to address
this issue to give clarification.
Notice how Paul begins to address this issue about idols by the use of
the fact that knowledge puffs up. What
did he mean by this and what principle are we to derive from Paul's
statement? So often we find people who
in some sense feel as though what they believe in regards to be eating foods as
either good or bad, and even in some cases sinful or non-sinful. They have lots of knowledge but Paul reminds
us that knowledge isn't the most important thing, rather it is love that
edifies. Then Paul says if anyone
thinks he knows anything; he doesn't know what they are to know and hold fast
to is their love of God, and not to some idolatrous understanding that does not
show the love of God. Therefore Paul
writes: "Therefore concerning the
eating of things offered to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the
world, and that there is no other God but one.
For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on the earth
(as there are many gods and many lords), yet for us there is one God, the
Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ,
through whom are all things, and through whom we live" (1 Corinthians 8: 4
-- 6). While Paul is here speaking
about eating the foods to idols a question comes to mind: what are you holding
as your idol? Is it your home? Is it your car? Is it your success? Once
again the question really is; who holds or what holds priority in your
life? Is it God, or is Jesus Christ,
the ones who created all things in heaven, and earth. There is one God, who is the Father of all things. The one for whom we are to be devoted. We are to give Him worship, and to ensure us
once again that Jesus Christ is God it is also mention that all things are
through the one more Jesus Christ and within him by the power of the Holy
Spirit who has in Gulf and overtaken our nature helping us to become an image
of our Savior. Love edifies, and true love
will give tender regard to our brethren and we will consider their interest
first and act for their edification.
Evidence is very clear that he is evidence of ignorance that is so
common giving conceit of knowledge.
That is what the writer of Ecclesiastics clearly mentions about vanity
that all his vain: "There is an evil
which I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men: a man to whom God
has given riches and wealth and honor, so that he lacks nothing for himself of
all he desires; yet it God does not give him power to eat of it, but a
foreigner consumes it. This is vanity,
and that it is an evil affliction....
Since there are many things that increase vanity, how is the man the
better" (Ecclesiastes 6:1 -- 2; 11)?
This writer ins his writing with words that we so often hear that I fear
that often fall on deaf ears or ignored in some way: "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and
keep His commandments, for this is man's all" (Ecclesiastes 12: 13). It may not be food, it may not be pictures
of saints or idols of saints, or other things that are worshiped within the
church, and often it is those things we hold dear and are so devoted to in our
homes and in our lives. Bottom line: LOVE GOD: LIVE LIFE!
I will betroth you to Me for ever;
yes, I will
betroth you to Me
in righteousness and justice,
in loving
kindness and mercy;
I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness,
and you
shall know the LORD.
You are God’s people
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