45 - Bible Commentary | Karuna Sadan

We are a technologically advanced race. We have made great strides in communication. We are trying to communicate with the whales in the deep seas and aliens in the far stretches of space and time. And yet, we have lost the ability to communicate with people around us - even with the people that matter to us most.

Also, lost is the ability to engage in a meaningful dialogue. We are quick to draw the knife and go for each other’s throats. A look at some social media posts will make you see the light about what I am saying.

It seems that everyone believes his own opinion is right on this matter. (1 Corinthians 8:1)

Disease called ‘SelfOpinionitis’ No one is ready to listen.

How easily we get puffed up over our opinions!

Apostle Paul was trying to answer some tough questions that the Corinthians were raising.

Now concerning things offered to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. (1 Corinthians 8:1)

There were two sources of meat in the ancient world: the regular market (where the prices were often higher) and the local temples (where meat from the sacrifices was always available at cheaper rates). The strong members of the church realized that idols could not contaminate food, so they saved money by purchasing the cheaper meat available from the temples.

This practice offended the weaker Christians. Many of them had been saved out of pagan idolatry, and they could not understand why their fellow believers would want to have anything to do with meat sacrificed to idols. This was the issue that Apostle Paul was addressing.

Why is it important to love the Lord?

But if a person passionately loves God, he will possess the knowledge of God (1 Corinthians 8:3 TPT)

However, there is not in everyone that knowledge; for some, with consciousness of the idol, until now eat it as a thing offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. (1 Corinthians 8:7)

Conscience is not the law; it bears witness to God’s moral law. But the important thing is this: conscience depends on knowledge. The more spiritual knowledge we know and act on, the stronger the conscience will become.

The conscience of a weak Christian is easily defiled (1 Corinthians 8:7), wounded (1 Corinthians 8:12), and offended (1 Corinthians 8:13). For this reason, the stronger saints must defer to the weaker saints and do nothing that would harm them.

Yes, we know that what you eat will not bring you closer to God. You are no better if you don’t eat certain foods and no better if you do. (1 Corinthians 8:8)

Foods don't affect the condition of your spirit but they sure can affect your body to a great degree. Food has no role to play in the salvation of a person or a family.

Apostle Paul taught that Knowledge must be balanced by love (1 Corinthians 8) our knowledge must not become a stumbling block to those who are weak. (1 Corinthians 8:9)

Someone said, “Truth without love is brutality, but love without truth is hypocrisy.” Love and truth must go hand in hand.

Chapter 8