Menu
1 Corinthians 8: Avoiding Offense
Who do you think brought the question to Paul about meat sacrificed to idols?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
1 Corinthians 8:1 Concerning your question about eating food that has been offered to idols: what we know makes us feel good about ourselves, but love seeks to help others.
King James
1 Corinthians 8:1 Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.
Why was meat sacrificed to idols a problem to some and not to others?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
1 Corinthians 8:1 Concerning your question about eating food that has been offered to idols: what we know makes us feel good about ourselves, but love seeks to help others.
King James
1 Corinthians 8:1 Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.
What is the danger of thinking we have the answers?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
1 Corinthians 8:2 When we think we know the answer, we’re unaware of what we have missed.
King James
1 Corinthians 8:2 And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.
Why is it important to have an intimate relationship with God?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
1 Corinthians 8:3 If we truly love God, then we enjoy an intimate relationship in which we become aware of his desires.
King James
1 Corinthians 8:3 But if any man love God, the same is known of him.
What effect does the worship of an idol have upon the meat that is sacrificed?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
1 Corinthians 8:4 What do we know about meat sacrificed to idols? A statue that people worship is not a god, just a figure made from wood, stone, or metal.
King James
1 Corinthians 8:4 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.
What kind of power, if any, is given to an idol when it is worshiped?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
1 Corinthians 8:5 People may call god or master anything in the sky above or earth below, making it an object of worship, but it is actually nothing, void of life and power.
King James
1 Corinthians 8:5 For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many.)
How does the impact of worshiping God differ from worshiping an idol?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
1 Corinthians 8:6 We know there is but one Almighty God, the Father, Creator of all things, who gave us life. And we serve only one master, our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom all things exist and by whom we live.
King James
1 Corinthians 8:6 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.
Is it possible to worship God and also worship idols? Why or why not?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
1 Corinthians 8:6 We know there is but one Almighty God, the Father, Creator of all things, who gave us life. And we serve only one master, our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom all things exist and by whom we live.
King James
1 Corinthians 8:6 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.
How might people’s attitude toward eating meat sacrificed to idols affect their relationship with God?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
1 Corinthians 8:7 However, people don’t always know that. When they see idols as being real, they think eating meat sacrificed to an idol is worship of another god. Their weak consciences would be injured if they ate.
King James
1 Corinthians 8:7 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.
If we know an action doesn’t offend God, why might it still not be okay to do it?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
1 Corinthians 8:8 What we eat doesn’t bring us closer to God. We’re no better if we eat, no worse off if we don’t.
8:9 Be careful, though, because you don’t want your liberty in eating to become a stumbling block to those who are weak in faith.
King James
1 Corinthians 8:8 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.
8:9 But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.
How important do you think it is to avoid even the appearance of evil?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
1 Corinthians 8:10 If people saw you eating in the temple of an idol, then they might ignore their conscience and participate in idol worship as they ate.
1 Thessalonians 5:22 Avoid even the appearance of evil.
King James
1 Corinthians 8:10 or 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.
1 Thessalonians 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.
If idols have no power, what is the problem with worshiping them?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
Exodus 20:3 Don’t allow anyone or anything to be more important to you than me.
1 Corinthians 8:10 If people saw you eating in the temple of an idol, then they might ignore their conscience and participate in idol worship as they ate.
King James
Exodus 20:3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
1 Corinthians 8:10 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.
Why might offending people be a problem?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
Matthew 18:6 But if you cause one who believes in me to stumble, it would be better to have a millstone tied around your neck, be thrown into the sea, and drown in its depths.
25:41 He will destroy those wicked men with a horrible death and find others who will give him his share of the harvest.
25:42 Haven’t you read the scripture? The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. God has done this, and it is a wonderful sight to behold.
25:43 So I am telling you, the Kingdom of God will be taken from you and will be given to a fruitful people.
25:44 Those who fall on this stone will be broken, but those on whom this stone falls will be crushed.”
25:45 After the Pharisees and chief priests heard his illustrations, they realized that he was talking about them.
1 Corinthians 8:11 Jesus gave his life for them. You don’t want your enlightenment to cause anyone to perish.
8:12 If you injure one who is weak in faith, you injure Christ.
8:13 That’s why I will never eat food that might cause a believer to stumble.
King James
Matthew 18:6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
25:41 They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons.
25:42 Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?
25:43 Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.
25:44 And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.
25:45 And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them.
1 Corinthians 8:11 And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?
8:12 But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.
8:13 Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.