1 Corinthians Chapter 8

CORINTH: RICH GREEK CITY/STATE

(Acts 18:1 [KJV])
After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth;

(Acts 18:8 [KJV])
And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized.

(Acts 19:1 [KJV])
And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,

(1 Corinthians 1:2 [KJV])
Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called [to be] saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:

(2 Corinthians 1:1 [KJV])
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy [our] brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia:

(2 Corinthians 1:23 [KJV])
Moreover I call God for a record upon my soul, that to spare you I came not as yet unto Corinth.

(2 Corinthians 6:11 [KJV])
O [ye] Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged.

(2 Timothy 4:20 [KJV])
Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick.

• Lots of good, fresh water
• Lots of good, arable soil
• Lots of good clay for ceramics, pottery, etc., hence "Corinthian Pottery"
• Shops, fountains, carved stone temples to the Greek gods, porticos, metal workshops abounded
• As a part of a major shipping lane, Corinth has four ports, on the Gulf of Corinth, between two seas
• A temple to Apollo was there
• Another temple was one to Aphrodite, an acropolis known as Acrocorinth, which was associated with prostitutes for the seafaring men, which made it a rich city
• Perusing the two letters Paul wrote to them, it is obvious that they were apostate and backslidden.

1 CORINTHIANS 8: WORSHIPING THE INTELLECT AND THE IDOL

(1 Corinthians 8:1 [KJV])
Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.

• People with head knowledge always act like they know more than the rest of us, when pride is involved (puffing up their egos, their selves)
• People with college degrees (PhDs, ThDs, Masters, Bachelor's) often ask when challenged, "What is YOU degree in?"
• Peter, James, John were all lowly fishermen and wrote books of the Word of GOD. THey left their nets, followed the LORD Jesus, and God used them because of their faith, not schooling
• Matthew was a tax collector who usurped authority, over collected, handed in some, kept the rest
• Luke was a lowly physician, today a naturopath, nutritionist, looked down upon by the pharmaceutical industry, AMA, FDA, CDC, etc., harassed, threatened, even killed.
• Same then as now, not considered educated

PETER, JAMES, JOHN

(Matthew 4:18-20 [KJV])
And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they straightway left [their] nets, and followed him.

(Mark 1:16 [KJV])
Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.

(Luke 5:1-11 [KJV])
And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret, And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing [their] nets.
And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship. Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.
And they beckoned unto [their] partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw [it], he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord. For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken: And so [was] also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.
And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.

As fishermen, Peter, James and John would have been considered of low intelligence, low education, low character, cursing constantly. The same is true today of anyone who does not go to "higher education", "have an ADVANCED degree from an institute of HIGHER LEARNING". Yet Peter, James, John wrote Scripture books, changed people's lives, turned an entire empire, nation, synagogue upside and helped change the world, while others for the last 2,000 years have done little for eternity, little lasting and caused much more harm than good, worshiping their own intellects, achievements, awards, puatting each other on the back while mocking God. These men for former fools, now fools for Christ, as was Paul. THe res are fools who mock God. Not very smart, THOUGH "HIGHLY EDUCATED!!

LUKE: HATED OF THE WORLD AS A PHYSICIAN, LOVED, USED OF GOD

(Colossians 4:12 [KJV])
Epaphras, who is [one] of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.

As a true doctor, physician, Luke's writings in Scripture are more detailed and personal about the bodily life lived by Jesus and His disciples, almost like the dictation a doctor woukld take asking questions of a patient today

PAUL: HIGHLY EDUCATED, CALLED IT "DUNG"

(Acts 19:9 [KJV])
But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus.

(Philippians 3:4-9 [KJV])
Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, [of] the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things [but] loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them [but] dung, that I may win Christ,

(1 Corinthians 8:2 [KJV])
And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.

• One thing I learned as a teenager, by a wise old floor installer I worked with named Paul, old gentleman, was "THose people who go around acting like and saying they know the most? Nearly NEVER do!"
• This, for the last four plus decades, has been proven over and over
• As a humble Christian, you could live to be a million years old and still not scratch the surface of the abyssal depth God's Word
• As an arrogant one, you can think you know so much that you become unteachable, and will be heretical. If not today, then very soon, and this is very easy to become

(1 Corinthians 8:3 [KJV])
But if any man love God, the same is known of him.

• It is never what you know that is most important; it is whether God knows you
• Otherwise, your knowledge is worthless, left to others perhaps who also perish
• This is all of the knowledge needed to save a person

(Matthew 7:23 [KJV])
And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

(Matthew 25:12 [KJV])
But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

(Luke 13:25-27 [KJV])
When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets.
But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all [ye] workers of iniquity.

(1 Corinthians 8:4 [KJV])
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.

• Matthew Henry wrote a good summary on this set of verses, so it is below, so as to avoid repetition
• In ancient Roman-Greco society, they made marble, limestone, granite, whatever statues to the gods
• They also most often had their private parts naked and exposed
• Lastly, they commonly, routinely had pagan sacrifices of animals, often pigs, to these gods, then feasted in gluttonous and sexual orgies, through the night
• So gluttony, fornication, idolatry (both idols and intellects), all wicked, all addressed here

"In this passage he shows the vanity of idols: As to the eating of things that have been sacrificed to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world; or, there is no idol in the world; or, an idol can do nothing in the world: for the form of expression in the original is elliptical. The meaning in the general is, that heathen idols have no divinity in them; and therefore in the Old Testament they are commonly called lies and vanities, or lying vanities. They are merely imaginary gods, and many of them no better than imaginary beings; they have no power to pollute the creatures of God, and thereby render them unfit to be eaten by a child or servant of God. Every creature of God is good, if it be received with thanksgiving, 1 Tim. iv. 4. It is not in the power of the vanities of the heathens to change its nature.--And there is no other God but one. Heathen idols are not gods, nor to be owned and respected as gods, for there is no other God but"

(1 Corinthians 8:5 [KJV])
For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,)

• The gods were of people and animals and wildly imaginative creatures of their own making, such as centaurs, other animal/people combinations
• This was not new nor unique to them and goes back to ancient Assyria, Egypt, Babylon and all of Israel's enemies
• These pagans also all always believed in evolutionism

(1 Corinthians 8:6 [KJV])
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.

• He is the One True God, the Creator God, never seen by our eyes, needing no images made, no statues, no sacrifices, Who came to earth as a man, with no description given as to appearance (had a beard, was average looking)
• All other gods are false, created by man, imagined, carved, stamped, printed, molded, painted, always wanting sacrifices, pagan feasts, nakedness, fornication

(1 Corinthians 8:7 [KJV])
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.

• One can sin repeatedly, knowingly (with conscience) and their conscience defiled, but also numb, is burned with a hot iron
• The lost know no such thing as how to discern evil, wicked from good

(1 Corinthians 8:8 [KJV])
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.

• It is not the meat, the cooked or even raw flesh, it is the evil idolatry, the abominable sacrifice to a false idol, the paganism, heathenism, the hedonism, the gluttonous feasts
• If one does not eat that, they still are sinners saved by grace and can sin. This is not the only way to offend the Creator, but it is not an excuse, a license to sin

(1 Corinthians 8:9-11 [KJV])
But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak. 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; And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?

• We are freed by Jesus Christ to NOT sin, not TO sin.
• Stumbling blocks are placed in front of a person to make them trip and fall
• Real stone blocks are visible; stumblingblocks in Scripture are invisible, hidden, covert, discreet
• Having any idol, practicing things of the world and trying to disciple a person who is a young believer

STUMBLINGBLOCKS

• The commandment from God to Israel was not to play a harmful pranjk on a disabled person, not placing a stumblingblock before a blind man
• Stumblingblock can be and have been placed in front of entire nations
• God lays them in front of us to wake us up, as a sign, to stop our foolish behavior
• He often will do this because we are to warn those sinning, but we do not
• Riches are a tremendous stumblngblock
• God will destroy all stumblngblocks
• We are instructed by Paul in Romans 14:13 to not harp on the unrighteous acts of the unbeliever (who is incapable of not sinning) but put no stumblingblock in front of them or weak, undiscipled, new believers that will cause them to stumble.
• No matter who or where you are, you do not want to give anyone a legitimate reason to ask, "You call yourself a CHRISTIAN?". If they ask because we are being RIGHTEOUS in front of them, that is on them, and simply comes from someone looking for any excuse to reject Christ and have found it in you. If they ask because we are sinning in front of them, then that is on us.
• Jesus Christ, Him crucified, His salvation by grace through faith, is a stumblingblock to all of the world's religions, as it was to the Jews, who wanted (and still want) a Messiah that saves a nation of fleshly people (themselves) by THEIR righteousness, not to save their souls by dying for them, by grace through faith. THis idea is universal in mankind, works salvation
• It very clearly says this in these three verses above

STUMBLING-BLOCK, STUMBLING-STONE, n. [stumble and block or stone.] Any cause of stumbling; that which causes to err.

(Leviticus 19:14 [KJV])
Thou shalt not curse the deaf, nor put a stumblingblock before the blind, but shalt fear thy God: I [am] the LORD.

(Isaiah 57:14 [KJV])
And shall say, Cast ye up, cast ye up, prepare the way, take up the stumblingblock out of the way of my people.

(Jeremiah 6:21 [KJV])
Therefore thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will lay stumblingblocks before this people, and the fathers and the sons together shall fall upon them; the neighbour and his friend shall perish.

(Ezekiel 3:20 [KJV])
Again, When a righteous [man] doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumblingblock before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand.

(Ezekiel 7:19 [KJV])
They shall cast their silver in the streets, and their gold shall be removed: their silver and their gold shall not be able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of the LORD: they shall not satisfy their souls, neither fill their bowels: because it is the stumblingblock of their iniquity.

(Ezekiel 14:3 [KJV])
Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face: should I be enquired of at all by them?

(Ezekiel 14:4 [KJV])
Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Every man of the house of Israel that setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet; I the LORD will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols;

(Ezekiel 14:7 [KJV])
For every one of the house of Israel, or of the stranger that sojourneth in Israel, which separateth himself from me, and setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to a prophet to enquire of him concerning me; I the LORD will answer him by myself:

(Zephaniah 1:3 [KJV])
I will consume man and beast; I will consume the fowls of the heaven, and the fishes of the sea, and the stumblingblocks with the wicked; and I will cut off man from off the land, saith the LORD.

(Romans 11:9 [KJV])
And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them:

(Romans 14:13 [KJV])
Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in [his] brother's way.

(1 Corinthians 1:23 [KJV])
But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;

(Revelation 2:14 [KJV])
But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.

(1 Corinthians 8:12 [KJV])
But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.

• Casting stumblingblocks before anyone by willingly sinning is sin
• That sin is again Christ and man, as all sin is
• This can make someone reject Christ, and is a bad seed sown
• This remains and the next Christian who comes along then has to bear that, hear that, then correct that
• Rejecting Christ is ultimately individually up to each of us; casting a stumblingblock makes us a participant

(1 Corinthians 8:13 [KJV])
Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.

• Participating in idolatrous animal sacrifices, not even needed for the Jews today, let alone the Gentiles, is wickedness
• It has to be remembered that Israel went into captivity, was judged with plagues, death, because of this action, as her enemies were also destroyed for it, as God then commanded them never to do such abominations

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1 Corinthians 9