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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadBob Utley You Can Understand the Bible - 1 Corinthians 8
Verse Commentaries:
Chapter Level Commentary:
Consecrated to an Idol?
Offered to Idols
FOLLOWING THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR'S INTENT AT THE PARAGRAPH LEVEL
This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.
Read the chapter in one sitting. Identify the subjects. Compare your subject divisions with the five modern translations. Paragraphing is not inspired, but it is the key to following the original author's intent, which is the heart of interpretation. Every paragraph has one and only one main subject.
1. First paragraph
2. Second paragraph
3. Third paragraph
4. Etc.
CONTEXTUAL INSIGHT TO 1Co_8:1-13
A. The literary context runs from 1Co_8:1 through 1Co_11:1 as the outline above of NJB shows.
B. The question of eating meat offered to idols seems very strange to moderns. But in the context of Paul's day and the people of Corinth it was a very important issue. Most social gatherings had religious connotations in Paul's day. Also, the meat that was sold in the marketplaces of Corinth was mostly, it not all, from one of the heathen temples.
C. Theologically chapter 8 is parallel to Rom_14:1 to Rom_15:13. See Special Topic at Contextual Insights from Rom_14:1 to Rom_15:13 at 1Co_6:12, which are notes taken from my commentary on Rom_14:1 to Rom_15:13. Both of these deal with the complicated and difficult subject of how a Christian balances his/her freedom in Christ and his/her responsibility in love to others.
Gordon Fee, To What End Exegesis?, pp. 105-128, thinks that this context refers not to just eating food sacrificed to an idol, but to actually attending and participating in the meal at the idol's temple (which often involved sexual activity as well, cf. 1Co_10:6-22).
D. This chapter also emphasizes that knowledge, even revelatory knowledge, when it is not balanced with love for others, is only partially true (cf. 1Co_13:1-13).
E. I think James D. G. Dunn, Unity and Diversity in the New Testament, p. 319, has a good summary statement.
"He would not stand for Jewish Christians narrowing down Christian liberty into legalism (Gal_5:1 ff; Php_3:2 ff); but neither would he stand for Gentile Christians perverting Christian liberty into license and elitism (Rom_16:17 f; 1 Corinthians 5-6; 1 Corinthians 8-10; cf 2Th_3:6; 2Th_3:14 f)."
For Paul "the gospel for all," was the guiding principle! This is powerfully expressed in his own words in 1Co_9:19-23!
WORD AND PHRASE STUDY
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.
These discussion questions are provided to help you think through the major issues of this section of the book. They are meant to be thought-provoking, not definitive.
1. It is obvious that this particular problem in not a contemporary one; however, the universal principle here is very significant. State that principle in your own words.
2. How does one relate demon activity to world religions in our day?
3. If there is only one God, how can Jesus be divine?
4. Explain the relationship between Christian freedom and Christian responsibility.
5. Define "weak" and "strong" believers.
6. Should all believers be vegetarians?