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Concerning Food Sacrificed To Idols: Let Love Guide Your Exercise of “Rights”

Now concerning the foods-sacrificed-to-idols, we know that we all have knowledge[a]. Knowledge puffs-up, but love builds-up. If anyone thinks that he has come-to-know anything, he did not-yet know as he ought-to know. But if one loves[b] God, this one has been known by Him. Therefore concerning the eating of the foods-sacrificed-to-idols— we know that an idol is nothing[c] in the world, and that there is no God except one. For even if-indeed there are ones being called gods, whether in heaven or on earth— as-indeed there are many[d] gods and many lords— yet for us there is One God the Father, from Whom are all things, and we are[e] for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through Whom are all things, and we are through Him. But this knowledge is not in all people. But some, by the accustomed-habit[f] of the idol until now, eat this food as[g] food-sacrificed-to-an-idol. And their conscience, being weak, is stained[h]. But food will not bring us[i] near[j] to God— neither if we do not eat are we lacking, nor if we eat are we abounding. But be watching-out that this right[k] of yours does not somehow become an opportunity-for-stumbling to the weak ones. 10 For if someone sees you, the one having knowledge, reclining [to eat] in an idol-temple, will not his conscience, being weak, be built-up so as to eat the foods-sacrificed-to-idols? 11 For the one being weak is being destroyed[l] by your knowledge— the brother for the sake of whom Christ died! 12 And in this manner sinning against the brothers and striking[m] their conscience while being weak, you are sinning against Christ.

On The One Hand, I Will Not Do Anything That Hinders People’s Spiritual Advance

13 For-this-very-reason, if food causes my brother to fall, I will never eat meats, ever— in-order-that I may not cause my brother to fall.

For Example, I Have The Right To Be Paid As God’s Workman

Am[n] I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord? If to others I am not an apostle, yet indeed I am to you. For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord— this[o] is my defense to the ones examining me! We do not fail to have the right to eat[p] and drink, do we? We do not fail to have the right to take along[q] a sister who is a wife, do we?— as also the other apostles, and the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas. Or I alone and Barnabas— do not we have the right not to be working[r]?

Workers Always Partake of The Fruit of Their Labors

Who ever serves-as-a-soldier with his own rations? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat the fruit of it? Or who shepherds a flock and does not eat of the milk of the flock?

Does Not The Law Say This Very Thing?

I am not speaking these things according to [mere] human thinking[s], am I ? Or does not the Law also say these things? For in the Law of Moses it has been written [in Deut 25:4], “You shall not muzzle a threshing ox”. God is not concerned about the oxen[t], is He? 10 Or is He surely speaking for our sake? Indeed it was written for our sake— because[u] the one plowing ought to plow on the basis of hope, and the one threshing to thresh on the basis of hope that he might partake.

I Do Have This Right Over You

11 If we sowed spiritual things to you, is it a great thing if we shall reap fleshly[v] things from you? 12 If others partake of this right over you, should we not more?

But I Chose Not To Make Use Of This Right So As Not To Hinder The Gospel

Nevertheless, we did not make-use-of [w] this right. But we are bearing[x] all things, in order that we might not give any hindrance to the good-news of Christ.

The Lord Even Commanded That Gospel Workers Live By Their Work

13 Do you not know that the ones working the temple-duties eat the things from the temple, that the ones serving at the altar divide-a-share with the altar? 14 So also the Lord directed[y] the ones proclaiming the good-news to be living from the good-news.

But My Boast Is That I Do Not Make Use of This Right

15 But I have not made-use-of any of these things. And I did not write these things in order that it might become so in my case, for it would be better for me to die rather than— no one shall empty my boast[z]! 16 For if I am announcing-the-good-news, it is not[aa] a boast for me, for a necessity[ab] is lying-upon[ac] me; for woe is to me if I do not announce-the-good-news. 17 For if I am practicing this of-my-own-will, I have a reward; but if not-of-my-own-will, I have been entrusted a stewardship[ad]. 18 What then is my reward? That while announcing-the-good-news, I might place the good-news free-of-charge, so as not to make-full-use-of my right in[ae] the good-news.

For I Have Chosen To Enslave Myself To All For The Advance of The Gospel

19 For[af] while being free from all people, I enslaved myself to all in order that I might gain the more. 20 Indeed I became to the Jews as a Jew, in order that I might gain Jews; to the ones under the Law, as under the Law— not being myself under the Law— in order that I might gain the ones under the Law; 21 to the ones without-the-Law, as without-the-Law— not being without-the-law of God, but within-the-law of Christ— in order that I might gain the ones without-the-Law. 22 I became weak to the weak, in order that I might gain the weak. I have become all things to all people, in order that I might by all means save some. 23 And I am doing all things for the sake of the good-news, in order that I might become a co-partner of it.

On The Other Hand, I Will Do Everything Needed To Win My Race And Keep My Prize

24 Do[ag] you not know that the ones running in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Be running in this manner: that you may take-hold-of the prize. 25 And everyone competing exercises-self-control as to all things. So those do it in order that they might receive a decayable crown, but we an undecayable one. 26 So-indeed I run in this manner, as not aimlessly[ah]. I box in this manner, as not beating the air. 27 But I bruise my body and make it my slave, that having proclaimed to others, I myself should not somehow become disapproved[ai].

For Loss of The Prize Is Possible: Remember What Happened To Israel

10 For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers[aj] were all under the cloud, and all went through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and all ate the same spiritual[ak] food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they were drinking from a spiritual[al] rock following them. And the rock was Christ. But God was not well-pleased with the majority of them, for they were strewn in the wilderness.

Do Not Follow Their Example

Now these things took place as our examples, so that we might not be desirers of evil things, as those also desired. And do not be idolaters, as some of them, as-indeed it has been written [in Ex 32:6], “The people sat-down to eat and drink, and stood up to play”. And let us not be committing-sexual-immorality, as some of them committed sexual immorality, and twenty three thousand fell in one day [Num 25:1-9]. And let us not be putting Christ to the test, as some of them tested, and were being destroyed by the serpents [Num 21:5-6]. 10 And do not be grumbling, like some of them grumbled, and perished by the destroyer [Num 16:41-49]. 11 Now these[am] things were happening to those ones as-an-example. And it was written for our admonition, on whom the ends of the ages have come[an].

So Watch Out That You Do Not Fall

12 So then let the one thinking that he stands be watching-out that he may not fall. 13 A temptation has not seized you except what is common-to-humanity. And God is faithful, Who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but also with the temptation will make the way-out, that you may be able to endure.

For This Very Reason, Flee From The Eating Connected With Idol Worship

14 For-this-very-reason, my beloved, be fleeing from idolatry[ao]. 15 I speak as to wise ones; you judge what I say: 16 the cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a sharing[ap] of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not a sharing of the body of Christ? 17 Because there is one bread, we the many are one body[aq], for we all partake from the one bread. 18 Look-at Israel according to the flesh— are not the ones eating the sacrifices sharers of the altar? 19 Therefore what am I saying? That[ar] food-sacrificed-to-an-idol is anything, or that an idol is anything? 20 On the contrary, that the things which they are sacrificing, they are sacrificing to demons, and not[as] to God. And I do not want you to be sharers of the demons. 21 You cannot drink the Lord’s cup and the demons’ cup. You cannot[at] partake of the Lord’s table and the demons’ table. 22 Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? We are not stronger than He, are we?

So As To The Eating of Meat, Do What Is Beneficial And Edifying To Those Eating

23 All things are lawful, but not all things are beneficial. All things are lawful, but not all things build-up. 24 Let no one be seeking his own thing, but the thing of the other. 25 Be eating anything being sold in the meat-market, examining nothing for the sake of conscience. 26 For “The earth and the fullness of it are the Lord’s” [Ps 24:1]. 27 If one of the unbelievers invites you, and you want to go, eat anything being set-before you, examining nothing for the sake of conscience. 28 But if one should say to you “This is offered-in-sacrifice”, do not eat[au]— for the sake of that one having disclosed it, and the conscience. 29 Now the conscience I mean is not the one of oneself, but the one of the other. For why[av] is my freedom being judged[aw] by another’s conscience? 30 If I am partaking with thanks, why am I being blasphemed for that which I am giving-thanks?

In Summary, Do All For God’s Glory. Be Blameless To All And Seek Their Benefit

31 Therefore, whether you are eating or drinking or doing anything, be doing all for the glory of God. 32 Be blameless[ax] both to Jews and Greeks, and to the church of God— 33 just as I also am pleasing all people as to all things, not seeking the benefit of myself, but the benefit of the many, in order that they might be saved.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 8:1 Before Paul gives the content of such knowledge in v 4-6, he corrects the spirit of such a statement.
  2. 1 Corinthians 8:3 Love is the heart of our relationship with God, not knowledge.
  3. 1 Corinthians 8:4 Or, that there is no idol (no genuine representation of any god).
  4. 1 Corinthians 8:5 Paul later calls them demons, 10:20.
  5. 1 Corinthians 8:6 Or, exist.
  6. 1 Corinthians 8:7 Or, habitual-use.
  7. 1 Corinthians 8:7 That is, as if the sacrifice, the eating, and the food still carry their old meanings.
  8. 1 Corinthians 8:7 Or, soiled, dirtied.
  9. 1 Corinthians 8:8 That is, us having knowledge, whose choices are the focus of the entire discussion in chapters 8-10.
  10. 1 Corinthians 8:8 Or, present us to God (for reward or judgment).
  11. 1 Corinthians 8:9 That is, this right to eat such food.
  12. 1 Corinthians 8:11 Or, ruined.
  13. 1 Corinthians 8:12 Or, assaulting, wounding.
  14. 1 Corinthians 9:1 To justify the bold statement just made, Paul uses himself (in foregoing his right to financial support) as an example of choosing not to use one’s rights in order to advance the gospel.
  15. 1 Corinthians 9:3 That is, you are the defense of my apostleship to any who would oppose it (making this a parenthetical comment). Or, “Lord. This is my defense (for the bold statement in 8:13) to the ones examining me— we” (making verse 2 parenthetical).
  16. 1 Corinthians 9:4 That is, to sustain ourselves through our work among you.
  17. 1 Corinthians 9:5 That is, to take a believing wife with us in our ministry to you, at your expense.
  18. 1 Corinthians 9:6 That is, not to be working outside of our ministry to you in order to support ourselves.
  19. 1 Corinthians 9:8 Or, according to mankind.
  20. 1 Corinthians 9:9 No, God is not concerned whether oxen get fed before, during, or after threshing. This was an object-lesson.
  21. 1 Corinthians 9:10 Or, [meaning] that.
  22. 1 Corinthians 9:11 That is, material.
  23. 1 Corinthians 9:12 Paul does not make use of rights from which he is in no way excluded. The Corinthians should also forego rights no one would ever deny are theirs.
  24. 1 Corinthians 9:12 Or, enduring.
  25. 1 Corinthians 9:14 Or, commanded, ordered. Paul does not make use of rights specifically commanded by the Lord. The Corinthians should also forego rights specifically granted in Scripture, rights based on knowledge.
  26. 1 Corinthians 9:15 Paul’s sacrifice of his right to financial support is a personal matter of boasting for which he would die rather than give up.
  27. 1 Corinthians 9:16 Paul cannot boast that he is proclaiming the gospel, only in how he does it, sacrificially.
  28. 1 Corinthians 9:16 Or, compulsion, constraint.
  29. 1 Corinthians 9:16 Or, is pressing upon, is laid upon, is imposed upon. Paul must do it.
  30. 1 Corinthians 9:17 That is, a position of management responsibility given him by his Master.
  31. 1 Corinthians 9:18 That is, in connection with.
  32. 1 Corinthians 9:19 Paul now expands his point beyond the financial arena.
  33. 1 Corinthians 9:24 Paul now gives a positive reason. Do these things not only to not hinder the gospel (for the good of others, 8:13-9:23), but to take hold of your own reward (for your own good).
  34. 1 Corinthians 9:26 Or, uncertainly, unknowingly.
  35. 1 Corinthians 9:27 That is, for the prize, v 24. Or, disqualified. Positively stated, that I might receive my reward and keep it. The Corinthians could seem to win a reward based on knowledge, but lose it due to the impact of their behavior on others.
  36. 1 Corinthians 10:1 Paul is a positive example, Israel a negative one. A fall into disapproval is not theoretical. It happened to Israel!
  37. 1 Corinthians 10:3 That is, in origin. The manna came from God. Likewise next.
  38. 1 Corinthians 10:4 That is, a rock from God, spiritual in origin; or, a supernatural, invisible rock, Christ Himself.
  39. 1 Corinthians 10:11 That is, the consequences of sin just recounted.
  40. 1 Corinthians 10:11 Or, arrived. The preceding ages ended in Christ, who began a new age.
  41. 1 Corinthians 10:14 Paul now applies v 1-13 to eating in idols’ temples, an issue mentioned but not addressed in 8:10. Your knowledge in which you think you stand will cause you to fall if you think you can do this without arousing the jealousy of God.
  42. 1 Corinthians 10:16 Or, communion, partnership.
  43. 1 Corinthians 10:17 Partaking of the bread and cup makes us one with Christ and one another. Paul’s point is that the same is true in the idol’s temple.
  44. 1 Corinthians 10:19 That... that? These are the same two points of knowledge Paul began with in 8:4 and 8.
  45. 1 Corinthians 10:20 Or, to a no God.
  46. 1 Corinthians 10:21 That is, without provoking God to jealousy and bringing His judgment upon you.
  47. 1 Corinthians 10:28 Or, stop eating.
  48. 1 Corinthians 10:29 That is, (correcting the strong one) why should I allow my freely chosen behavior to come under condemnation? I should instead choose not to eat. Or, (supporting the strong one) why should I allow another person’s conscience to judge my actions? They have no right to do so. My sacrifice of my right to eat is voluntary and for the sake of their conscience not mine, and not because I agree with their view.
  49. 1 Corinthians 10:29 Or, condemned.
  50. 1 Corinthians 10:32 Or, without-an-opportunity-for-stumbling, without-offense.

Concerning Food Sacrificed to Idols

Now about food sacrificed to idols:(A) We know that “We all possess knowledge.”(B) But knowledge puffs up while love builds up. Those who think they know something(C) do not yet know as they ought to know.(D) But whoever loves God is known by God.[a](E)

So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols:(F) We know that “An idol is nothing at all in the world”(G) and that “There is no God but one.”(H) For even if there are so-called gods,(I) whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”), yet for us there is but one God,(J) the Father,(K) from whom all things came(L) and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord,(M) Jesus Christ, through whom all things came(N) and through whom we live.

But not everyone possesses this knowledge.(O) Some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat sacrificial food they think of it as having been sacrificed to a god, and since their conscience is weak,(P) it is defiled. But food does not bring us near to God;(Q) we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.

Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block(R) to the weak.(S) 10 For if someone with a weak conscience sees you, with all your knowledge, eating in an idol’s temple, won’t that person be emboldened to eat what is sacrificed to idols?(T) 11 So this weak brother or sister, for whom Christ died, is destroyed(U) by your knowledge. 12 When you sin against them(V) in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.(W) 13 Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause them to fall.(X)

Paul’s Rights as an Apostle

Am I not free?(Y) Am I not an apostle?(Z) Have I not seen Jesus our Lord?(AA) Are you not the result of my work in the Lord?(AB) Even though I may not be an apostle to others, surely I am to you! For you are the seal(AC) of my apostleship in the Lord.

This is my defense to those who sit in judgment on me. Don’t we have the right to food and drink?(AD) Don’t we have the right to take a believing wife(AE) along with us, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers(AF) and Cephas[b]?(AG) Or is it only I and Barnabas(AH) who lack the right to not work for a living?

Who serves as a soldier(AI) at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard(AJ) and does not eat its grapes? Who tends a flock and does not drink the milk? Do I say this merely on human authority? Doesn’t the Law say the same thing? For it is written in the Law of Moses: “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.”[c](AK) Is it about oxen that God is concerned?(AL) 10 Surely he says this for us, doesn’t he? Yes, this was written for us,(AM) because whoever plows and threshes should be able to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest.(AN) 11 If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you?(AO) 12 If others have this right of support from you, shouldn’t we have it all the more?

But we did not use this right.(AP) On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder(AQ) the gospel of Christ.

13 Don’t you know that those who serve in the temple get their food from the temple, and that those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar?(AR) 14 In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.(AS)

15 But I have not used any of these rights.(AT) And I am not writing this in the hope that you will do such things for me, for I would rather die than allow anyone to deprive me of this boast.(AU) 16 For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach.(AV) Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! 17 If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward;(AW) if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me.(AX) 18 What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge,(AY) and so not make full use of my rights(AZ) as a preacher of the gospel.

Paul’s Use of His Freedom

19 Though I am free(BA) and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone,(BB) to win as many as possible.(BC) 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews.(BD) To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law),(BE) so as to win those under the law. 21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law(BF) (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law),(BG) so as to win those not having the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak.(BH) I have become all things to all people(BI) so that by all possible means I might save some.(BJ) 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

The Need for Self-Discipline

24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize?(BK) Run(BL) in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown(BM) that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.(BN) 26 Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly;(BO) I do not fight like a boxer beating the air.(BP) 27 No, I strike a blow to my body(BQ) and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.(BR)

Warnings From Israel’s History

10 For I do not want you to be ignorant(BS) of the fact, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud(BT) and that they all passed through the sea.(BU) They were all baptized into(BV) Moses in the cloud and in the sea. They all ate the same spiritual food(BW) and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock(BX) that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.(BY)

Now these things occurred as examples(BZ) to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. Do not be idolaters,(CA) as some of them were; as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.”[d](CB) We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died.(CC) We should not test Christ,[e](CD) as some of them did—and were killed by snakes.(CE) 10 And do not grumble, as some of them did(CF)—and were killed(CG) by the destroying angel.(CH)

11 These things happened to them as examples(CI) and were written down as warnings for us,(CJ) on whom the culmination of the ages has come.(CK) 12 So, if you think you are standing firm,(CL) be careful that you don’t fall! 13 No temptation[f] has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful;(CM) he will not let you be tempted[g] beyond what you can bear.(CN) But when you are tempted,[h] he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

Idol Feasts and the Lord’s Supper

14 Therefore, my dear friends,(CO) flee from idolatry.(CP) 15 I speak to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. 16 Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break(CQ) a participation in the body of Christ?(CR) 17 Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body,(CS) for we all share the one loaf.

18 Consider the people of Israel: Do not those who eat the sacrifices(CT) participate in the altar? 19 Do I mean then that food sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything?(CU) 20 No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons,(CV) not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons. 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord’s table and the table of demons.(CW) 22 Are we trying to arouse the Lord’s jealousy?(CX) Are we stronger than he?(CY)

The Believer’s Freedom

23 “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial.(CZ) “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive. 24 No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.(DA)

25 Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience,(DB) 26 for, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.”[i](DC)

27 If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is put before you(DD) without raising questions of conscience. 28 But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, both for the sake of the one who told you and for the sake of conscience.(DE) 29 I am referring to the other person’s conscience, not yours. For why is my freedom(DF) being judged by another’s conscience? 30 If I take part in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of something I thank God for?(DG)

31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.(DH) 32 Do not cause anyone to stumble,(DI) whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God(DJ) 33 even as I try to please everyone in every way.(DK) For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many,(DL) so that they may be saved.(DM)

Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 8:3 An early manuscript and another ancient witness think they have knowledge do not yet know as they ought to know. But whoever loves truly knows.
  2. 1 Corinthians 9:5 That is, Peter
  3. 1 Corinthians 9:9 Deut. 25:4
  4. 1 Corinthians 10:7 Exodus 32:6
  5. 1 Corinthians 10:9 Some manuscripts test the Lord
  6. 1 Corinthians 10:13 The Greek for temptation and tempted can also mean testing and tested.
  7. 1 Corinthians 10:13 The Greek for temptation and tempted can also mean testing and tested.
  8. 1 Corinthians 10:13 The Greek for temptation and tempted can also mean testing and tested.
  9. 1 Corinthians 10:26 Psalm 24:1