1 Corinthians 8:1-13

Introduction

I. THE DILEMMA (vv. 1,4,7,10)

a. The issue: eating food sacrificed to idols (4, 7, 10)

b. What’s the big deal?

The idolatry of the Greeks and Romans pervaded their whole life. Their social intercourse, their feasts, their administration of justice, the public amusements, the offices of the government, were all more or less connected with religious services. A.A. Hodge

II. THE ARGUMENTS (vv. 4, 8)

a. Idols are not real (4) “we know that "an idol has no real existence," and that "there is no God but one."

b. Food cannot earn God’s favor (8)

“Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do.”

III. THE RESPONSE

a. A wrong view of knowledge (1-3)

b. A wrong view of the human mind (4-8)

c. A destructive result (9-13)

IV. THE RELEVANCE

a. Our knowledge must be seasoned with love

“He [Paul] shows how frivolous a thing it is to boast of knowledge, when love is wanting.” John Calvin

b. We must be ready to give up our rights for the sake of Christ and His people.

c. All of us, at some point, are the “weaker” brother or sister.