My Brother's Keeper

INTRO

As we’ve seen in the past few chapters, the church in Corinth had some real issues going on that Paul was trying to straighten out. Keep in mind the five problems of 1 Corinthians: (1) divisions; (2) sex; (3) food; (4) church etiquette; and (5) Christ’s resurrection. Chapter 8 is all about the food that had been sacrificed to idols.

TEACHING

1 Corinthians 8:1-3: In Corinth, there were several temples to Greco-Roman mythological figures in which sacrifices were made to the gods, idols, and even demonic powers. This was commonplace at the time. Throughout 1 Corinthians, little proverbs have been quoted that were common to life in Corinth. In verse one, Paul used another one: “We all have knowledge.” There were different beliefs about eating food sacrificed to idols. All who held belief about it thought they “had the knowledge” about the issue. So Paul then added that knowledge inflates with pride while love builds up (v. 1b). Paul told the Corinthians that just because they “thought” they knew something, maybe they didn’t know all of it (v. 2). My mentors always said, “We all walk in a measure of deception and a measure of revelation. You may think you’re right, but you may be dead wrong.” Paul said if we love God, we are KNOWN by Him (v. 3).

In this situation, I’d like to divide the church into two groups. (Remember all the divisions they were already having?) The first group was BIGGIEs; the second group was No-BIGGIEs. Both groups were right and both wrong. Those who thought it was a big deal to eat food sacrificed to God were in the BIGGIEs group; those who thought it was not a big deal were in the No- BIGGIEs group. Both groups were right.

1 Corinthians 8:4–6: In verse 4 are two more proverbial sayings: “An idol is nothing in the world” and “there is no God but one.” Paul explained idols were nothing and there was only one God. Therefore, anything done for these who did not exist had no meaning because of the one true God and one Lord (vv. 5–6a). We are “from Him” and “for Him.” All things are “through Him,” and we exist only “through Him” (v. 6b).

1 Corinthians 8:7–13: Paul explained to the Corinthians that not everyone has this knowledge (v. 7). If they were coming right out of idol worship and sacrifice, then seeing someone participate in anything related to their old life would have been highly offensive and a struggle seeing another Christian brother or sister partaking in these things. Because their conscience was weak, they would be defiled. Paul reminded the Corinthians that what they ate didn’t make them holy or defile them (v. 8). Food is a neutral thing, like money or alcohol or music or media. These things can all be used for evil or for good, but they themselves are neutral.

However, Paul cautioned his readers that what was good for them might not be okay for another brother or sister (v. 9). Believers have different opinions about tongues, displaying flags, and using big Christian words. We must be careful not to do something that would become a stumbling block to someone who is weaker. Just because we know something is okay or we know it is our right, we should not do it if it causes a brother/sister to stumble (v. 10). We read in verse 11, “the brother for whom Christ died”– this is not about comparison but about humbling ourselves and preferring one another (Romans 14:1–22). When we sin against others (causing them to stumble because they are weak), we sin against Christ (v. 12). Paul concluded by saying he would eat nothing that caused another brother in Christ to fall (v. 13).

CLOSING

In Genesis 4, the story of Cain and Abel is recorded. In verse 9, God asked Cain where his brother was, and Cain responded, “Am I my brother’s guardian?” We have a duty, an obligation, a privilege, and an honor to guard our brothers and sisters in the Lord..