Thy Strong Word — 1 Corinthians 8:1-13: Baal Burgers and Pagan Paninis

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Rev. Phillip Fischaber, pastor of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Walnut, IL, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study 1 Corinthians 8.

“Well, actually…” You can just hear the mature Christian lecturing a recent convert that he’s foolish for avoiding the foods in the marketplace sacrificed to idols. “You know idols aren’t real, right?,” the more knowledgeable Christian lectures. In this part of his letter, St. Paul notes that although this is true, knowledge can “puff up, but love builds up.” (v. 1) Were Christians permitted to purchase and eat meat sacrificed to false pagan gods? Sure, but if it might have caused a brother who still struggled with the association to stumble, it would have been better to act out of love than so-called superior knowledge. In this episode, Pastors Booe and Fischaber unpack what was going on at Corinth and look at ways this message still resonates in our time.

Thy Strong Word reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God’s Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations.

Thy Strong Word is hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, and graciously underwritten by the Lutheran Heritage Foundation.

1 Corinthians 8

Food Offered to Idols

8 Now concerning[a] food offered to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” This “knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up. 2 If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. 3 But if anyone loves God, he is known by God.[b]

4 Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that “an idol has no real existence,” and that “there is no God but one.” 5 For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”— 6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.

7 However, not all possess this knowledge. But some, through former association with idols, eat food as really offered to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. 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. 9 But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. 10 For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating[c] in an idol’s temple, will he not be encouraged,[d] if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? 11 And so by your knowledge this weak person is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. 12 Thus, sinning against your brothers[e] and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.

Footnotes

1 Corinthians 8:1 The expression Now concerning introduces a reply to a question in the Corinthians’ letter; see 7:1

1 Corinthians 8:3 Greek him

1 Corinthians 8:10 Greek reclining at table

1 Corinthians 8:10 Or fortified; Greek built up

1 Corinthians 8:12 Or brothers and sisters