Taking Strides Grow Up! Studies in 1 Corinthians January 24-30, 2011 Civil liberties are defined as rights and freedoms that provide an individual specific rights such as the right to life, freedom from torture, freedom from slavery and forced labor, the right to liberty and security, right to a fair trial, the right to defend one's self, the right to privacy, freedom of conscience, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and association, and the right to marry and have a family. These rights are precious to many people and unfortunately are denied to people throughout the world. Even the Ten Commandments state God s righteousness in terms of the protection of certain human rights: the rights of parents, the right to life, the right to the sanctity of marriage, the rights of property and reputation (Exodus 20:12-17). Sea off the coast of Russia. Hundreds of passengers died as they were hurled into the icy waters below. News of the disaster was further darkened when an investigation revealed the cause of the accident. It wasn't a technology problem like radar malfunction-- or even thick fog. The cause was human stubbornness. Each captain was aware of the other ship's presence nearby. Both could have steered clear, but according to news reports, neither captain wanted to give way to the other. Each was too proud to yield first. By the time they came to their senses, it was too late. Of course these entitlements are selfish we say they are not true rights let them go, give them up, do away with them. People often claim wants as rights: the right to be ahead of you in line, to be supported when they could work but don t want to, the right to lower your property value by the way they keep up their property. In the summer of 1986, two ships collided in the Black But when it comes to true rights, are there also times when we need to let them go too? How far do our rights really extend? What does our Father say about our rights? FOR DISCUSSION When does the practice or defense of a true personal right go too far? Does it ever? ENCOUNTER read God s word so that He can speak to you. 1 Corinthians 8:1, 4, 7-13; 9:19-23 8:1 Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that we all possess knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. 4 So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world and that there is no God but one. their conscience is weak, it is defiled. 8 But food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do. 9 Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak. 10 For if anyone with a weak conscience sees you who have this knowledge eating in an idol's temple, won't he be emboldened to eat what 7 But not everyone knows this. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat such food they think of it as having been sacrificed to an idol, and since has been sacrificed to idols? 11 So this weak brother, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. 12 When you sin against your brothers in this way and
wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to fall. 2 9:19 Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings. EXAMINE what the passage says before you decide what it means. Underline know, knowledge, and free Circle love and slave Draw a box around win and save Put brackets [ ] around so then and therefore indicating a conclusion EXPLORE God s Word by asking questions of what you saw. The notes which follow may help you to think through these questions 1) Paul agrees with the strong party that we all possess knowledge (8:1). What knowledge is that? (see 8:4-6) 2) What makes a believer weak? 3) Does Paul scorn the weak brother in 8:9-13? Why or why not? (Consider 1:27-29) How is this relevant to you?
4) If the knowledge we all possess were all there was to this issue of eating, then you just instruct the weak and go ahead. However, that is not the case. Why? What qualifies and limits this freedom? (8:1-3, 7-13) 3 5) Paul uses himself as an example of sacrificing rights. What rights of an Apostle has he waived (9:3-6, 12)? What other rights (9:19-23)? Why did he waive them? 6) What are some of your rights and freedoms as a Christian? Under what circumstances are you free to use them, and under what circumstances should you not use them? 7) What should you do if a Christian brother/sister will be offended if you do a thing, and the unsaved person you are evangelizing will be offended if you don t? (Consider the Apostles decisions about food and circumcision in Acts 15:19; Galatians 2:11-21).
NOTES ON THE PASSAGE Liberty in Christ requires the limitation of rights for the good of others through edification. (8:1--11:1) Background of "food sacrificed to idols" - In Corinth there was easy access to meat offered to idols; in fact it was hard to avoid. For one thing, nearly all dinner parties, trade association meetings, and other social occasions included some dedication to the patron deity of the gathering. There were banquets in the temples in honor of the gods. Individuals could bring sacrifices to the gods, either privately or publicly. If privately, the remainder belonged to the worshipper and could be taken home for a banquet in which friends were invited. Of course the guests could not tell from the appearance of the food alone whether it had been offered to idols or not (cf. 1 Cor 10:27). If the sacrifices were offered publicly, or were connected with a state function, the remainder was sold in the market place (cf. 1 Cor 10:25). The best cuts of meat were offered to idols, so if you wanted the best, what could you do? To completely avoid temple meat, you had to shop only at Jewish butchers. For anyone whose livelihood depended in part on business dinners or trade association meetings, this was out of the question. For anyone who cared about his social standing, it was absurd. Three questions were raised for believers: a. Could a Christian partake of a heathen feast and eat meat offered to a false god? b. Could a Christian buy and eat meat offered to idols? c. Could a Christian, when invited to the home of a friend, eat meat which had been offered to idols? Love which edifies is superior to mature knowledge concerning the eating of meat offered to idols. (8:1-13) 8:1-3 Love which edifies is superior to boastful knowledge. In verse 1, Paul quotes an affirmation they made: they have knowledge (perhaps the content of that knowledge is in v. 4 with two affirmations). And many of the believers boasted in their enlightened knowledge. They do have instruction and knowledge about God, to a degree; but the issue is really a knowledge of God that leads to loving God, and thereby being known by God. Knowledge is not the answer to the Corinthian problem, but love for others, which is a product of love for God and the true knowledge of Him. 4-6 Knowledge of the truth states that there is only one God and idols are not gods. 7-12 Believers without mature knowledge may be ruined through the imposition of Christian liberty on them by mature believers. But not all of the believers had complete knowledge about the facts in vv. 4-6. The cause of a weak conscience is incomplete knowledge (vv.7-8). The conscience of some had not been strengthened by the truth concerning the meaninglessness of idols (as in vv. 5-6) so that a believer might eat meat offered to them. Because of their past involvement idolatry, they believed eating that meat to be wrong, and therefore it was sin to them (Rom 14:23). How does one ruin a brother? By exercising his freedom of knowledge without love. This can become a stumbling block to the weak (v.9). An illustration is given in v.10: the weak brother is persuaded to eat meat sacrificed to idols, though his conscience says it is wrong, by seeing another believer in the temple eating the meat. By encouraging the weak brother to do what he believes is sin (v. 11), it causes his ruin (apollytai). This may include a confusion in distinguishing right from wrong (as with an unbeliever, Tit 1:15), but it could also mean leading to physical death (as used in Matt 2:13; Acts 5:37; 1 Cor 10:9). If Christ loved the weak brother enough to die for him, then the strong believer ought to love him enough to give up his right to eat certain meat. Verse 12 - "sin against Christ" - (cf. 1 Cor 12:26-27; Acts 9:4-5) - The strong believer not only defiles the conscience of the weak (v.7), but sins against Christ. This is based on the unity of the body of Christ, of which each believer is an important member. 13 Abstinence is preferable to causing a brother to stumble. The solution: Not the instruction of the weak imparting 4
knowledge to them; but rather love. Out of love, give up your right to eat any kind of meat. Limit what you do so as not to offend a weak brother. Over time the weak brother who is loved can be taught concerning his freedom in Christ (Gal.5:1). Note: a. This is not giving in to legalists who seek to put others under their rules, but rather how you treat those who are weak. b. The strong take the initiative in love, not because the weak demand it, but because love and the unity of the body require it. c. Paul does not appeal to the decree of Jerusalem council (Acts 15), but to the truth of God; a much higher authority than man's decisions. 5 The limitation of liberty in Christ is modeled by Paul. (9:1-27) 1-14 The rights of an apostle to be supported in the work of the gospel are defended. Apparently, there were already some attacks against Paul concerning his apostleship and motivation for ministry. He may have been criticized because he had not been one of those with Jesus in the Gospels (yet he had seen risen Lord, 9:1). Some may have thought he was just out for money out to exploit the rights of an apostle (2 Cor. 2:17). Paul gives a more complete defense of his apostleship in 2 Cor. 10-13. Continuing the same subject, Paul now illustrates the principle of love limiting freedom from his own experience. As an Apostle and one who possessed Christian liberty, he could claim financial support from those to whom he preached (vv. 1-14; the rights of sharing in the fruit of your work). Instead he refused to exercise his rights in order to gain a reward. By this he was able to offer the gospel free of charge, and obtained the fruit of the gospel; namely these believers (vv.15-23). If he received money for preaching, he would feel obligated to be worthy of wages, rather than carrying an obligation from grace of the gospel. Such a decision demanded personal discipline and privation (vv.24-27). The Corinthians should apply the same principles to their rights regarding meat offered to idols and weaker brothers. 15-27 Paul's limitation of his rights in the preaching of the gospel without charge is in view of obtaining an imperishable reward through the salvation of men. Paul had already given a reason for not exerting his right to take money from the Corinthians: to avoid any hint of mercenary motivation in his ministry. Now he gives a second reason - (cf. 2 Cor 11:9-12) - it provided an opportunity to affirm the sincerity of his commitment to the ministry. v. 19 - limitation of rights applies to all areas of life. (cf. 1 Cor 10:33) vv. 20-22 - Is this situational ethics? The issue here is flexibility in the methods for presenting the gospel, not flexibility in morals or ethics. Note the phrase in v. 20- "though not being under the law." His ethics had not changed; he was still free in Christ. The same is seen in v.21: noting that he is still under the law of Christ, he has not abandoned submission to Christ, but is still under Christ s authority though not enforcing the traditions of the Jews on Gentiles. v.22- This is not the ends justifying the means, but adaptability and limitation of rights and methods because of love. Self-control is necessary for obtaining an imperishable reward (vv. 24-27). The goal of ministry is to be approved for the prize/crown/reward at the end of his "race" (cf. 3:14; 9:18,25). The reward is those believers God has given as the fruit of his ministry (2 Cor. 1:14; 1 Thess 2:19,20; Phil 2:16). GOING FURTHER One thing we can do to train ourselves to remember, is to memorize a part of what our Father has said to us. The Holy Spirit can use this to change our thinking so that our heads are more like Jesus. This week, try memorizing Colossians 3:17