1 Corinthians 8:1-13

Be Sensitive to Conscience

1 Now concerning things offered to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies.

2 And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know.

3 But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him.

4 Therefore concerning the eating of things offered to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God but one.

5 For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords),

6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live.

7 However, there is not in everyone that knowledge; for some, with consciousness of the idol, until now eat it as a thing offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled.

8 But food does not commend us to God; for neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we do not eat are we the worse.

9 But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak.

10 For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things offered to idols?

11 And because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?

12 But when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.

13 Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.

Context

• How could diet be as controversial as marriage and divorce? (Deuteronomy 14:1-3, Matthew 12:1, 2, 1 Corinthians 7:1, 2, 25)

Reflection

• How does knowledge puff up… while love builds up? (Matthew 7:12, Luke 6:31, Philippians 1:9-11, Ephesians 4:15, 1 Corinthians 13:2-5, Galatians 5:14)
• What’s wrong with eating food offered to idols? (Acts 15:1-21, 1 Corinthians 10:20, 25, Psalm 115:3-10)
• Why is sinning against my brother the same as sinning against Christ? (Matthew 5:23, 24, Acts 9:4, 1 John 3:14-16)
• How can we limit our freedoms to care for our weaker brother, sister? (Genesis 4:9, Matthew 18:6, Romans 14:23, 1 Corinthians 6:12, 9:9-11)

Testimony Time

• Am I puffed up by knowledge or building up by love? (Galatians 6:10, Ephesians 4:1-3, 5:1, 2)
• In what areas am I a weaker brother? Who’s discipling the weaker brothers in my life? (Proverbs 27:17, Galatians 5:13, 2 Timothy 2:2)